VIRTUAL RUN GOES VIRAL
By LAWRENCE MACHADO
When Hills locals Joanne and Shannon Lum drummed up the cool idea of doing a virtual run to keep people healthy and active during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, little did they realise they would start a happy stampede.
Their ‘RWTW42’ Virtual Run/Walk Event ‘42.2kms in 42hr’ in May went viral in a matter of days with more than 10,000 people from around the world signing up.
Now the Baulkham Hills couple are challenging people to a Run for Research supporting National Breast Cancer Foundation, with a 9 hr team or solo Challenge on Saturday, October 17, with funds going to breast cancer research. The nine-hour challenge, from 8am to 5pm, reflects the national breast cancer survival rate of 91 per cent.
“Breast cancer affects almost everyone and we all know someone who has had their own battle or know someone going through or lost their battle with this insidious disease”, Joanne said.
“The event is open to children and adults.”
Shannon and Joanne, who have two daughters, Chelsea and Rhiana, are well known for their triathlons and marathons events and were stunned by the response to their 42 challenge event in May.
“The whole thing just exploded after we posted it and we got more than 10,000 in a week,” said Joanne.”It was a huge surprise for us to have this great response as it was born out of something to do during Covid-19 shutdown with our immediate run groups and local community.”
RWTW stands for Run With The World and is not only a fun event connecting you to thousands of like-minded people across the globe but also keeping you motivated, healthy and fit.
The couple, who also run the HIIT Crew Run Group every Tuesday night at Roxborough Park Rd, Baulkham Hills, are to motivate people of all ages.
She said she hoped the 9 hour challenge on October 17 would hold wide-spread appeal.
“These challenges will enable you to shine and showcase your part of the planet each challenge,” Shannon said. “There are many distances and events such as distance running, triathlon, and cycling, completed anytime within the nine hours challenge weekend.”
To sign up to the fundraiser visit www.42hrs.org
