Runners take to the road to raise awareness for CJD

A TEAM of 12 runners from Wannon will again lace up their shoes to raise money and awareness for Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) as they participate in the 2024 Run for CJD.

The group, part of a larger 21-member team, will run from Adelaide to Terang, passing through Mildura on their journey.

Last year, the Wannon runners raised more than $100,000 for charity, and this year, their goal remains the same: to honour loved ones affected by CJD and raise funds for research into the rare and devastating brain disease.

CJD causes the brain to degenerate, leading to dementia and, ultimately, death.

Many of the runners have a personal connection to the disease, including Wannon federal member Dan Tehan, who lost his mother, Marie, to CJD in 2004.

“My mother taught me the importance of giving back to your community and that’s what the Run for CJD is about,” Mr Tehan said.

“CJD is a terrible condition and every dollar we raise is a dollar we are closer to finding a cure.

“Last year we shared a lot of laughs, covered a lot of kilometres, put holes in a lot of socks, and honoured our loved ones.”

Other runners, like Matty Stewart, are also running in memory of loved ones.

“I’m running for my old man Bobby,” Mr Stewart said.

“I want him to be remembered by making sure his death isn’t in vain and hopefully make a difference to others who are affected by CJD in the future”.

Joey Kenna, another participant, is running for the first time this year in memory of his father, Jimmy, who passed away in 2022.

“Dad was the toughest guy I have ever met and taught me that you can do anything that you set your mind to. I am running in honour of him and to help raise funds and awareness of this terrible disease,” he said.

The 2024 Run for CJD begins tomorrow (Saturday, October 12) and will finish in Terang on Friday, October 18.

To support the runners or make a donation, head to cjdsupport.org.au