Rev Tim Costello joins runners crossing the finish line
We came; we saw, we conquered and we ran, 6,500km to be exact, exceeding our target by 500km.
After a MASSIVE month running through some of the most amazing locations in Queensland, New South Wales South Australia and Victoria, we were ready for a big finish on Sunday in Melbourne down by the St Kilda Sea Baths.
In typical Melbourne fashion, a deluge was cause for concern but it soon cleared for the final run along the beach with Rev Tim Costello to the finish line. It was also great to have members of the Port Phillip community as well as our friends and family running with us down Beaconsfield Parade in Middle Park to the finish line in St Kilda. It was a fun way to share the last 2.8km of the run.
Arriving at the finish line, it was fantastic to see a huge turnout of people ready to make the human sign of ‘000 CLIMATE EMERGENCY’. A big shout out to the folks who made that sign possible, it looked awesome. With the music playing, drinks flowing, people mingling, it was great seeing everyone supporting this worthwhile cause.
Image by Cloud9
Words can’t describe how we were feeling when we finally crossed the finish line. Words that come to mind are exhilaration, relief, exhaustion and joy to be reunited with our loved ones. We have plenty of catching up to do with family and friends.
After a few slaps on the back and photos with family, friends and our supporters, World Vision CEO Rev Tim Costello took the stage. He reminded us that our carbon footprint is starting to cost human lives and even though it’s proving difficult to find a binding consensus on the issue, it’s becoming more of a threat to our national security than terrorism.
He took the opportunity to hone in on what our run was all about, saving our climate and our country for the future generations of Australians. Runner and mother of two, Jasmine Pittman, told everyone she was running for the children of Australia and the rest of the world who didn’t have a voice.
We then heard from Tony Murphy and Steve Warrington from the MFB and CFA respectively whose first-hand accounts on what it’s like to battle climate change at ground-level resonated with us deeply as we all do the same. It’s getting that message out to the people, which is critical at this stage.
During the run we not only saw the impacts of climate change on various ecologies and communities, but we recognised and learned about solutions as well which made every kilometre more worthwhile, the fact that there are things people can do now to halt climate change.
As Dan Condon said on Sunday: “We’ve realised it is our generation who need to stand up and take action.”
Thanks to each and every person for their support on the road, at the events, online, those who donated to Safe Climate Australia, our friends and family for putting up with our insanity and everybody else who made Run for a Safe Climate the awesome month that it was.
But the journey is not over, and the Run for a Safe Climate continues.
We still have some way to go at raising the $1.6million we need to develop the Safe Climate Transition Plan and will be continuing to raise the profile of climate change in Australia in the year ahead.
We’ll also be taking a break before we think about a possible run around Australia next year – more than 17,000km – to tell people about the Safe Climate Transition Plan.
Until then, thank you for your relentless support. We will keep you posted with upcoming events, fund raising and updates for the future run. Stay in touch.
