By RUSSELL BENNETT
HUNDREDS of youngsters descended on Gembrook town centre recently for the latest instalment of one of the hills’ biggest rivalries – the kids versus Thomas the Tank Engine.
A morning of grudge races pitted the iconic steam train against some of its biggest fans in a test of pure speed as the event shared the Puffing Billy station with the local Sunday market.
And, as per usual, the kids came out on top.
But it wasn’t those running who proved the biggest winners on the day.
More than $37,000 was raised for the Paediatric Ward at Upper Ferntree Gully’s Angliss Hospital, with about 600 runners raising more than $10,000 through Everyday Hero fundraising.
Jayden Regan raised a whopping $1000 while Nicholas Cowdery raised $720.
It really was all about kids running for the kids.
The event, hosted by Emerald and District Rotary Club and an army of tireless volunteers is the only one of its kind in the world.
It features six races for kids aged from just three right up to 12.
This year’s fundraising effort brings the total amount raised from Kids Fun Run with Thomas events to more than $400,000.
Some of the standout individual performances from this year’s event included five-year-old boys winner Xavier, who also won the race as a two, three and four-year-old.
Emily, 12, raced in her 10th (and final) Kids Fun Run, while Kiara stormed home to win the Red Fun Run for seven and eight-year-olds.
Emerald and District Rotary Club president Kristine Ash said she was thrilled with the total amount of money raised and thanked sponsors Jefferson Ford, Emerald’s Barry Plant Mitre 10 co-op and Ferntree Gully Nissan for their generous support of the cause.
Next year, runners are encouraged to make a special effort to boost the fundraising again through Everyday Hero in what is sure to be another bumper event.
For more information about the Kids Fun Run cause, visit www.kidsfunrunwiththomas.org.au.
