Coffs Harbour Running Festival raises $50,000 for local charities Coffs Coast Coffs Coast - popup ad Coffs Coast News by News Of The Area - Modern Media - October 3, 2023 Rosemary Hepworth, Sergeant, Rotary Club of Coffs Harbour, at the Running Festival’s recent awards event. APPRECIATION was expressed to the numerous sponsors and supporters of C.ex Group Coffs Harbour Running Festival at a thank-you event hosted by Rotary Club of Coffs Harbour on Wednesday 20 September. The annual running festival, now in its eleventh year, was held on Sunday 10 September 2023 with a bumper turnout of over 1,200 people who recorded nothing but positive comments in the feedback survey. Advertise with News of The Area today. It’s worth it for your business. Message us. Phone us – (02) 4981 8882. Email us – media@newsofthearea.com.au From the smooth running of the event, to the new course which includes more of the Botanic Garden this year, runners and supporters gave enthusiastic praise. The Festival is organised by more than 50 volunteers and led by Event Director Keelan Birch on behalf of the Rotary Club of Coffs Harbour. Each year the festival raises money for local charities with 100 percent of the entry fees going to those local charities involved in the event. Volunteers, charities and sponsors gathered at Coffs Harbour Surf Club to share acknowledgement for their support of the event. There was an upbeat mood where everyone agreed the event ran super smoothly thanks to the positive collaboration of those getting behind the organisers to make it happen. “The Coffs Harbour Running Festival is a community event and has raised well over $250,000 since it began a decade ago, benefitting various local children’s charities,” Keelan told News Of The Area. “In 2023 we raised over $50,000 for local kids’ charities, such as Life Education, Early Connections, The Run Beyond Project, Mid North Coast Disabled Surfers and CanDo Cancer Trust. “We could not have achieved it without the amazing support from the community and sponsors. “We also held a Rotary Teams Challenge where teams of eight were randomly drawn to donate $1,000 to a local charity of their choice. “Over 25 teams participated in the challenge including schools, businesses, families and friends.” The randomly drawn winners include: Key Employment (donating to Rise Coffs Harbour), BitFit (donating to Salvation Army Coffs Harbour – kids branch), HQB (donating to Cancer Council Coffs Branch), CHUMS Running (donating to Kulai Aboriginal Preschool) and Bishop Druitt College High Performance (donating to Early Connections Coffs Coast). Coffs Harbour Running Festival had strong support from over 25 sponsors, including C.ex Group with overall naming rights, Baringa Private Hospital, Beachside Radiology, Southern Cross University, Key Employment and News Of The Area. “The date of the next C.ex Group Coffs Harbour Running Festival is set for Sunday 8 September 2024 with registrations opening in March 2024,” said Keelan. By Andrea FERRARI Jim Hogno representing the C.ex Group Board with Event Director Keelan Birch. Debbie Waters from Baringa Hospital with Keelan Birch, Event Director. Sisters Tianna and Hanna Legge from the Mid North Coast Disabled Surfing Association. Chris Barnes and Michelle Versluys, who run The Run Beyond Project at Nambucca Heads High School, with Keelan Birch. Early Connections Coffs Harbour Vice President Vicki Braine, President Ian Braine, Johanna Turner and Keelan Birch. Life Education Coffs Harbour’s Kim Shaw, who organises the Healthy Harrold program in schools across the city. Christine Clarke, representing the CanDo Cancer charity, with Keelan Birch.
