Lane Cove Fun Run 2022 – Community Spirit in Action

The Lane Cove Fun Run 2022 was a resounding success with more than 2100 registrations for the runs and the debut of the ‘Showcase’ on Kingsford Smith Oval.

They raised approximately $5,000 for Sydney Community Services and $35,000 for Lane Cove Public School P&C.  What an amazing result!

A perfect warm and sunny day provided a stunning backdrop to the day’s events: a 5K race for the serious joggers; the 2K LONGueville Family Dash and the coming together of local extra-curricular activity groups, businesses, and food stalls for Showcase – a mini-festival of food, fun and movement that was staged for the first time ever.

Organised on behalf of Lane Cove Public School P&C by Race Director Lara Wehby, Head of Sponsorships Renee Maxwell and Community Relations Manager Caleb Taylor, this year’s event was billed as “More than just a fun run this year” and it followed an unfortunate fun run hiatus brought on by Covid restrictions in 2020 and 2021.

The Lane Cove Fun Run 2022 Winners

Congratulations to all participants, but especially the winners:

5K
Zbynek Hanys (16:27)
Bradley Chan (17:23)
Georgia Winkcup (17:35)

2K
Alec Simpson (7:06)
Harry Arnold (7:23)
Hudson Savage (7:38)

Lara’s son Vinny picked up first place in the Under-8 race!

Greenwich Public School won the junior inter-school cup for both the 2K and 5K races.
St Ignatius College Riverview won the senior inter-school cup.

It Takes More Than a Village….

Lara Wehby, who was at the helm for the first time this year, says the Fun Run was a huge success due to the army of 52 volunteers (many of whom weren’t connected to the P&C and just came from the local community); the assistance of The Timing Guys (who ran the actual races), JDP Electrical, North Shore Running and Fitness and Active Digital, who created and managed a new website from scratch.

Former Race Director Michelle Tabrett said that the community spirit was more evident than when the Fun Run began in 2016.

“Lara and her team achieved a top-class fun run for all race participants, volunteers, residents, spectators and local non-profits.

“The event has helped people connect post-Covid and helps us build a stronger, healthier and more vibrant community,” she said.

The support also came from large organisations.

This was the fifth year Lane Cove Council has backed the Fun Run and was on hand to organise the traffic management plan, waste and helped back the team with some online and social media promotion.

Traffic Logistics executed the Traffic Management at a discounted price in order to support the community event.

A huge thank you goes to the Longueville community for supporting the road closures during the morning.

Donations and sponsors

The event was taken to the next level with the generous support of the sponsors.

The entire event raised approximately $35,000.

This year’s gold sponsor was Raine and Horne Lower North Shore, the silver sponsors were The Foot Group, JBS Physio and Anthony Roberts MP, while the bronze sponsors included Boujee Boards, Four Frogs, Bloomingtails, Vision Personal Training, Studio Pilates, Lane Cove Orthodontics, Tier 1 Plumbing, Masala Kitchens Lane Cove  Jack & Co Food Stores and Well Run Consulting.

Other local businesses gave in-kind donations such as The Alcott which contributed $500 of credit for a volunteer’s after-party (which is very much needed and will be enjoyed!).

Last but not least – In The Cove was the media partner and we donated free advertising and promotion of the event.

Run for Fun and Move For Fun

Registrations were up by almost 700 in comparison to the 2019 Fun Run, and with the introduction of the Showcase, even those who aren’t partial to jogging or ‘dashing’ could be a part of the event – “run for fun, move for fun” was the mantra for the day.

The Showcase benefited from the recently renovated amenities at Kingsford Smith.  The Showcase provided a stage for activity groups to perform and show the community what they can do.

It provided a much-needed boost for participants who until recently have met behind closed doors because of COVID protocols.

Out in the fresh air, showing what they do best, were: Lane Cove Public School’s Wakakirri Group, Burns Bay Dance Studio, Drama Spot, Maria Lopez Zumba,  Dance Alley Performing Arts, Philotimo Freestyle Jujitsi and Lane Cove Theatre Company.

The Showcase also came alive thanks to all the community partners and businesses that created the mini-festival.

Food providers included OMG Donuts, Copper Drop Coffee, We Bowl’n, Boujee Boards and Four Frogs.

Lane Cove Cats did a wonderful job on the sausage sizzle and games in the no dogs zone, Lane Cove Swim Club (who organised sprints in the cricket nets), Breast Cancer Foundation, Lane Cove Rotary, the Lane Cove Sustainability Action Group, INSPIRE & Co, Tipsy Jam, Mums Going Strong and Harris Farm also took part and lent a hand where they could.

Kaboo Studio set up a kid’s zone with messy paint and face painting. Attendees were asked to contribute some paint splatter to a massive canvas artwork that was later donated to Lane Cove Public School  – a wonderful memento of the day and the combined efforts of everyone involved.

Giving

Race fees covered the cost of extensive road closures, RMS safety marshals, St John’s Ambulance and official race timing and bibs.

Sydney Community Services will receive 10% of the profit, to go with the $1,485.00 donated as part of the registration  The remainder will go to the Lane Cove Public School P&C to be used for Lane Cove Public School.

Lara Wehby said “It has been a privilege to take what was created in 2016 and continue to bring the community together. I love living in Lane Cove and I have enjoyed meeting new people and learning new skills that have challenged me to think outside the box. I have felt so supported all the way through from Family, Friends, Neighbours, the School, and the wider community. This really is a great village. And a huge thank you on the day goes to the Sydney weather.

We are already starting to think about next year and I look forward to continuing to work with the team and bringing new people in as well. We hope to see you all carrying your lane cove fun run bags.’