Race from the City to the Surf

01 September 2009

With the morning sun out and shining bright, 861 Rio Tinto employees and their families hit the pavement on the last day of August to raise money for the Activ Foundation in Perth's annual City to Surf challenge.

It began at 6:30am, their shoe laces and nerves tied tight, when 49 Team Rio Tinto Half marathon participants took off for the faraway City Beach, the Indian Ocean a world away from St Georges Terrace.

Hot on their heels were the elite, the 20 Team Rio Tinto Marathon runners. The most gruelling of all events saw participants endure the 42.2 kilometres through the CBD, Kings Park, Nedlands and ultimately City Beach.

Starting at the more leisurely Sunday hour of 9am, participants in the traditional 12km walk/run began their journey up "Heartbreak Hill", also and quite appropriately known as Mount Street.

Wheelchair competitors joined shortly after, speeding their way quickly through the field to the finish line. Without a doubt the most eclectic mix of participants lined up at Perry Lakes for the 4km event.  Serious runners, mums, dads, kids, and grandparents mixed with the odd chicken costume in running, skipping or walking to City Beach.

In total the Rio Tinto City to Surf team raised more than $31 000 for the Activ Foundation. This money will provide people with a disability accommodation, recreation, respite, employment and skills development support.

Community Investment manager Joanna McKenzie said it was incredible to see so many employees participate in this year's City to Surf, smashing the record for corporate pariticipation.

"We have a great group of employees who are passionate about supporting charitable organisations and are always willing to get involved."

"The City to Surf was voted as one of the top four fundraisers that our employees wanted to support in 2009 through the Choose Your Own Charity programme."