Hard yards: Alastair Evans running through the Port of Echuca. He’ll be running from Melbourne to Echuca over four days, leaving on Wednesday. Photo: supplied
Echuca's Alastair Evans is running more than 250km across four days – from Melbourne to Echuca – to honour his mother by raising money for blood cancer research.
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Mr Evans’ mother Sally died in 2016 after living with myeloma for 19 years after she was diagnosed.
He is running to honour her memory and to ensure other families don’t have to go through what his did.
He has raised more than $25,000 for Snowdome, a charity which helps accelerate new therapies and bring treatment to Australian blood cancer patients to let them live longer, better lives.
Mrs Evans was diagnosed when her three children were two, four and six, and was initially given three to five years to live.
All together: Alastair, Georgie, Hugh, Sally and Richard Evans at Georgie’s 21st birthday. Photo: supplied
“I’ve always had nice thoughts about Mum while running, but it’s just something I’ve always enjoyed doing,” Mr Evans said.
“She’s probably looking down on me wondering what I’m doing and thinking I’m mad, but I also think she’d be proud of me.”
He said he had been touched by the community spirit, especially by people across regional Victoria.
“It’s been amazing so far,’’ he said.
“There have been beautiful messages from a lot of people, people reaching out and it’s been wonderful to see — it took me by surprise really.
“It’s really heartwarming, especially knowing it’s going to a really good cause.”
It wasn’t the first time he’d seen that spirit either, with people rallying around his mother following her diagnosis and through treatment.
Memories: Alastair and Sally Evans together on a family holiday. Photo: supplied
“I’ve had so many calls and messages asking what I can do to help and continually ask if they can assist, and they were the same for Mum too — she had such a good network around her when she was having treatment or a tough time,” Mr Evans said.
Mr Evans works at Evans Shoes in Echuca and played football for Echuca.
His dad runs Evans Shoe Store in Shepparton and Mr Evans went to school at Goulburn Valley Grammar.
He has prepared with four months of training; the last few weeks he’s done a 40km run, then a 30km one the next day, then a few days’ break before another 20 to 25km run followed by a 10 to 15km one.
“I’m really excited, building it up for a few months or so, but there’s a bit of nervous energy,” Mr Evans said.
The run starts on Wednesday, June 15, with an 85km leg from Melbourne to Lancefield, before a 55km leg to Heathcote on Thursday.
Friday’s leg is from Heathcote to Rochester, before the final 30km leg from Rochester to Echuca on Saturday, leaving from the silo art at 8am.
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