THE man with the wheelbarrow will be back in town this week to start planning the Moree leg of an epic, Australia-wide fundraiser that includes a drop-in to Pallamallawa Public School.
David Batterham, from Goondiwindi and originally Moree, was in Moree last year to take part in Run the Plains.
What set Mr Batterham apart from other participants was his running accessory – a wheelbarrow he pushes to raise money for not-for-profit organisations and cancer-related causes.
All money raised through his Run the Plains participation was donated to Toowoomba Base Hospital, and he’ll be back in Moree on Saturday, May 2 to rally support for the local leg of an Adelaide to Brisbane marathon he’s planning for later in the year.
“I went to school at Pally and I’ll be in Moree on May 2 to visit businesses that might be happy to help out,” Mr Batterham said.
On August 22, Mr Batterham will start an epic three-state journey – cycling, running and pushing a wheelbarrow – to raise money for Neuro Endocrine Cancer Australia.
“I’ll ride my push bike from Adelaide to Toowoomba, then run from Toowoomba to Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, pushing my wheel-barrow,” Mr Batterham said.
The journey will also raise funds for Goondiwindi Hospital, Toowoomba Hospital Regional Cancer Centre and the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital Cancer Foundation. Along the way, Mr Batterham will call into Moree and Pallamallawa to help raise money for school play equipment.
“Pallamallawa Public School needs new playground equipment and Mitre 10 in Moree and the Pally Pub have agreed to run a raffle to help raise money.”
The marathon fundraiser will be the second Mr Batterham has organised in the last two years.
“My wife Judy passed away on November 15, 2024 and the hospitals I’m raising money for all have a connection,” he said.
“Money raised for Goondiwindi Hospital will be used to buy new equipment so people don’t have to travel long distances for tests and specialist treatment.
“Toowoomba is building a new hospital with a new cancer centre so patients will not have to travel to Brisbane for specialist treatment, and the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital has a private research centre that does research on all cancers to help make new treatments.
“These centres rely on funding from donations that help families going through cancer, especially rural families living apart during treatment.
“My wheelbarrow will be a gift to Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, and all the people who donated to the fundraiser will have the opportunity to sign it,” he smiled.
