A test of stamina

Bendigo Weekly | Bendigo Weekly | 12-Oct-2012

«
SMILING NOW: Kristin De-Coi with daughter Charlotte, Lauren McIlrath, Louise Fisher and Bill McIlrath.
»

MORE than 300 people from across Central Victoria are expected to “run for their balls” next weekend as part of Ball-Da-Dash, a charity half-marathon to raise funds for cancer research and the Bendigo Oncology unit.

The brainchild of Bendigo cancer survivor Bill McIIrath, Ball-Da-Dash is to be held at Eaglehawk’s Lake Neanger on Saturday, October 20 and will feature a 21-kilometre half-marathon, a 10km walk/run and a short kids’ race around the lake.

As Bendigo Weekly readers learnt in April, Bill, 33, was last year diagnosed with advanced testicular cancer, suffered a massive brain haemorrhage which left him in a coma for several weeks and underwent eight rounds of chemotherapy. He later had 20 dead tumours removed from his right lung.

After discovering there is no specific fundraising for testicular cancer research, Bill and his wife Lauren decided to do something about it.

Bill said Ball-Da-Dash would raise money for the critical work of the Australian and New Zealand Urogenital and Prostate Cancer Trials Group and Bendigo Oncology unit.

“ANZUP is Australia’s leading independent clinical trials research organisation in urogenital and prostate cancer. The chair of ANZUP, Professor Ian Davis, actually treated me, so I understand first-hand how important their work is,” Bill said.

All proceeds from ticket purchases, which start at $10, will go to ANZUP.

Additional money raised on the day via raffles and other events will be donated to the Bendigo Oncology Unit.

A number of businesses have thrown their support behind Ball-Da-Dash as sponsors.

Tickets can be purchased online before the event at www.balldadash.eventbrite.com or on the day.

Comment





Captcha Image