OVER $130,000 has been raised by Echuca’s Alastair Evans, who ran 270km this month to raise money for the Snowdome Foundation, a charity that helps fund blood cancer research.
Alastair’s mother Sally passed away in 2016 after living with myeloma, an incurable type of blood cancer, for 19 years. She was diagnosed when her children were young and given three to five years to live.
Alastair says clinical trials and treatments helped prolong his mother’s life. His fundraising will help fund treatments for Australian blood cancer patients, so they can live longer, better lives too.
The mammoth run from Melbourne to the Port of Echuca was one of Alastair’s hardest.
“The first day it was raining, and I had the wind straight in my face all day. These were the hardest conditions I’ve run in, but on the last day Mum must have decided to give us some reprieve and there was blue sky and sun.”
Alastair said it was surreal running into town with locals cheering. He was escorted to the finish line by a fire truck and police car.
“The community really rallied around Mum when she was unwell. This was exemplified running through town,” said Alastair.
He thanked his support crew; his friends Cody Bradley and Ash McCorkell, girlfriend Amy Farr-Jones, and grandfather, team ‘skipper,’ Brian Gretton-Watson.
“I’m so appreciative of everyone’s generosity. It is very humbling,” he said.
“The mission of Positive Journey was to bring people together and to provide hope, which is Snowdome Foundation’s mission statement, and this has been mirrored. It has been great to put a smile on people’s faces.”
“We’ve started something special. It will be great to continue on, so there are plans to do another run to raise money in the future.”
You are still able to donate by going to https://fundraising.snowdome.org.au/my-fundraising/22/the-positive-journey
