Community & Business
24 June, 2022
Locals explore Mareeba all for a good cause
NEARLY 30 teams of runners, walkers and riders flooded through the streets of Mareeba on Sunday as they participated in the annual Mareeba Lions Metrogaine, raising funds for childhood cancer research.
The event, run by the Lions Club of Mareeba, sees teams make their way around Mareeba to find specific markers all while raising funds for the Australian Lions Childhood Cancer Research Foundation, This year the club put a twist on the event and included some phrases participants had to unscramble which was a welcome surprise to the participants.
Crossing the finishing line first, 2 Parkies, comprised of Sandro Soncin and Charlton Best, completed the course at 10.19am with a time of one hour and 49 minutes after starting at 8.30am.
Mareeba Lions Club’s Tom Braes OAM said despite the drop in numbers for this year’s event, everyone who participated got right into the spirit.
“It is amazing to see everyone out and enjoying the event particularly the families, mums, dads, kids, that is what it is all about,” he said.
“It is great to see people getting out, some people even brought their dogs and had them dressed up, the kids also got dressed up and had face paint on.
“The whole idea is to get people out of the house, have a little walk around and have some fun.”
The event reached the club’s target of $4000 to be donated to the Australian Lions Childhood Cancer Research Foundation.
To date, the Metrogaine has raised $38,000 for the charity over its 13 years of operation. In an event first, an ambassador from the foundation was able to make his way up to Mareeba and see how the Metrogaine runs and how many people get involved.
Austin ‘Aussie’ Lanphier was excited to be able to finally visit Mareeba and witness the Metrogaine firsthand.
“This Lions Club has been absolutely wonderful for us, they do this annually and raise a lot of money,” he said.
