Residents of Melbourne’s northern suburbs are being urged to pull on their runners to help raise money for paediatric services at Northern Health.
The Northern Health Foundation’s annual community fun run is on this Sunday, with participants completing three-kilometre or six-kilometre walks or runs from the Northern Hospital.
Northern Health acting chief executive Jenni Smith said money raised this year would be used to buy life-saving medical equipment for the hospital’s paediatric services.
She said Northern Health hoped to raise $35,000 thanks to the 1000 people expected to take part in the fun run.
Among this year’s participants will be Victorian Aboriginal Health Service (VAHS) healthy lifestyle and tobacco cessation regional co-ordinator Laura Thompson. She has taken part in the fun run for the past three years, and will be joined by members of her family on Sunday.
She said the fun run was important to VAHS because more than 50 Aboriginal babies were born at the Northern Hospital each year.
“The City of Whittlesea has one of the largest Aboriginal populations in Victoria,” she said.
“Getting involved with the Northern Health Community Fun Run is a great opportunity to support our health service.
“It’s a great opportunity to give back to your local community … and have fun, spend time with your family and feel great – not only because you’re being active, but because you’re also helping a great cause.”
To register, visit www.nhfoundation.org.au/funrun and enter the promo code STARWEEKLY to receive $5 off registration.
