Running for a cause

RUN Against Violence (RAV) is a volunteer organisation whose purpose is to end the silence by starting constructive and comprehensive conversations around family violence. 

Its Run Against Violence Virtual Team Challenge is a nationwide movement to raise awareness – and funds – by running 1300 kilometres in 19 days, from Broken Hill to Sydney.

Together with Brad Smithers, Kirrily Dear established the charity Run Against Violence in 2015. The RAV Virtual Team Challenge was established in 2017 in conjunction with Kirrily’s solo run from Broken Hill to Sydney which was held over 19 days. 

The 1300km solo run brought people together from throughout regional NSW to raise awareness about family violence and its impact on the community. 

Today the RAV has increased its reach and impact with thousands of participants all over Australia joining.

During the challenge, teams of up to 20 people will walk or run in their local area, inviting friends and family to sponsor in support of their efforts. 

Daily uploads of their distances onto an online tracker keep them in the competition. The tracker collects and collates each team member’s distances so the participants can watch their team track across the map from Broken Hill to Sydney. 

To be successful, the team is required to cover 1300km in the 19 days of the challenge.

Run Against Violence partners with the National Association for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (NAPCAN), to help ensure that every teenager in Australia has the opportunity to learn about what healthy relationships look like for them. 

RAV has already donated around $200,000 to the program in two years and this year is aiming to reach that figure in one go, the balance of revenue to be invested in other community education initiatives.

Heather from Inverloch joined Kirrily’s family team this year, along with her son Matt and sister Janene. Their team walked and ran 1,562km over the 19 days and raised almost $1900. 

The final day of the event was Saturday, September 17, and Heather, Matt and Janene met at Echuca parkrun to walk and run their final kilometres together.