Run for Rio: Ashmore Little Athletics club band together to support Riordan Harris who was diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumour six months ago.
“He has a big heart and an even bigger smile.”
Those are the words of the Ashmore Little Athletics club who on Saturday banded together to raise money for junior athlete Riordan Harris who was diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumour six months ago.
At just 11-years-old, Riordan has been competing for Ashmore for four years and in that time, the long jump specialist and his family have had a huge impact on the club.
“They’re one of the first families to turn up each week and usually one of the last to leave,” centre manager Aaron Norton said.
“We wanted to give back to them in their time of need.”
On Saturday, Ashmore Little Athletics, with the support of Ashmore State School, staged a ‘Run for Rio’.
Abiding by COVID-19 regulations, athletes and classmates turned out in force to support Riordan and one of his teachers from Ashmore State School, Andrew Robinson, who spent the morning running 125 laps of Ashmore’s athletics track – totalling 50km.
Friends and family members joined in as the club continued to raise thousands of dollars.
Fellow Gold Coast Little Athletics associations Ormeau, Mudgeeraba and Helensvale has each donated $500 and the fundraising tally has now hit almost $30,000.
“It’s been pretty emotional at times but it’s definitely something we’re really happy to lend a hand with,” Norton said. “The athletics community as a whole has banded together.”
Harris’s mum Jennifer said they would likely spend some of the money on a family holiday in Queensland and the funds would also support the cost of treatment. Jennifer has stopped work to support her son while husband Brendon’s work was impacted by COVID-19.
“It’s overwhelming and it makes us really happy to know we have support in the community,” she said.
“He (Mr Robinson) said to me back in June this is what I want to do and it went from there. I was blown away.
“Harris is very positive and always has a smile on his face.”
The Run For Rio bank account is still open and donations can be made with the following details.
BSB: 034230
Account number: 506889
Article by Gold Coast Bulletin
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