BY 9.30am on Sunday, the starting time for the Deb Rielly Run for the Kids at Kilcunda, the temperature had already passed the 30ºC mark, prompting organisers to change the course for the 10km run and caution other participants.
The move came in response to concerns raised by Team Manager and Wonthaggi Ambulance paramedic, Duncan Roney, a former colleague of the late Deb Rielly, that conditions did require caution.
“We were called out to some people in distress on the George Bass Walk yesterday. It’s the sort of thing that can come on quickly on a day like this and, frankly, we haven’t got the resources to deal with it if dozens of people were affected over a wide distance,” said Ambulance Officer Roney.
Organiser of the event, Frank Angarane of the Dalyston Football Netball Club passed on those cautions to more than 200 people who had turned out at the Kilcunda Beach carpark to walk and run despite the heat.
“We’ll make the 10km run an out-and-back event over a 2.5km course,” said Frank Angarane, while also cautioning others in the event to take it easy, to walk, to take advantage of the additional water stations and enjoy the day.
“We had 160 pre-registrations, and we would be over 200 in total today so it’s a great effort and a great cause. Deb and her family wanted us to keep the Run for the Kids going and as a club, we’ve taken it on for them now.”
It was the first time since Covid that the ‘Keeping Kids on Track’ run, under the slightly different branding of ‘Deb Rielly’s Run for the Kids’ was back and Mr Angarane couldn’t have been happier with the support it received.
“We’ve got it back up and running again and Deb’s legacy now lives on,” said Frank.
Deb’s mother, Barb Slavin, and other family members came along to support the day, greeting many of Deb’s old friends in an emotional prelude to the event.
“It started out as ‘Keeping Kids on Track’ and that’s what it’s all about. Deb was all for doing things to support kids who need help and the funds raised will go towards that. It’s great to see it running again,” said Barb Slavin.
Groups gathered together from 8.30am onwards and by start time, there were three waves of runners and walkers, many of them taking the opportunity of a dip in the water after completing the course.
There were no health incidents.
“People took Duncan’s advice and didn’t push it. We didn’t have any issues,” said Mr Angarane.
“We’ve got it going again and would hope to get bigger again from here adding in different sorts of events along the way.”
