Coast runners get breakfast on the run
6th September 2010
The long tradition that is the annual Earle Page College Coast Run got off to a good start with a traditional breakfast in Curtis Park provided by its sponsor, New England Mutual (NEM).
NEM staffers were on hand to serve up bacon, eggs and sausages to the 40 hungry runners and their support staff before they left for the two day sprint to the coast.
In 31 years of fund raising including the annual run from Armidale to Coffs Harbour Earle Page College students have contributed over $400,000 to children's medical research.
College Head Andrea Gledhill said this year's total was expected to be a record of more than $40,000 from the Run, the annual fashion parade and other fundraisers organised by the students throughout the year.
"It's a sign of what young people can do when they put their energy and dedication behind a good cause," she said.
"They are so involved and it is very much part of the mindset of the college to broaden their education by contributing to the community."
Two researchers from the Children's Medical Reseach Institute Aimee Novelle and Charlotte Smith came to Armidale to meet the students and thank them for their efforts.
"To run 220 kms is mind boggling," Ms Novelle said. "It's a fantastic thing to do and it means a lot to the Institute which largely depends on community donations to do its work."
Both researchers are involved in finding drugs to treat cancer and discovering how cancer cells divide.
NEM CEO Kevin Dupé said the annual Earle Page Fun Run demonstrated the commitment of students to help others.
"Brent Gregory started the tradition when he was at Earle Page 31 years ago and I don't think anyone then imagined that it would become such a fixture in the college calendar and contribute so much to such a good cause," he said. "UNE students are so much part of our community and it's great to see them reach out in this way to help find cures for childhood diseases."
Below: New England Mutual Armidale Branch Manager Chris Stace, Brent Gregory, Earle Page College Head Andrea Gledhill and Children's Medical Research Institute ambassadors Aimee Novelle and Charlotte Smith at the Fun Run breakfast in Civic Park.
