Take a positive step towards a cancer-free future on 20 October
If there was ever a way to see Sydney Harbour in all its glory, this is the way to do it. The annual 7 Bridges Walk is a fundraiser for the Cancer Council, with the 28-kilometre course taking you through beautiful suburbs like Milsons Point and Hunters Hill.
Set for Sunday 20 October, the event will see participants walk a loop of the Harbour, crossing seven bridges as they go, including the iconic ANZAC and Sydney Harbour bridges.
Naomi Watson has completed the walk four times over the years, and says it’s a ‘family friendly event.’ Naomi is the Cancer Council’s director of marketing and fundraising, and explains that she has even taken her children along to ride their scooters for part of the course.
“It’s really accessible,” Naomi says, explaining that participants can either walk or run the whole course, in teams or individually, or they can take advantage of the free buses supplied by Transport NSW to ride a bus for a part of the course and walk the rest. “So you can really make it the event you want it to be,” she explains.
There are six starting villages around the course, with participants able to choose their preferred place and starting time upon registering. The villages, two of which include Milsons Point and Wollstonecraft, also become rest spots on the day, where food, drinks and entertainment can be found.
Those with moderate fitness can, on average, take around six to eight hours to complete the course, Naomi says.
Now in its 19th year, the event raised more than $2 million last year, with over 11,265 people taking part. The Cancer Council pours the funds into prevention campaigns, research, support services and education.
“Almost one in two Australians hear the words ‘You have cancer’ in their lifetime. And that’s just a huge number,” Naomi says.
“Cancer Council is really here for everybody impacted by cancer and makes sure that nobody has to go through a cancer diagnosis alone.”
She notes that the survival rates from a cancer diagnosis today have increased to 70 per cent since the late 1980s, when the rates were around 50 per cent.
“I know that many people do (the walk) because they’ve had a diagnosis or they’re doing it to celebrate a loved one who is going through treatment, or in memory of someone,” Naomi says. “There’s that feeling that everybody is united by a really amazing cause, and everybody’s there to tackle cancer.”
7 Bridges Walk
Sunday 20 October – Starting times vary from 7am to 9.30am
For registration and more information, including starting points,
visit 7bridgeswalk.com.au