Newcastle's Bloody Long Walk to Beat MITO
Nearly 1,450 residents from across Newcastle will walk 35km this Sunday, 10 September to raise funds for the Mito Foundation.
Sunday marks the fifth time The Bloody Long Walk has taken place in Newcastle and residents have already raised almost $150,000 with a goal of reaching $260,000
The walk kicks off at Belmont, heading up to Merewether taking in stunning views of the Pacific Ocean, continuing on to Newcastle Memorial Walk before finishing at Pacific Park, next to Newcastle Beach.
Mitochondrial disease (mito) is a debilitating, potentially fatal, genetic disorder that robs the body’s cells of the energy they need to function properly.
Participants will walk for more than seven hours, clocking up nearly 47,000 steps, all in support of raising funds and awareness for the Mito Foundation and its goal to end mito.
Among the walkers will be Bailey Walsh who walks for his wife Bec and all other mito warriors. This will be Bailey’s seventh Bloody Long Walk this year – he plans to complete all 11.
Mito Foundation CEO, Sean Murray, said the event is part of a nationwide initiative which supports families affected by mito.
He said walkers had extra inspiration to take on the 35km challenge in 2023 as the mito community prepares for clinical trials to get underway in Australia for mitochondrial donation to enable women with certain forms of mito to have healthy children.
This follows the passage of Maeve’s Law last year to pave the way for clinical trials of mitochondrial donation, which Mr Murray said were just one part of the Foundation’s ongoing efforts to assist those impacted by the disease.
“There is so much more work to be done, including research that is critical to find other prevention strategies, treatments and cures,” Mr Murray said.
“Diagnosis is key to prevention strategies such as mitochondrial donation and while progress has been made we are working to improve diagnosis rates through research and advocacy.”
“There is no cure for mito and children born with the condition generally live to about the age of five,” Mr Murray said. “Our ambition is to prevent as many children as possible from suffering from this life-threatening disease and to reduce the burden of mito on families and the community.”
About 70 Australian children develop a life-threatening form of mito every year.
An estimated one in 200 people, or 120,000 Australians, may carry the genetic change that puts them at risk of developing mito, or passing it on to their children.
For more information about The Bloody Long Walk, to share your support, or contribute a donation, please go to: https://www.bloodylongwalk.com.au/newcastle7/
