Over 2,000 people from Sydney East and surrounding areas will be putting on their sneakers on Sunday 13 November to participate in The Bloody Long Walk, the national fundraising series for the Australian Mitochondrial Disease Foundation (AMDF).
Participants will walk the 35km course from Malabar to Circular Quay, with 6 checkpoints along the route, enjoying spectacular beachside and bayside scenery along the way, until reaching our spectacular cityscape at First Fleet Park, Circular Quay, whilst raising much needed awareness and vital funds to cure Mitochondrial Disease (Mito). Mito is a debilitating, potentially fatal genetic disorder that robs the body’s cells of the energy they need to function properly. The ability to walk, run or even just stand up un-aided, can be a daily struggle for people with Mito, which has few treatments and no cure.
BLW is a 35km endurance challenge that promotes health and fitness and encourages fun and the participation of families / work colleagues / fitness groups and individuals. There are 7 BLW’s being held in capital cities nationally in Australia, PAST: Adelaide 21 August, Sydney North 4 September, Perth 25 September, Brisbane 2 October, Melbourne 23 October, Canberra 30 October and our final walk of the Series: Sydney East – 13 November. This is the fourth year for BLW – which started as one event in Sydney with just 300 participants and has grown year on year to a 7-series event, nationwide with over 11,000 participants expected this year. There are over 1100 participants registered to take part in the Melbourne event and over 10,000 registered to date across all seven events so far, with numbers expected to increase over the next weeks as registrations continue for the remaining 2 events.
The AMDF does not receive government funding and relies solely on donations and fundraising events such as The Bloody Long Walk. Thanks to public support, the AMDF has funded major research projects, including a pioneering study that could lead to faster, less expensive and more accurate diagnoses of mitochondrial disease with a simple blood test, preventing sufferers from having to undergo multiple complex, risky and painful tests and biopsies.
100% of profits from The Bloody Long Walk will go to AMDF to fund research and patient support services.
Funds raised so far for Sydney East: $166,531.84 and over $1.5million over the seven events. See also http://www.bloodylongwalk.com.au and http://www.amdf.org.au and @bloodylongwalk on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for more background.
WHAT: The Bloody Long Walk, Sydney East
Start Line: Malabar
Finish Line: Circular Quay
WHEN: Sunday 13 November 2016
Start time: 6am – first wave of walkers/runners/joggers
Finish time (estd): 10am – first wave of walkers; 5pm – last wave of walkers ROUTE/CHECKPOINTS:
Checkpoint 1: PIONEERS PARK, MAROUBRA Checkpoint 2: CLOVELLY
Checkpoint 3: NORTH BONDI
Checkpoint 4: CHRISTISON PARK
Checkpoint 5: ROSE BAY
Checkpoint 6: RUSHCUTTERS BAY
FINISH: FIRST FLEET PARK, CIRCULAR QUAY