Hundreds of participants have already registered for this year's Activate! Queensland Cane2Coral and now the event has received a funding boost from Bundaberg Regional Council.
The Apex Club of Bundaberg Inc will receive $8,983 for the fun run as part of the Sponsorships and Partnerships Grants Round 3.
Kicking off in the region on 23 July, the upcoming event marks the eleventh year of Cane2Coral.
Through support of sponsors, participants, volunteers and the public Cane2Coral has distributed a total of $577,786 to the community and select charities since its inception.
With a 21.1 km half marathon, 15 km, 8 km and a 4 km course, there’s distances for both recreational and competitive participants.
The addition of a 2 km distance has bought a totally different and most positive dynamic to the event – inclusion.
Adults and children of all ages, persons with disabilities, wheelchair users (electric and manual), mobility scooters, and prams can participate.
Council's Sport and Recreation portfolio spokesperson Cr Vince Habermann said Council agreed upon the funding in this week’s Ordinary Meeting.
“Our Partnerships and Sponsorships program is a fantastic way for local organisations to gain some extra help when it comes to putting on great community events,” he said.
“The Cane2Coral is a wonderful, family-friendly run that promotes active and healthy lifestyles and provides an economic benefit of bringing visitors to the region while fundraising for charity.
“In the past it has attracted over 1,500 participants with expected attendance of 2,000 in 2023.
“Bundaberg Regional Council is proud to show its support to the Cane2Coral and the hardworking committee.”
The funding amount will support the hire of equipment including portaloos, barriers and more for the event, which will stretch from CQUniversity to Nielson Park, Bargara.
Activate! Queensland Cane2Coral coordinator Terry Harlick said he was thrilled with the news.
“It's awesome, this funding will go a long way in helping things,” he said,
“Already we have over 500 participants registered, and we still have three months to go, so we are expecting this year’s Activate! Queensland Cane2Coral to be bigger than Ben Hur.”
Terry said the committee’s decision to change the date and to bring back the “original” course had meant that the event is much more attractive to participants both within the region and across Australia.
“The event previously had a date clash with the Sunshine Coast Marathon and as a result many participants could not attend.”
He said early registration numbers were certainly reflective of this positive change.
“Additionally, and from a tourism perspective, we’re helping to put Bundy back on the tourism destination planner.
“We are most proud to be able to contribute to the regions long-term economic benefits.”
Terry said after a few years’ hiatus due to Covid restrictions, The Activate! Queensland Cane2Coral was returning at the perfect time.
“Positive mental health is absolutely at the forefront of everything that we are wanting to achieve and events like this are absolutely vital in connecting family, friends and workmates who in most cases haven’t been able to have too much of an opportunity to do so in the past few years,” he said.
“We are excitedly looking forward to the event and working with Council and our other sponsors in returning this iconic event to the community.
“We are most very humbled and absolutely blown away by the generous support of our sponsors, volunteers, participants, and the public.
“We thank them for their most generous support.
“Our new committee would like to take a moment to recognise that without the many hard years of work by the previous committee, sponsors, participants and the volunteers that we would not have such a great event, we sincerely thank them for their outstanding efforts over the past 10 years.”
Early bird registration discounts for the Activate! Queensland Cane2Coral will remain open until midnight this Sunday 30 April and can be made here.
All paid registrations prior to the 11 May will also go into a draw for a $500 pre-paid Visa card and $200 cash.
Anyone regardless of age, or ability can participate in the event.
Enter as an individual, bring your friends, get the family involved or enter a team from your workplace, organisation or school.
The Activate! Queensland Cane2Coral is proudly supported by the Queensland Government.
