Stacey Crook, Brittany Smith, Cindy Wilson, Jade Whiting, Brea Griscti and Damien Griscti dressed up for the Run Melbourne fun run. By Danielle Galvin
CRAIG’S Crew were a particularly flamboyant bunch at the Run Melbourne Fun Run on Sunday.
Forty-two friends, family and hospital staff donned some very bright tutus in memory of their friend Craig, from Pakenham, who passed away last year.
His wife Leah and their eldest son Zachary also participated in the event this year.
“Last year I lost my husband six or seven weeks earlier and this year I came back with a bigger goal in mind,” she said.
Just eight months after he was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease, Craig passed away, not long before the Run Melbourne event last year. He was 38.
When he was diagnosed, Craig was referred to Calvary Health Care Bethlehem (CHCB) which is a specialist provider of palliative care and care for those with progressive neurological diseases and does leading research into Motor Neurone Disease.
With family and friends, she entered the fun run last year and raised $20,000 for the Motor Neurone Disease Association.
This year, the $23,000 raised is going to the hospital in the hope that other families can benefit.
“Last year we raised money for MND and this year it was to renovate a room at Calvary to help assist other families,” she said.
“My youngest son Archer was four months old when Craig passed away and my eldest son was four years old.
“The hospital staff were wonderful and they did everything they could – but there were extra things that could have been provided but it wasn’t their fault.
“We wanted to give back to them.”
With the money raised, Leah wants to make a room at the Caulfield hospital in memory of her husband as well as a double bed for families, a porta-cot and a hoist from the roof.
A Vegas-style fund-raiser was also held in recent weeks at the Novotel in Glen Waverley.
“It was such a good night – we had auctions and local businesses got involved,” she said.
“They have been really supportive.”
Leah wanted to thank local businesses for their support.
“We had so much support though from local businesses – Float and Coffee (Ryan and Karen) in Officer had a day where $1 from every cup of coffee went to our team raising over $500 for us,” she said. “Barry Plant Pakenham donated their time for the auction night and Jodee from Dress Fantastic Pakenham donated costume items for the run team.”
