Local school children were invited to attend the premiere of Push — the 444 Run Documentary on Wednesday, July 2 at the Paramount Theatre.
High school and primary students from St Joseph’s College Echuca, Twin Rivers, and Echuca Primary School watched Ben Welch’s journey on his monumental run.
Mr Welch said the daytime premiere, which ran over two sessions and saw around 550 students attend, had been great.
“The high school kids especially, they were really invested in it. I think the primary school kids got a good message out of it as well,” he said.
“It’s gone probably even better than what I thought.”
The documentary, filmed and created by Kate Newlyn, follows Mr Welch’s 380km run in March, which raised $550,000 for headspace services in Echuca, Swan Hill, and Mildura.
Mr Welch spoke to the kids before each screening, and announced a new fun run pilot project to begin in schools in March next year.
“It’ll be a fun run, mental health information day in the primary and secondary schools. We’re looking at trying to make that an annual event and get it into a fair few regional schools,” he said.
The project will raise funds for headspace and begin in the same regions Mr Welch ran for the 444 run, with the goal of eventually expanding statewide.
At the public night premiere, Mr Welch was also announced as a national ambassador for headspace, with more details to come.
Watching the documentary, Mr Welch said it was still hard to believe the impact of his run and the amount of money raised.
“I legitimately thought if I could make $50,000 or $60,000 it would be a really good outcome. Times that by 10, it’s just ridiculous,” he said.
“The community support is just unbelievable around here. They support everything that people do.”
Mr Welch thanked Suzie Shearer and Kate Newlyn for their support, and said he planned to keep on growing the 444 run into the future.