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Team ACRF takes on Blackmores Sydney Running Festival

cancer fun runMore than 34,000 runners and walkers flooded over the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge on Sunday 21 September to take on the Blackmores Sydney Running Festival events.

The ACRF was humbled that 400 of those people were participating in support of cancer research. They were running in memory or support of loved ones, and tackling the challenge of either the full or half marathons or enjoying the atmosphere and scenery of the shorter bridge and family funs.

Together, our amazing supporters have generated over $40,000 for cancer research in Australia at the Blackmores event and we are so very grateful for the dedication and massive support we have received!

Our highest fundraisers for the event included Nikki and Joey, who ran for cancer research in memory of a very close friend, Sarah. Sarah recently passed away from a rare type of bone cancer called Ewing’s Sarcoma .

The girls set themselves the gruelling challenge of running the half-marathon course in Sarah’s memory. Not only did they smash through the course but they also smashed their fundraising target, raising over an incredible $11,000!

Nikki and Joey represent so many wonderful runners, each of whom had an emotional reason to go the extra mile. We thank them so very much for their dedication and support. We’re incredibly humbled.

Along with our amazing runners we also had 15 volunteers who arrived at the crack of dawn to help the event run by setting-up and manning the drinks station.

We’d like to send a big thank you to our volunteers, including our teams from the UNSW Volunteer Army and corporate supporters Excelian, Makinson d’Apice and Leighton.

We hope you had a memorable and most enjoyable day![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Nikki and Joey – Fundraising for a Friend

Here at ACRF we are extremely humbled to have such fantastic and loyal supporters that continue to go above andNikki_Joey_Sarah_Web beyond in their efforts to raise money for cancer research. Sadly, many of our supporters have been touched by cancer personally, and their heartbreak and grief are what drives them to make a difference in the hope that nobody has to experience what they’ve gone through.

We’re incredibly humbled to share with you Nikki and Joey’s story – a story which has driven two ladies to fight cancer through research, in memory of their friend.

Last year Nikki and Joey met Sarah, a girl from America who was interning at Baseball Australia, where Nikki worked. The three girls hit it off instantly. Sarah was bubbly, happy and had a zest for life.

After returning home to Philadelphia, Sarah was diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma – a rare type of bone cancer that usually occurs in children and young adults.

“It was such a shock when we found out and it made us want to make a difference, even if it was small,” Nikki and Joey wrote when they found out about Sarah’s cancer.

“Everyone knows someone who has been affected by cancer and there is still so much more research to be done. Sarah is a strong individual and we know she will kick cancers butt.”

The girls set themselves the challenge of running the half marathon in the Blackmores Sydney Running Festival in September, and they’ve already smashed their fundraising efforts by more than doubling their target so far. Feel free to click on the above link to view their fundraising page and add a message of support.

In the midst of their training, Nikki planned to visit Sarah in Philadelphia to boost her spirits while she was receiving treatment. However in a heartbreaking turn of events, Sarah’s condition deteriorated and she passed away a few days before Nikki arrived. At her funeral, Nikki met all of Sarah’s family and friends and through her grief decided that she wanted to plan another event to raise as much money as possible for cancer research.

Together with their Mum, Nikki and Joey are now busily organising their fundraising event for next month, so keep your eyes on our Events Calendar where we’ll bring you all the details of the night very soon. We’d like to thank Nikki and Joey for sharing this story with us, and send our condolences for their terrible loss.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

ACRF’s first Blackmores Sydney Running Festival a wonderful success!

More than 32,000 runners and walkers flooded to Bradfield Park on Sunday 22 September to take on the Blackmores Sydney Running Festival.

As one of thirty charity partners, the ACRF was humbled that 260 of those people were participating in support of cancer research. They were running in memory or support of loved ones, either tackling the challenge of the full or half marathons or enjoying the atmosphere and scenery of the shorter bridge and family funs.

Together, our amazing supporters have generated over $50,000 for cancer research in Australia and, as this was our first official experience at the Blackmores event, we are so very grateful for the dedication and massive support we have received!

Continue reading “ACRF’s first Blackmores Sydney Running Festival a wonderful success!”

Fred Pham 500 off to a great start

Wow, you have to admire the stamina of Fred Pham supporter Kimberley Ung who was one of the first of the Australian Cancer Research Foundation’s supporters across the finish line in the recent Blackmores Sydney Running Festival nine-kilometer Marathon presented by the Sunday Telegraph.

“Yes, my legs were sore the next day” said the bubbly 19 year old recently after the race on September 19.

Kimberley said she took 55 minutes to complete the nine-kilometer course.

“A group of about 15 of us Fred Pham 500 supporters took part. Actually Fred was even there and did the course pushed around in his wheelchair. He was accompanied by his three beautiful daughters.”

Kimberley was one of the four former students of teacher Fred Pham, who have instigated the recent campaign to raise $100,000 for their “inspirational friend.” Continue reading “Fred Pham 500 off to a great start”