Members of the public can get fit and challenge themselves, while assisting an Illawarra homelessness service next month.
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The inaugural ‘Wollongong Central Stair Climb’ fundraiser is open to individuals and teams and will take place on Friday, October 26 from 11am.
The beneficiary of funds raised will be Supported Accommodation and Homelessness Services Shoalhaven Illawarra (SAHSSI).
SAHSSI is a not-for-profit, specialist homelessness service.
SAHSSI primarily works with women, with or without children, affected by homelessness or domestic and family violence.
SAHSSI business development officer Jacqui Brooker said on any given night, SAHSSI provides crisis or temporary accommodation support for up to 112 women and children.
“Plus we support 210 vulnerable women, with or without children, in the Illawarra and Shoalhaven communities,” she said.
Ms Brooker said funds raised will go towards increasing their housing options for women throughout the region.
“SAHSSI is also on call 24/7 for women experiencing domestic and family violence. Housing options are not always readily accessible, so money raised will be going towards property purchase.
Organisers hope to raise $20,000 via the stair climb.
“We have three refuges across the Illawarra and Shoalhaven, and they’re always full.
“We also have two temporary accommodation sites… The rental market in the Illawarra and Shoalhaven is a very competitive market, and a non-affordable market.
“The women that we’re supporting are sometimes on Newstart or disability, so it’s very hard to find affordable options. And the women that we’re supporting are often single, so they’re up against couples and having to compete to get into the rental market.
“So it's really difficult to secure something immediately for them.”
Conducted in Wollongong Central’s Crown Tower, participants will traverse the course five times.
Each circuit will be 164 stairs up and 164 stairs down, looping around on Crown Street Mall.
The event will have two categories:
*’For Real’: The challenge is to do five laps of the Wollongong Central tower stairs in the fastest time.
*’For Fun’: The challenge is to get fit, raise money and give it your best shot.
Registrations are open now. Click here for more details.