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Last Sunday 11 August, Sydney celebrated the ‘World’s Largest Fun Run’, the annual City2Surf. The event brought a staggering 90,000+ people — the highest number recorded in the event’s 54-year history – together from all walks of life to run, jog, walk, and stroll the iconic 14 kilometre course from Hyde Park in Sydney’s CBD all the way to Bondi Beach.

This year, the team behind Beat Melanoma and the Neil Evans Melanoma Foundation (NEMF) took part in the City2Surf for the very first time and, while the famous 14km run sure is fun, we decided that even if our training regimes weren’t going to be too serious, our fundraising target should be.

Over the years, raising money for charities has become ‘the beating heart of this iconic event’. The race has raised over AU$55 million since records began in 2008, and 2024’s target of $3.5 million was a big one. 

Everybody knows there is nothing like a fundraising challenge to motivate volunteers, so the NEMF crew set ourselves an ambitious goal of raising $14,000 to support melanoma patients, a thousand for every kilometre of the challenging course!

To reach our goal, we were going to need a lot of help.

While in the end there were over a dozen people generously fundraising on behalf of NEMF, we managed to lock in team of six participants on the day. We all wore our Beat Melanoma branded t-shirts and hats, and the weather was, surprisingly, absolutely stunning after a week of steady rain and a terrible forecast. 

Overall it was a fantastic day out. It always is. Being in the back of the pack for City2Surf (we were all walking) is such an incredible experience. The route is lined from start to finish with spectators and supporters, musical and dance acts, DJ’s and more. Cafes, bars, and pubs are all open. Locals, sponsors, and charities alike hand out giveaways and hugs.

Amidst the fun and festivities, though, the City2Surf also serves as a poignant reminder for NEMF Founder Sonia Nazaretian of her partner Neil Evans’ passing in June 2021 after a heroic 3 ½ year battle against melanoma. Every milestone and event is also a chance to reflect on Neil’s endearing legacy and the mission of the Foundation.

“On this day I honor and celebrate you, Neil, and the incredible impact that you continue to have on my life and that of others,” Sonia said. “I promised you that the Foundation would help as many melanoma patients as possible have a fighting chance of beating their melanoma, for good. 

“Of course, I remember the one time we did the City2Surf together, too, because I beat you!”

With a longer lead time for 2025’s event and as we continue to explore connections, build our community, and develop corporate partnerships to achieve more reach, greater visibility, and grow our fundraising goals, the sky’s the limit!

As with all of our fundraising efforts, every dollar counts. In association with Melanoma Institute Australia, NEMF funds go directly to assist Australian melanoma patients with treatments and associated costs like transport, travel, and accommodation, the costs for which are out of reach for some Australians, particularly those in regional and rural areas.

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