More than 250 runners and walkers and 100 cyclists took part in the second annual Keira Challenge on Sunday.
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In the process they raised around $3500 for and awareness about mental health.
Event organiser Rob Battocchio, of Activate Events, said the event started with former former chief of the Defence Force Admiral Chris Barrie, Keira MP Ryan Park, rugby league star Dan Hunt and Wollongong Lord Mayor Gordon Bradbery helping to send everyone underway.
Admiral Barrie and Dan Hunt both took on the challenge as well.
The fun run started from Mount Keira Demonstration School at 9am and finished at the lookout.
The male winner Tom Lyons finished the five kilometre uphill journey in 23.21 minutes.
“The winning time was quick,” Mr Battocchio said.
“Claire Rayner was the Queen of the Mountain.”
The 6.5 kilometre cycle challenge started at 10.30 from Edmund Rice College and included recreational and elite cyclists.
There was one German competitor but Mr Battocchio said it was 18 year old HSC student Aiden Kampers who set a record time for the time trial route from the college to the lookout.
The climb was professionally timed and the achievement is significant because thousands of cyclists have been timed on the same course over the years.
“It was a competitive hill climb for those who wanted to do it as a time trial,” Mr Battocchio said.
“And he (Aiden) is someone to look to the future as a potential international class rider.”
Wollongong triathlete Tamsyn Moana-Veale took out the Queen of the Mountain Cycle.
Mr Battocchio said there was plenty of positive feedback from people saying they wanted the Keira Challenge to continue as an annual showcase event.
“We wanted to create an event at Mount Keira that was challenging. And we wanted to activate the community to get fit for a cause,” he said.
“I think we have achieved that goal. I am rapped with the effort of the local community who have supported the event. If it wasn’t for the assistance of Mount Keira Demonstration School and Rotary the event would struggle. I would say 60 people were involved as volunteers. And the largest corporate group was South Coast Private which had over 20 walkers and joggers and half a dozen volunteers including the CEO.”
The next challenge for Mr Battocchio is going to be involved in organising is the Australia Day Aquathon which is being launched on Thursday. That will be done with the help Dan Hunt and Andrew Reid from Bondi Rescue. Reid will be skydiving in to help promote the showcase event.
