The Big Red Run, a major new charity running event based out of Birdsville, has won the backing of Outback Queensland Tourism and Tourism and Events Queensland as part of a new campaign encouraging Aussies to take an outback adventure in 2013.
The new event, which will see runners and walkers tackle the iconic red sands of the Simpson Desert from 8-13 July to raise funds for type 1 diabetes research, has been chosen to feature in the ‘Outback Queensland Eventures’ campaign, launched this month by Queensland Tourism Minister Jann Stuckey.
Outback Queensland Tourism has partnered with Tourism and Events Queensland to promote the Big Red Run alongside other iconic outback events and tourism experiences under the “Eventures” themed marketing campaign.
“The Big Red Run is a great addition to the 2013 Eventures calendar and will take competitors to places in the desert where very few, if any people, have ventured on foot before,” Ms Stuckey said.
“The event will be Australia’s first and only multi-stage desert running race of this distance, with all funds raised going towards finding a cure for type 1 diabetes.
“Tourism and Events Queensland is proud to support the Eventures Campaign and the ‘Outback Promise’ initiative, which urges all Queenslanders to make a promise to take a trip to the outback.”
The Big Red Run was launched as the annual fundraiser of the Born To Run Foundation, a charity founded by amateur runner Greg Donovan, whose son Stephen was diagnosed with the potentially fatal type 1 juvenile diabetes at age 14.
Happening on the eve of National Diabetes Week, the week-long running event will give runners, walkers and adventurers the option of participating in the Big Red Run, a 250km six-day stage race, the Born to Run 100km or the Big Red Dash 42km.
The event also has the support of some of the biggest names in Australian running and entertainment, with ultra-marathon champion Pat Farmer announced as event ambassador and country music legend John Williamson set to perform a free concert atop the famous 40-metre high ‘Big Red’ sand dune on 8 July.
Donovan said it was a huge boost to secure the support of Outback Queensland Tourism ahead of the inaugural Big Red Run.
“We’re looking forward to welcoming runners, walkers and supporters from across Australia and overseas to Birdsville for the ultimate outback adventure,” he said.
“The Big Red Run is not just a chance for competitors to test themselves against the amazing red sands and parallel sand dunes of the Simpson Desert, it’s also an opportunity to experience the unique characters, culture, history and landscapes that make up the Queensland outback.”
Donovan said the event also gave competitors the chance to join an even bigger race – the race for a cure for type 1 diabetes.
All money raised from the Big Red Run will go towards helping the more than 130,000 Australians living with type 1 diabetes. The Born To Run Foundation will work with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), a charitable organisation dedicated to finding a cure for type 1 diabetes, to identify promising research projects for funding.
For more information on the Big Red Run, which is open to all runners, walkers and their family and friends as supporters, visit bigredrun.com.au and facebook.com/BigRedRun. For more on the Born to Run Foundation visit borntorun.com.au