A dedicated trio from Mandurah has harnessed the power of community spirit to raise a significant sum for vital medical research, all while preparing for one of the nation's premier running events.
Two Girls and a Grandad Take on a Dual Challenge
Local residents Abbey Ritchie, her husband Doug Ritchie, and their friend Hayley Gibson have collectively raised more than $8000 for the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research. The funds were gathered as the team, who call themselves 'Two Girls and a Grandad', train for the upcoming Sydney Marathon later this year.
The group started training together just over a year ago. The team's playful name originated as an inside joke. "Doug has always been a runner and his body doesn't quite recover as well as it used to," Abbey Ritchie explained. "Hayley and I are still pretty new to this, so we thought it was a bit of fun and a good way to show that we don't take ourselves too seriously."
Community Backing Drives Fundraising Success
After securing charity marathon passes from the Harry Perkins Institute in October last year, the team got to work on their fundraising mission. Their efforts have been firmly rooted in the local community, proving to be a resounding success.
A substantial portion of the funds, over $6000, was raised through the classic Australian method of Bunnings sausage sizzles. Their final push involved a prize draw held last Friday, which saw an impressive collaboration with 21 local Mandurah businesses. This event helped propel their total donations past the $8000 mark.
Ms Ritchie admitted that the fundraising aspect was initially more daunting than the marathon itself. "I was honestly more afraid of fundraising than I was of running the marathon," she said. "So to see our community embrace our efforts has been really great. The support we've received not only from community members but also from local businesses has been amazing."
Supporting a Cause Close to Home
The team selected the Harry Perkins Institute because of the broad impact of its work. The Perth-based institute conducts research into a wide range of life-altering diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and rare conditions.
"Harry Perkins does research for such a broad range of diseases and illnesses, there's not a person in the world that hasn't been affected or had a close relationship with someone who has," Ms Ritchie stated. "Their research has touched everyone in one way or another... The institute being based in WA is a bonus for us; we're very happy to support local organisations."
Perkins community fundraising partner John Springate praised the team's efforts, calling them "a bit of a legendary team here at the Perkins." He highlighted that Abbey Ritchie's dedication has inspired others within her network at WA Police, with two more staff members now signed up to represent the institute at the Sydney Marathon.
"The funds raised enables Perkins researchers to discover new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat life-altering diseases," Mr Springate said, underscoring the tangible difference community fundraising makes.
