Queenslanders are being encouraged to don their running shoes and join in the annual nationwide fitness event promoting health, resilience, and well-being as Run Army gets set to return in March.
Uniting Queenslanders in a powerful show of community spirit and fitness, the annual running event brings community members together to raise much needed funds for charities in support of first responders including Queensland Police Service (QPS), the Australian Defence Force and many more.
For QPS and the community, it's an opportunity to raise funds for Queensland Police Legacy (QPL), a not-for-profit service organisation dedicated to supporting the families of officers who have lost their lives or are suffering a terminal illness.
Kicking off in Brisbane and Townsville across March and April next year, participants have the option of taking part in the 2.4km, 5km, or 10km walking, running or virtual events.
Among those gearing up for next year's Run Army 5km track is Railway Squad member and avid runner, Senior Constable Julie Ryan, who is looking forward to participating for the very first time.
"The idea of taking part in a running event with other frontline service members, while promoting mental health and fundraising for a good cause such as Police Legacy, makes Run Army something I am excited to be involved with,'' Senior Constable Ryan said.
Alongside its fundraising, Run Army aims to promote both resilience and the discussion of mental health and its relationship with physical activity.
Over the course of her 20-year career with QPS, Senior Constable Ryan has always valued staying active between her shifts, noting its benefits for mental and physical health.
"Physical exercise like running is great for our mental health. Being in frontline operations, you see a lot of traumatic events, so I use running to clear my head and to run off any stress,'' she said.
Prior to joining the police Senior Constable Ryan was a two-time Australian amateur boxing champion and won two gold medals for Australia at the Oceania Amateur boxing championships.
She turned to running after retiring from boxing in 2012 and has since won a combined 20 medals at the past two Australasian Police and Emergency Services games in events such as cross country, track, trail and road running.
Though she's travelled the world to participate in events including the London and Berlin marathons and most recently, Ireland's Medieval Marathon in Kilkenny where she finished runner-up – Senior Constable Ryan speaks to the unique camaraderie she looks forward to being part of as she runs beside her fellow officers in Run Army.
"I am so proud to be a police officer and being able to work with the community," Senior Constable Ryan said.
"Events like Run Army provide a unique opportunity for us as officers to not only connect with fellow community members in a completely different setting, but also with our fellow frontline service workers."
Since it was founded in 1971, the QPL Scheme has provided financial and social support to hundreds of families and children when they have been at their most vulnerable.
QPL helps families of serving or retired Queensland Police Officers who have dependent children in fulltime education or below school age where that family has suffered the death or terminal illness of either parent, and irrespective of whether the death occurred on or off duty.
By taking part in Run Army, participants running for QPS will directly contribute to QPL's vital work, ensuring these families receive the care and support they need.
Registrations for the Run Army Fun Run are now open. For more information: https://runarmy.org.au/
Entries are now open for the 2.4km, 5km, and 10km running and walking events held in the lead up to Anzac Day with events taking place in Brisbane on 29 March and in Townsville on 19 April.
ENDS
For help, members of the public are encouraged to contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or visit www.lifeline.com.au or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636 or at www.beyondblue.org.au.
