Hunter Water partners with Lifeline Hunter to support Newy 100
Hearts will be pounding and legs burning when eight Hunter Water employees join forces to complete a challenging 100-kilometre charity event on foot in a show of support for Lifeline Hunter’s vital services in the community.
The two teams of four are taking on the Newy 100 – a panoramic loop around Newcastle’s beaches, foreshore and Honeysuckle areas – on Saturday 1 and Sunday 2 May, with each member set to chalk up 25 kilometres, a distance greater than a half marathon.
The event, now in its second year, is raising funds to support Lifeline Hunter’s local suicide prevention and crisis support services.
Hunter Water’s Managing Director, Darren Cleary, said the organisation was proud to provide a grant worth $10,000 in total value to Lifeline Hunter amid the region’s ongoing recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.
“The safety, health and wellbeing of our staff and the community has always been our highest priority and this guided our response to both the COVID-19 pandemic and business activities as we continued to deliver essential water and wastewater services.
“The economic impact of COVID-19 is still being felt by our community and we have focused on how we can support and assist those customers who are experiencing financial hardship by offering flexible payment options.
“After the difficulties of the last 12 months, mental and physical wellbeing is as important as ever, so we’re delighted to be a community partner of the 2021 Newy 100.
“It’s also pleasing to see some of our staff members have signed up to test themselves during the event and support such a worthy cause,” Mr Cleary said.
Lifeline Hunter Senior Business Development Manager, Patrick Calabria, said every dollar raised from the event would go directly to supporting local services.
“The Newy 100 has become an important community fundraiser that helps local people access face-to-face counselling, video health services, telephone crisis and bereavement support and training services right here in the Hunter.
“This year, we have opened up the Newy 100 challenge to teams so participants can work together to complete the 100-kilometre event.
“We’re grateful for the community’s ongoing support and that of organisations like Hunter Water, without which fundraisers such as this would not be as successful,” Mr Calabria said.
Visit Lifeline Hunter's website for more information or to register.