In January 2020, Lalor Running Club (LRC) committee member and coach Kirsty Branagan was diagnosed with stage three rectal cancer.
During 2020, the club helped raise funds through a running event for the Northern Health Foundation as a thank-you to the support and care they provided to Ms Branagan during her treatment.
Since the first DNF Ultra running event, two more members of LRC have undergone treatment for cancer at Northern Health. The fundraiser is now held every year, most recently on Sunday, April 30 raising over $3000.
Money raised through the fundraiser goes directly back to the Northern Health Foundation who provide funding to support research, equipment and treatments at their local hospitals. Ms Branagan said that it is empowering to see exactly where the fundraising goes.
“The Northern Health Foundation has been an amazing support to three of us club members in our personal cancer journeys, as well as many other community members either themselves or as supports to loved ones,” she said.
“To be able to give a small contribution back to this amazing foundation is really important to us.”
The DNF Ultra requires participants to run as many laps as they can with all the donations from the event raised for Northern Health Cancer Services.
For the first time ever the event sold out of entries with 72 registrations. Ms Branagan said that witnessing the recreational running community together and supporting each other while raising funds was a moment to cherish.
“The highlight of this year’s event was the lines of people along the finish chute clapping and cheering as our winner crossed the line for his 35th lap, after running over 56km,” she said.
“It gave me goose bumps.”
Donations can still be made at LRC’s Just Giving page, www.justgiving.com/campaign/LRC-supports-NHF
Hannah Hammoud
