THE Hunter Boyle Children’s Swim Program has been announced as the official charity partner for the 2021 Campbell’s Shepparton Running Festival, which is scheduled to take place on August 21 and 22, 2021.
The festival has something for all ages and abilities, with categories including a marathon, team marathon, half marathon, 10km run/walk, 7km trail run and 2km Kids Dash.
Families and the youngest members of the community are encouraged to dress up as their favourite superhero and participate in this year’s RiverConnect 2km Kids Dash, which is dedicated to Hunter.
On August 12, 2020, Ash Napolitano and Matt Boyle lost their beautiful 2-year-old boy, Hunter. Tragically, he drowned in a Grahamvale dam while visiting his grandfather’s farm. He was feeding the horses, when in an instant he went missing and was found unresponsive in the water a short time later.
Hunter was rushed to Goulburn Valley Health in Shepparton where doctors, nurses and members of The Royal Children’s Hospital Piper Unit spent close to seven hours fighting to save his life. Devastatingly, Hunter couldn’t be saved.
Ash and Matt have partnered with Kidsafe Victoria to help ensure that children in the Shepparton region who would not ordinarily have the means to access swimming lessons, are provided with the opportunity to learn these lifelong skills.
The Program provides children with free swimming lessons for 12 months, water safety education and swimming accessories for them and their parents. It is supported by a number of local community organisations including the Greater Shepparton City Council, Aquamoves and The Bridge Youth Service.
All festival participants are encouraged to donate, and funds raised from the festival will support the Hunter Boyle Children’s Swim Program to continue to provide free lifesaving swimming lessons and water safety education to children and families in need.
