In light of continued COVID-19 restrictions in both Victoria and NSW and its impact on Echuca-Moama as a border community, Community Living and Respite Services has announced Johnno's Run can not proceed in its current planned format on Sunday, September 5.
Earlier this year, CLRS committed to holding the run as a community event in Echuca-Moama after previously participating as part of Run Melbourne.
It is the second year Johnno's Run has run as a virtual event, following similar COVID-19 restrictions last year.
CLRS chief executive Leah Taaffe said the decision to again go virtual came with "tremendous disappointment from the entire team".
“The health and wellbeing of our participants, staff, volunteers, stakeholders and the wider community is of utmost importance to us,” Ms Taaffe said.
“While we cannot run through the beautiful surrounds of Echuca-Moama together as a community, we will continue to focus on delivering this event in our community in 2022 and beyond.
“We would love it if you still participated and completed the event as a virtual run.”
Registered participants will still receive their Johnno's singlet and custom-made finisher medal along with the satisfaction that their registration is going directly to help build CLRS’ next Opening Doors Project at Barry Street, Echuca.
The CLRS team will be sharing some 5km and 10km routes for both sides of the border with the public next week as options to run, walk or wheel on September 5.
There will also be photographers out and about capturing those people participating in the virtual event, with times and places to also be advised next week.
Johnno's Run has raised $366,038 over the past seven years for the Opening Doors Project, which builds homes for people with disability and enables greater independence and inclusion within the community.
“We want to take this opportunity to thank the community for supporting us, which enables us to support people to live the life they choose,” Ms Taaffe said.
“We want to encourage you to continue your fundraising efforts as every dollar makes a difference and will go directly towards building four units for people with disability at Barry Street.”
Register to run, walk or wheel the virtual event at https://clrs.org.au/johnnosrun/
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