Brookvale depot raises thousands for diabetes

You’d be forgiven for wondering if Sally Hill and Anne Newman of the Brookvale depot were extremely lost when they spent a week in Australia’s vast Simpson Desert last month. These two running partners, who are both drivers, were in fact taking on the “Big Red Run”

These two brave ladies ran the 250km through the Simpson Desert and with the support of their coworkers were able to raise around $7000 to go towards diabetes research.

The soles of their feet now slowly healing, and the swelling in their legs gradually subsiding, both are extremely proud of having finished the run.

When asked if she’d consider doing the whole thing again, Sally didn’t hesitate, laughing: “Absolutely not!”

The run, which snakes a path through dunes and desert with only pink track markers and iPods for company, demands an average of around 45km a day, for five days (A normal marathon is 42.195km.) On day six? An easy 15km walk.

While the ladies were slogging it out in the desert, back home their depot was well and truly behind them. Union delegate Narelle Sinclair made sure that their colleagues were kept in the loop, updating a notice board daily with their progress.

Sally ran with a total time of 47:45:41 and Anne got to the finish line; the Birdsville pub in 43:01:25.

The Union congratulates these two ultra-runners on their achievement; both in making it through the run, and raising so much money for a great cause.