The Ballarat Health Services Foundation is the charitable arm of Grampians Health Ballarat (formerly Ballarat Health Services).

Adam McNicol, Ballarat Marathon Director, explains the importance of community engagement in the event. “The Ballarat Marathon is an opportunity to promote health and wellbeing across both the Ballarat community, and the wider running community,” he said.

“By choosing the Ballarat Health Services Foundation as our headline charity, we are demonstrating our commitment to exceptional public healthcare in Ballarat. Everyone in the Ballarat community relies on our health service at various times across their lives. We hope that everyone who joins our event helps give back to our health service through fundraising activities.

“Registration for each of the events in the Ballarat Marathon (mile, 5km, 10km, half marathon and marathon) will be open at 5pm on Sunday 27 August 2023, and participants will have the opportunity to choose to fundraise during their online registration process.”

Lindsay Florence, Chair of the Ballarat Health Services Foundation, says the foundation is delighted to partner with Ballarat Marathon.

“The key objective of the Ballarat Health Services Foundation is to support Grampians Health Ballarat in helping make our community healthier, stronger and a better place for us all to live. Our relationship with the Ballarat Marathon is a wonderful example of how we can promote a healthy lifestyle while also supporting our local, public health service.” Mr Florence said.

“We know that physical activity makes a real difference to both our health and mental wellbeing. We hope that Ballarat Marathon participants choose to go the extra mile and fundraise for the Ballarat Health Services Foundation. As an added incentive, we are offering free entry to the Ballarat Marathon for any individual who raises $500 or more (using an official Ballarat Marathon Fundraising page).”

Dale Fraser, CEO of Grampians Health, would like to thank Ballarat Marathon for their support of the health service.

“Ballarat Marathon’s commitment to the Ballarat community is evident in their choice of the Foundation as their headline charity partner. Their support, along with our community fundraisers, will make an important contribution to the provision of healthcare to our community,” Mr Fraser said.

“Fundraising allows Grampians Health Ballarat, with the support of the Ballarat Health Services Foundation, to enhance large, transformational projects such as the redevelopment of the Ballarat Base Hospital. On a departmental level, it means we can provide innovative equipment and services beyond the scope of our government funding, as quickly as possible.

“In regional and rural Victoria, a strong local health service is an important part of the fabric of our local communities. On behalf of Grampians Health Ballarat, I would like to thank Ballarat Marathon for the support and welcome this new event to Ballarat.”

Background information

The Ballarat Marathon, a festival of road running featuring a mile, 5km, 10km, half marathon and marathon, will be held the weekend of Saturday, 27 and Sunday, 28 April 2024. The event is open to everyone, from elite to recreational runners.

Online registration for the various walk, run and race options will open on Sunday, 27 August 2023 via the Ballarat Marathon website; www.ballaratmarathon.com.au/
Fundraising sign-up will be available during online registrations.

The Ballarat Health Services Foundation is a Registered Charity with the ACNC and has Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) status.