Rotary Team Challenge

Posted by Brian Hancock
 

Rotary Team Challenge Fund Raising Event in support of the Multiple Sclerosis Society of WA.  The Rotary Team Challenge event has been the major fund raising event for our Rotary Club over the last 4 years.  The event is run in partnership with the Multiple Sclerosis Society of WA (MSWA) with Rotary organising and running the event, the operating costs being shared equally and all donations received going 100% to MSWA.  The event involves teams of 2 to 4 people either cycling, running or walking along the beautiful, leafy Kep Track and the Railway Heritage Trail between Northam and Swan View in early May each year.  Teams can choose to cycle 75km from Northam, cycle, run or walk 50km from Bakers Hill or run or walk a half marathon from Chidlow to Swan View.  
 
 
Each team is asked to raise at least $100 per team member for MSWA and all donations are tax deductible.  Over the last 4 years this event has raised over $200,000 for MSWA which has been used to fund research into multiple sclerosis, for which there is currently no known cause or cure, and to support families living with MS.
Rotary has been fortunate to be supported by several corporate sponsors including Midway Ford, Maslen Podesta, Macquarie, Brookfield, Schindler Lifts Australia, Mechanical Project Services, Good Guys, Whitfield Rose and Swann Insurance.  The sponsorship funds together with the entry fees paid by the participants has enabled Rotary to raise around $80,000 over the last 4 years.  These funds have been used by Rotary to:
  • support the campaign to eradicate polio;
  • to send around 20 containers of second-hand medical equipment to Cambodia;
  • to send shelter boxes with emergency supplies to disaster zones like Haiti, Philippines and Syria; and
  • to send medical teams to third world countries to carry our pro-bono plastic surgery on burns victims and cleft palates.
We have also been very fortunate to get support from a large number of volunteers and volunteer organisations including:
  • The Rapid Relief Team who provide wonderful food and drink to the participants, volunteers and supporters;
  • Bike Valet who have transported bikes to the start lines;
  • Bicycles WA who have kindly loaned their marquees and other equipment;
  • Chris Hatton MLA who has volunteered to be our MC every year;
  • Excel Podiatry, Beth’s Remedial Massage, Bodywise Podiatry and the ECU Podiatry School who have all provided tender loving care to those with blisters and sore muscles; and
  • The Rotary Club of Mundaring who have provided marketing support as well as volunteers and participants.
Our next event will take place on Saturday 6 May 2017.  More detail and the the link to register is available on the Rotary Team Challenge website or follow us on Facebook.