Shire residents lace up for Run Against Violence Virtual Team Challenge

A number of residents from the Cowra shire are set to take part in the fourth annual Run Against Violence (RAV) Virtual Team Challenge, to raise awareness of family violence by running 1300 kilometres in 19 days.

During the challenge, teams of up to 20 people will walk or run in their local area.

Daily uploads of their distances onto an online tracker keeps them in the competition.

The tracker collects and collates each team member's distances so the participants can watch their team track across the map from Broken Hill to Sydney.

Cowra local Nicole Paterson will lead the Walkies Talkies and Walkies Talkies Too and is on the organising committee of RAV.

While Woodstock resident Kay Widdows will again head Team Amazing, featuring plenty of familiar faces.

Together with Brad Smithers, Kirrily Dear established the charity RAV in 2015.

The RAV Virtual Team Challenge was established in 2017 in conjunction with Kirrily's solo 1300km run from Broken Hill to Sydney.

"Our job is to engage the broader community in conversations about family violence to reduce the stigma and isolation people who have lived with domestic and family violence," Ms Dear said.

"When that stigma is removed people then share their story, reach out for help. We deliver awareness campaigns and community activities in order to create the platform for these conversations around family violence to be heard."

In 2020 the challenge raised $120,000 and had 3,000 participants.

This year, the goal is $180,000 and 5,000 participants.

Registrations open on Monday, June 28, with the challenge to start on Monday, August 30.

People can enter as teams or as an individual and the team can help you find a team.