Justine Elliot (Richmond, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise today to talk about the ninth Byron Lighthouse Run, held on 18 October in Byron Bay, which is part of my electorate of Richmond. This is a great local event that I strongly support, and it has raised close to $120,000 for charity since it began. This year, almost 1,000 participants took part in the three events: a 10-kilometre run, a 6.7-kilometre walk and a kilometre dash for kids. The biggest team was from Southern Cross University, with 64 members. This event engages a whole community. The oldest participants were 84 and the youngest was seven.

I would like to congratulate Corey Samuelson and Amanda Watson, who finished first in the male and female categories respectively. Participation is a key facet of this great community event, with the $10,000 in prizes awarded not only to winners but also to random participants just for being part of this great day. The proceeds raised go to both local and international causes. Half of the more than $20,000 raised this year was donated to Rafiki Mwema, a charity based in Kenya and run locally in Lennox Head. It focuses on addressing violence and sexual abuse. The other half went to local health care, with proceeds going to technology facilitating better and earlier diagnoses of prostate, liver and breast cancer. So a whole array of charities benefitted from the moneys raised.

I would like to congratulate everybody involved. I am very proud that in our local area we have such fantastic programs. I admire them for their great work for our community, and for the work that they have done at both an international and a local level for the moneys that are raised. For everyone who participated, congratulations to all of you.