Hundreds gather for Run Echuca Moama

The number of people running almost doubled from last year’s total of 350. The biggest jump in participant numbers came in the 21.1km run, where registrations surged from 65 people in 2023 to 171 this year.

The 2024 iteration of the event raised more than $50,000 for CLRS’ Open Doors Project, which aims to build homes for people with disability support needs.

CLRS chief executive Leah Taaffe was thrilled with how the day went, particularly seeing all the participants enjoying the course.

Ms Taaffe also shared her favourite moment of the event, which was seeing CLRS clients completing the run, regardless of ability.

“We were pleased with how the event went on the day. We had nearly double the number of people register this year compared to the year before,” she said.

“It was fantastic to see so many people out on Sunday morning having a wonderful time together running across the course.

“The participant feedback has been very positive, and they appreciate how well the event ran.

“My favourite moment is always when I see the clients we support at CLRS completing their event; it is essential that we are inclusive, and no matter your ability, whether you are walking, running or wheeling, you can participate.”

Ms Taaffe wanted to thank the volunteers who assisted in running the event and the generosity of the broader community in supporting the cause.

Ms Taaffe and CLRS are already planning to make next year’s event bigger and better, setting a lofty participation goal for 2025.

“We have an amazing community, and it is a special place that we live in; I am grateful for all the local support,” she said.

“This year, 74 people volunteered, some for the first time. It is fabulous to have that local support, and we couldn’t run the event without it.

“We have a whiteboard in the office with a load of ideas already written down for next year, and we will continue to tweak and improve the event every year.

“We want to have 1000 participants next year. It would be incredible for our little twin towns to have that many people coming together for a cause.”

Jarrod Bateson won the 21.1km run with a time of 1:19:27, while Hayley Newman was the first woman over the line with a time of 1:26:40.

Mr Bateson said he enjoyed the event, spending the day in Echuca and supporting a good cause.

“I had a great day at Run Echuca Moama. It was a stellar course and a good atmosphere. I like Echuca. It’s a great spot,” he said.

“It’s a really important event and cause so it’s great to be able to support that in any way I can.”