How you can run, cheer and help raise $25,000 for cancer charity

Whether you’re a budding triathlete, run club enthusiast or keen cheerleader, anyone can get involved in this Cairns sporting event making a difference for cancer patients.

Cairns Organisation United for Cancer Health (COUCH) fundraising and marketing committee member Nikki Giumelli will participate in the COUCH Charity Fun Run and COUCH board director Nick Loukas will compete in the Ironman 70.3 race. Picture: Brendan Radke

Whether you’re a budding triathlete, run club enthusiast or keen cheerleader, anyone can get involved in this Cairns sporting event making a difference for cancer patients.

The Cairns Organisation United for Cancer Health (COUCH) is an official charity partner for the upcoming Cairns IRONMAN triathlon, set to kick off on June 15.

For the more casual jogger COUCH is also hosting a 5km charity fun run along the Cairns Esplanade, held two days earlier on June 13.

COUCH director and IRONMAN athlete Nick Loukas said they hoped to raise $25,000 through the fun run and charity partnership.

“Obviously, IRONMAN is such an amazing event for Cairns, so we’re very proud to be partnered with them,” Mr Loukas said.

“It’s a great way to experience what you love as well as raising money for a great cause.

“COUCH is an essential service that looks after people that are going through cancer or have been through cancer, and those supporting them.

“But it costs a lot of money to provide that support, and we rely on fundraising and donations from the public to provide that service to North Queensland.”

COUCH fundraising and marketing committee member Nikki Giumelli will participate in the COUCH Charity Fun Run and COUCH board director Nick Loukas will compete in the Ironman 70.3 race. Picture: Brendan Radke

If you’re better at cheering than running, COUCH is also offering a front-row seat to the IRONMAN finish line.

“We’ll have a COUCH marquee at the finish line that supporters can buy tickets for to secure a prime spot,” Mr Loukas said.

“There will be drinks and catering, so it’s the perfect place to cheer on the triathletes whilst helping us fundraise for essential cancer services.”

Limited registrations for the COUCH Charity Fun Run and the COUCH finish line marquee are open now.

Originally published as How you can run, cheer and help raise $25,000 for cancer charity