Enjoy a fun day of races on the Beaches
Beach2Beach Fun Run is back this August for another year of entertainment and a commitment to supporting charities. This year, the race start has moved off the beach and onto the road at the west side of Dee Why Lagoon.
Organised by the Rotary Club of Warringah, the race will take place on 25 August. Known as the ‘most scenic fun run,’ the route follows the coast from Dee Why to Newport, where the Finish Festival will be held, with food and beverage stalls and loads of activities and live music.
The move off the sand adds a kilometre to the course, so the three distances are: 14 kilometres from Dee Why, 6 kilometres from Warriewood and 3 kilometres from Mona Vale.
Twelve-year-old Isabella Lombardo is one of the appointed ambassadors for this year’s run, bringing her incredible story of resilience to the forefront of this inspiring event.
Born with Cerebral Palsy, Isabella was initially told she would never walk or run and would be confined to a wheelchair for life. However, her family sought additional treatments, travelling to the USA for groundbreaking surgery to improve Isabella’s condition. After the treatments, much of her pain was alleviated and she was able to stand, take steps and even run with the assistance of a walking frame.
Isabella ia an ambassador for the event
Visits to Mexico for bone marrow stem cell treatments have also improved her life outlook, so much that this year, she is participating in the Beach2Beach 3 kilometre run.
Libby Lombardo, Isabella’s mother, says her daughter’s journey has been incredible, and being chosen as an ambassador has been very ‘inspirational’.
“Rotary’s been very supportive to us over the years. We were very fortunate that Beach2Beach reached out to us and thought that they would love some diversity in their ambassadors.
“(Isabella) is somebody that has been wheelchair-bound that was told she would never walk.
“Now she’s able to not just walk in a walking frame, but she’s running. The Beach2Beach is including all types of champions and all kinds of people that are in the spotlight for different types of stories,” she says.
Libby adds that her daughter has a passion for advocacy. “She loves showing people diversity and inspiring other people. She just takes everything in her stride, she’s very humble about how she can help others.”
Isabella trains three days a week for the race. “I like to inspire others to think anything’s possible. I think that everything is possible if you try. Give it a go no matter what. I love getting my body working and moving,” she says.
When she is not training, Isabella spends her spare time doing art. “I like painting, like people and trees and nature. I really like drawing,” she comments.
Her talent has also been recognised internationally, and she has been commissioned to paint an artwork for a mental health hospital in the USA to inspire the patients.
As an ambassador, Isabella is a trailblazer for other children facing similar challenges. Her journey has also driven advancements in medical care in Australia, making the life- changing surgery she underwent more accessible to others.
The Beach2Beach entry fee goes directly to the selected charities, while basic costs of the event are covered by sponsors The Harbord Diggers and URM.
The supported charities include Life Education, Surf Life Saving clubs, Women’s Resilience Centre, San Filippo Children’s Foundation, Youth Up Front, Be Centre, Northern Beaches Children’s Cancer Charity, Local Kind Northern Beaches and Stewart House and Rotary projects.
BEACH2BEACH CHARITY FUN RUN AND FESTIVAL
When: Sunday 25 August
Where: Starts at Dee Why
Races: 14km from Dee Why; 6km from Warriewood; 3km from Mona Vale
Cost: From $15 to $65
Visit: beach2beach.com.au