As more than 10,000 people pound the pavement for Run Army in Brisbane, Townsville, and around the world today, a smaller contingent are recovering after the Perth chapter of the event earlier in the week.
Australian soldiers from Perth's 13th Brigade were joined by an army of friends, family and community members on April 18 for a special run with a very good cause.
The Run Army event involved more than 120 participants running or walking either 10km or 5km to help raise money for Legacy WA in the lead-up to Anzac Day.
Run Army, which first took place in Brisbane in 2021 before spreading across the country, aims to strengthen Army's connection to the community, allows the public to show their support and thanks for Army's work, and promotes resilience, health and wellbeing across the wider community.
The soldier responsible for bringing the Run Army event to Perth for the first time in 2022, 13th Brigade physical training instructor Corporal Amy Carter, said the Perth chapter has continued to grow in popularity.
"Not only are we getting more and more soldiers from the brigade here each year, but we're also seeing more of their family and friends as well as people from the WA community," she said.
With Anzac Day 2024 around the corner, Corporal Carter said Run Army was a timely opportunity to help build further relationships with the community.
"The timing of the event is very deliberate in that it's just before Anzac Day, and so it's really heart-warming to see people getting behind it," she said.
"There are many Perth locals who may not even be aware that we have an Army brigade right here in the heart of Perth and so, for us, that connection with the community we serve is so important.
"Perth is also home to many veterans who have bravely served our nation and so the work done by organisations like Legacy WA to support them is vitally important. We're proud to do our bit for them."
The Australian Army's 13th Brigade is a hybrid combat brigade made up of both full-time and part-time soldiers.
Based in Karrakatta, it is home to the 16th and 11th/28th Battalions, the Royal Western Australia Regiment, the renowned 10th Light Horse Regiment, and the 13th Engineer Regiment, alongside several other critical support units including logistics, health and signals.
