An Echuca tradition, Johnno’s Run is a charity event for Community Living and Respite Services that sends teams of locals off to run, walk and even wheel in Run Melbourne.
After the postponement of Run Melbourne from July to November, CLRS decided to go it alone for the first time and host Johnno’s Run separately, keeping the original run date of July 25.
The new virtual nature of Johnno’s Run has allowed the Bocce Belles to get creative and chart their own course through Echuca’s streets, an opportunity they’ve taken full advantage of.
The plan is for the five bocce teammates to meet up near KFC, then travel a responsible 1.5m apart down Hare St before zigzagging along several back streets and ending their 5km walk at a (appropriately small) birthday barbeque.
Unofficial team leader Sue Hawkins said the Bocce Belles formed when her bocce teammate Sheree Arnold announced she’d like to support CLRS by taking part in their annual run.
“She said she’d like to do it and I said I’d support her,” Sue said.
“There is no way I could walk 1km, let alone 5km, so I’ll be riding alongside her in my scooter.”
As the friends got talking, their bocce teammates Katrina Delaney, Kelliane and Kathryn Ludbey all stepped forward to take part.
In addition, Sue also enlisted her daughter Lauren Hawkins and two grandchildren, Maranda, 11, and Ryan, 9, all living in Melbourne, bringing the team to eight.
“It really should be called the Bocce Belles plus Ryan, but he’s a really good sport,” Sue said.
“I know Maranda and Ryan do 5km activities down in Melbourne and I’d just asked them if they’d like to do the Melbourne Run with Nanna,” Sue said.
Now that Nanna isn’t making the trip to Melbourne, Sue’s family will be running virtually alongside her in their suburb of Mitcham.
“My son will take a photo of them and my husband will be taking a photo of me, so we’ll have some pictures to share,” Sue said.
“We will all have our singlets on.”
CLRS suspended fundraising once COVID-19 restrictions went in place, but before the halt was called the Bocce Belles managed to raise nearly $200 for the disability service provider.
“Considering how little time we had, it wasn’t too bad,” Sue said.
“We’d also planned a garage sale and a movie night but we’ve had to delay those for another time.”
Sue said the entire team agreed with CLRS’s decision to turn Johnno’s Run into a virtual event.
“It was a great idea to hold the run now instead of waiting for November, because we don’t know what’s going to be happening then,” she said.
“We all live in hope that we can do Johnno’s Run again next year.”
12°C