One of Community Living and Respite Services’ biggest fundraisers, this year's event will be the first to be run in Echuca-Moama, and CLRS chief executive Leah Taaffe couldn't be more thrilled to see it launched in its own community.
“We're really excited to bring Johnno's Run home to the Echuca-Moama community in September,” Ms Taaffe said.
“And we're delighted to work with all our major sponsors and the Murray River Council to make it happen.”
For those with a keen eye, September 5 is Father's Day, with the CLRS team encouraging families to also get out and participate, with a pre-event warm-up — Run with Dad Dash — a special feature on the day.
Ms Taaffe said the goal was to get as many people registered for the run and representing Johnno's Run out in the community.
“We've had 177 people travel down to Melbourne to do Run Melbourne as part of the Johnno's Run team in the past, and seeing all of those people with their Johnno's Run singlet on has been amazing,” she said.
“Hopefully we get at least that many, and we are hoping to have 300 runners, all in their Johnno's Run singlets, and running through the beautiful backdrop of the soundshell and beach and lagoon at Moama will be pretty impressive.”
Ms Taaffe said the idea was to make Johnno's Run an annual event in Echuca-Moama.
“The plan is to make this a big event, and one on many people's calendars,” she said.
“And we're hoping that it will also encourage people from outside the community to come in and participate, so that might help support some of those local accommodation providers who have missed out.”
Registrations are now open, with an early bird price available until July 29 before standard pricing kicks in until September 2. Runners can also set up fundraising pages, and to encourage those efforts, anyone who raises $250 to $500, $501 to $1500 or over $1500 will go into the mix to win a number of fantastic prizes.
Ms Taaffe said the aim was to raise $50,000 from Johnno's Run this year, with all fundraising going to CLRS's Opening Doors Project.
“It's an ambitious target, but we're hoping to get somewhere close to that $50,000, if not smash it out of the park,” she said.
The Opening Doors Project was founded to build homes for people with disability within the Echuca-Moama community, with the current project overseeing the build of four units at Barry St, Echuca.
“The town planning has been approved for that through Campaspe Shire Council and we're currently out to tender with the builders, so hopefully construction will begin in August,” Ms Taaffe said.
People can also get behind the project by supporting CLRS's Mega Draw, which is currently selling tickets for its July draw. This month's bonus prize include a $500 voucher to Morrisons Winery, a hamper from I Want I Need valued at $285 and a $150 voucher for Amcal Pharmacy.
Training for Johnno's Run has commenced on Mondays from 5.15pm and will continue until September. The meeting point is at the kiosk at Riverboat Dock on Watson St, Echuca.
To register for this year's Johnno's Run, head to https://clrs.org.au/johnnosrun or to set up a JustGiving fundraising page, head to www.justgiving.com/campaign/johnnosrun2021
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