Pitching in: (Left to right) Georgia Ryan, Carly Scerri, Melissa Mintern, Domaschenz Thomas, Gerard Warrin, Rami and Karen Resul all helped out in Red Socks Run.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
A group of Shepparton police officers have taken on Red Socks Run, a 60km walk or run to raise money for Kidney Health Australia and help find a cure for kidney disease.
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Chronic kidney disease impacts one in 10 Australians, with one in five First Nations Australians affected.
Shepparton police supervisor Gerard Warrin set up his team, the Blue Brigade group, with fellow officer Georgia Ryan and other local officers taking part in the month-long challenge during October.
He said he was inspired to join in after learning people who underwent kidney dialysis could get cold feet. To help in the fundraiser, participants are given red socks.
Mr Warrin has been fundraising for Kidney Health Australia for more than 10 years, and has been a participant in the Kidney Kar Rally.
“Ten years ago, I got involved in the Kidney Kar Rally because of a little girl out of Katamatite, and I had a good mate that brought a Mad Max Interceptor. So he and I have been doing it for a few years,” Mr Warrin said.
He said he participated in the rally to put a smile on kids’ faces, but once he saw the statistics regarding deaths from kidney disease, he wanted to do more fundraising.
“Two years prior, I decided to go in with a mate, Mark Haberfield over in Cobram, who’s a panel beater; so he built the car, and I could drive it. I did the car rally this year and with COVID halting fundraising, I thought, where can I help?” he said.
“I saw the Red Socks Run come up, and I thought, how I can take on the challenge? So I asked Georgia [if she wanted to join], and she laughed at me ... so [we] took the challenge.
“Sixty-three people a day get killed by kidney disease, so it’s essential to me that we can help out so they can find a cure.”
He said it was a challenging undertaking due to the floods, which interrupted the fundraiser, but he was proud to take part.
Ms Ryan said it was an important cause to support.
“Sitting around discussing it when Gerard told me the statistics, I thought, why not do it? and so made it a challenge for myself doing the 60km ride, run and walk,” Ms Ryan said.
“I got through the ride but couldn’t do the run and walk due to the floods, but it was great to help.”
Over the month, the group raised $6000, with the Overlander Hotel and Alpine Hospitality Insurance pitching in with $500 each. Stanley’s Cafe provided $2000, with one dollar from each coffee sold going towards the donation.
Support:Stanley’s Cafe collected $2000, which was donated to the cause.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
Stanley’s Cafe manager Karen Resul said when Mr Warrin came into the café and explained what he was doing, it touched her heart.
“I thought, ‘how can we help?’ after I heard about the cause,” Ms Resul said.
Mr Warrin encouraged people to have more regular check-ups with their doctor.
“It is a good thing we are funding around research and developing a cure, because we need to check up, as it is a silent killer,” he said.
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