Not only do they save lives on the beach, lifeguards from Bondi and Sutherland Shire are also raising funds for lifesaving equipment in the Sydney Children's Hospital “battle of the beaches”.
Cronulla and Bondi lifeguards put themselves through a gruelling 30 kilometre challenge on Sunday where they paddled on rescue boards, ran on the soft sand and road and swam from Bondi Beach to Cronulla Beach in a battle of the beaches and a battle of the fittest.
The aim of the second year event, was to raise up to $30,000 for the Sydney Children’s Hospital Foundation to help doctors and nurses tackle some of the most significant health issues facing children today and allow the hospital to purchase additional lifesaving equipment.
Tanya Sarina, head of community fundraising at Sydney Children’s Hospital Foundation said if anyone understands the importance of providing lifesaving assistance to kids in need, it’s lifeguards.
“Lifeguards work hard to save lives every day, so they understand the need to provide the best paediatric medical care 24/7,” she said.
“Fundraising activities like the Lifeguard Challenge are critical to providing world class care to more than 69,000 sick kids who come through the doors of Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick each year.”
The challenge set off from Sydney’s iconic Bondi Beach just after 6am on Sunday with the group starting the course with a 2 kilometre paddle and $13,000 already pledged to the cause.
The testing course they followed was:
- Bondi Beach – Bronte Beach: Board Paddle 2km
- Bronte Beach – Coogee Beach: Run 3.5km
- Coogee Beach – Maroubra Beach: Board Paddle 4km
- Maroubra Beach – Frenchman’s Beach: Run 6km
- Frenchman’s Beach – Kurnell Beach: Board Paddle 2km
- Kurnell Beach – Boat Harbour: Run 4km
- Boat Harbour – North Cronulla: Sand Run 5km
- North Cronulla – Cronulla: Swim .5km
- Cronulla beach finish
On the day, lifeguards carried donation tins for onlookers to donate on the run and to make it a bit tougher Cronulla’s Carl Van Zino pushed the new Sutherland Council beach wheelchair from Boat Harbour to Cronulla – the Lifeguards finished just after 11 am to a rousing Cronulla Nipper salute .
To make a donation, visit Sydney’s Children’s Hospital Lifeguard Challenge.