Last Saturday, over 500 participants headed upstream to take part in the Upstream 50k Challenge. The Challenge, which started in 2005, has become a major fundraiser for the Upstream Foundation and its beneficiaries: Camp Quality, Leukaemia Foundation, Samaritan's Purse, and The Leprosy Mission.
The event is unique in that all costs associated with the Upstream Foundation are funded by Upstream Print Solutions, enabling 100% of all funds raised through the Upstream 50km Challenge to go directly to the event beneficiaries. Last year the Upstream Challenge raised over $170,000.
The 50km event takes participants from Docklands to Donvale along the picturesque Yarra River. Four checkpoints break the 50km into 10km sections and provide participants with the opportunity to fuel-up with drinks and food. The event concludes at Donvale Christian College. For some competitors it takes just over three and a half hours. For others, they are still battling along after 11 hours.
Well-Being Australia writer Jeremy Dover teamed up with The Leprosy Mission Advisory Committee member Kate Wall to take on this 50k challenge. They were the fastest team to complete the course and raised support for The Leprosy Mission (TLM). TLM's goal is to empower individuals and communities impacted by leprosy. TLM works in partnership with individuals and communities affected by leprosy in 29 countries worldwide in order to restore and enhance human dignity, self-reliance and quality of life. The Leprosy Mission does all of its work in and under the name of Jesus Christ. www.leprosymission.org.au/AboutTLM.aspx