Coleman Greig Challenge: Your training starts … NOW!

Grab your sandshoes and put this date in your diary: Friday, October 20.

That’s the date of the fourth Coleman Greig Challenge, a big charity event on the Western Sydney calendar – and major fundraiser for My Westmead.

Olympian Jana Pittman – who is currently training to be a doctor – is an ambassador for this year’s event, so you’ll be in stellar company. Last year, more than 50 WSLHD employees joined the challenge, and this year we hope for even more.

The challenge itself can be as easy or, well, challenging as you want it to be. You can choose to walk 2.5km, or run 5km or 10km. Expect to see a lot of MAMILs (middle-aged men in lycra) on bikes; there are also two cycling classes, one for riders who coast at under 35km an hour, and the other for experienced competitors with a need for serious speed.

Staff can participate for free (but we’d love you to raise as much as you can through the Go Fundraise platform). You’ll get a free celebratory breakfast at Old Government House, as well as a free My Westmead drink bottle and t-shirt.

The only real challenge for some people might be getting up a bit early to get to beautiful Parramatta Park by 6am.

Organisers hope to top the 384 people who joined the challenge last year – and raise $175,000.

Funds raised from the Coleman Greig Challenge 2017 for My Westmead are directed to newborn care through Westmead Women’s and Newborn Health. My Westmead bought two new Panda Warmers worth $50,000 through funds raised from the Coleman Grieg Challenge in 2016, and the goal this year is to raise $75,000 – enough for three more.

Now you just need to do a couple of things:

• Register to be part of the My Westmead team – you’ll find details here. (Team – My Westmead,  Team code – MY WESTMEAD)
• Step 1 – Choose activity: Walk, run or cycle
• Step 2 – Fill out all your contact details
•  Step 3 – Choose your team – My Westmead – Join the My Westmead team
• Step 4 – Donation page. Enter your team code -MY WESTMEAD (case sensitive) and read and accept Terms & Conditions.
• You will receive emails confirming your registration and templates for fundraising
• Then, on the donation page, enter your team code -MY WESTMEAD (case sensitive) and read and accept Terms & Conditions
• Challenge your colleagues (you know you’ll beat them).
• Strap on your sandshoes, or slip into your lycra. You know you want to.
• Start training!

Even better, start fundraising. The money raised will be split between My Westmead, St Gabriel’s School for Children with Special Needs  and the Royal Institute for deaf and Blind Children, and will make a huge difference to many lives.

For more information about the challenge and the charities involved, click here  or contact Susie Saba at My Westmead on (02) 9845 8162 or susie.saba@wmrf.org.au