Marathon man Kurt Fearnley is racing in the Blackmores Sydney Running Festival Marathon on Sunday September 18, 2011 on behalf of Royal Far West.
Royal Far West is a charity in Manly which helps country kids access specialist healthcare. The organisation is currently strengthening its outreach services and trying to deliver more care to children in the areas where they live.
Royal Far West Clinical Services Manager Petra Milnes said any money raised by Royal Far West through the running festival this year would be going directly to the outreach program.
“It’s great to get the kids to Manly to experience the entire Royal Far West experience but it’s also good to treat them closer to home for some follow-up appointments. There is so much technology now – such as video conferencing – which makes this sort of follow-up care near home increasingly possible,” she said.
Fearnley, who is a wheelchair marathon champion, grew up in Carcoar and well understands the challenges country kids can face when regularly travelling to the city for healthcare.
“As well as being a wonderful medical facility, Royal Far West becomes a homeaway- from-home for these kids while they’re at Manly. It’s wonderful for them to have such a nurturing environment for their care and really great to see initiatives being taken so some of their care can be delivered closer to home,” Fearnley said.
Fearnley is currently in training for the 2012 London Paralympics. He is currently the title holder for a range of international wheelchair marathons and a Paralympic gold medallist.
You can sponsor him in the running festival and support the outreach work of Royal Far West at www.gofundraise.com.au/page/RFW
Media contact: Sharon Hogan 0421 619 097
