By KATHRYN BERMINGHAM
BRENDAN Webb is a big believer in the concept of paying it forward.
In June 2013, his son Archie was born 15 weeks prematurely, requiring resuscitation at birth and then two months on life support.
Brendan credits the doctors and nurses at Monash Children’s Hospital for his two-year-old son’s good health.
On Friday 18 September Brendan ran 50 kilometres to support the hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit’s work.
A teacher at Kooweerup Secondary College, Brendan and colleagues Jarryd Palser and Luke Tyrrell left Phillip Island at 3.30am to arrive at the school in time for the start of classes.
As well as the three runners, several other teachers from the school cycled or ran shorter distances on the morning to support the fundraiser.
Clapping and cheering welcomed each athlete into the school.
The morning also saw the college’s annual ‘big breakfast’ which offered students and teachers the chance to catch up over a range of fine food including bacon, eggs, pancakes and fruit.
Brendan had set himself a goal of $5000 but as of Tuesday 22 September he had raised almost $6000 to be donated to the Monash Health Foundation.
But he said that the event was also about raising awareness.
“Monash Children’s Hospital was just outstanding. I think a lot of the time it gets forgotten in place of the Royal Children’s Hospital,” he said.
“The more people that know about Monash Children’s Hospital, the greater their impact.”
To support Brendan’s fundraising efforts, visit www.newmonashchildrens hospital.everydayhero.com/au/webb.
