Strap on your runners to support Australians with blood cancer as Blackmores Sydney Running Festival goes virtual

Monday September 14, 2020

The Leukaemia Foundation will once again be headline charity partner for this year’s Blackmores Sydney Running Festival as the iconic event is reimagined as an entirely virtual festival for the first time.

While runners usually come together every September for a rare opportunity to run across the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge and finish at the Sydney Opera House, postponement of this year’s physical event means those hoping to participate instead have the chance to run their own race wherever they are and whenever they wish, and even to race against themselves.

The virtual Blackmores Sydney Running Festival launches September 20 and runs until November 8, giving participants seven weeks to compete in their chosen event as many times as they like. Participants can use the festival’s official training guides to help them achieve their best time and record their results with the help of an app or their own fitness tracking device – all from the safety of their own home or local area.

Leukaemia Foundation Acting CEO Alex Struthers said this year’s festival gave everyone a unique opportunity to strap on their running shoes wherever they are while supporting families affected by blood cancer, including people living interstate, regionally and rurally who wouldn’t usually be able to participate in a Sydney-based event.

“We know regional blood cancer patients aren’t receiving the crucial diagnostics and specialist care they need when they need it and are more likely to face barriers in getting this care, and the Leukaemia Foundation is focused on breaking down these barriers,” she said.

“So it’s especially fitting that we are a proud headline charity for a festival that has this year transformed into a great opportunity for more Australians to participate, regardless of where they live, without travelling to Sydney and while staying safe in the current climate.

“By signing up for the Blackmores Sydney Running Festival and running for the Leukaemia Foundation, you are making sure that every Australian facing blood cancer will have someone to turn to every step of the way to access the right information, the best treatment and supportive care, no matter where they are.”

The number of Australians diagnosed with a blood cancer has jumped 38% in the past decade alone. Today, more than 17,300 people are expected to be diagnosed with the disease this year and sadly, more than 5600 Australians will lose their life, an increase of 27% on 2010[1].

Projections show that while 110,000 Australians are living with blood cancer today, that number will more than double to 275,000 by 2035. Blood cancer is also expected to claim the lives of 186,000 Australians in this time[2].

“Blood cancer is one of the most common, costly and fatal cancers in Australia. There are no screening programs available for blood cancers, and there is no way to prevent blood cancer through lifestyle change,” Ms Struthers said.

“As we strive to help all Australian families affected by blood cancer, we are excited to again partner with the Blackmores Sydney Running Festival – a partnership which will help meet the growing demand on vital patient services in the post-COVID-19 environment and help us reach our goal to see zero lives lost to blood cancer by 2035.

“Staying active and connected has never been as important as right now, so whether you’re a walker, casual runner or ready for some competition running there’s a virtual event for you, and that means there’s an opportunity to play your part in raising essential funds to help save lives.”

The Blackmores Sydney Running Festival was first held in 2000 using the Marathon route of the Sydney Olympics. Since then, thousands of participants have walked, jogged or run in the steps of those Olympians in their own quest for fun and fitness, and funds for charities. While the route may have changed for this year’s virtual event, the festival continues to cater for all fitness levels with options to take part in a full or half marathon, a 10km run or the family friendly 3.5km fun run.

Find out more information about this year’s virtual event at https://sydneyrunningfestival.com.au/. To register to run virtually to raise funds for the Leukaemia Foundation, go to https://fundraise.leukaemia.org.au/register/blackmores-sydney-running-festival

[1] https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/cancer/cancer-data-in-australia/contents/summary

[2] https://www.leukaemia.org.au/how-we-can-help/advocacy-and-policy/state-of-the-nation-my-life-counts/state-of-thenation-download/

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