Torquay team running for a cause

A GROUP of Torquay locals are lacing up their joggers this month to help raise money for children and their families touched by cancer.

Team Five for Five members Martine Pollard, Ethan Harbison, Riley Danton-Jack, Phoenix Lugg, Taylor Van Gramberg and Sasha Lugg are hoping to walk/run 500km and raise $5,000 for Camp Quality during September.

Camp Quality is an Australian cancer charity working to improve the quality of life for kids facing cancer.

For 40 years, the organisation has aimed to help children and their families build optimism and resilience towards their cancer experience through community, education and a fun programs and services.

Team member Martine Pollard said supporting Camp Quality for their venture was an easy choice.

“We all work for Rip Curl together and collectively thought fundraising for a charity was a great way of also getting fit and socialising.

“Immediately, the connection of trying to help kids resonated with us and our hearts melted when we learnt more about Camp Quality.

“These kids are obviously facing some of the worst diagnoses possible, so for us to get fit and do it all for such a good cause is just amazing.”

“I’ve had a history of cancer in my family, so I had a really great reason to get on board,” team member Ethan Harbison said.

“You see the videos of the kids smiling from ear to ear at these programs Camp Quality run and it makes it an absolute no-brainer to get behind.

“I did some fundraising and running last year for Beyond Blue and felt participating in this was another great way of raising money for an amazing cause.”

With just over a week remaining in the campaign, Ms Pollard said the team are tracking well towards achieving their goal.

“Last week we excitingly ticked over halfway and are looking likely to hitting our goal.

“Some of us have to lift, while some of our team members have been smashing it.

“Ethan has been huge and is well on his way to single handedly doing 250km during the month.

“We’ve all got different goals and schedules, but during the next week or so, we hope to complete a few runs or walks together to finish it all off!”

If they are to achieve their $5,000 goal, the local team will fund the costs of sending up to 12 children off to Camp Quality programs.

To donate, head to fundraise.campquality.org.au/fundraisers/FiveForFive