Thanks to everyone who particpated and/or donated in the 2020 WalkWest Virtual Landmarks Challenge

Almost 1,000 people completed the inaugural WalkWest Virtual Landmarks Challenge (VLC) last month raising over $140,000 in support of Western Health. 

Held between November 10 - 30, the challenge involved walking a virtual course of 42km in 21 days, checking into key landmarks and earning badges along the way. Participants took to their local areas to collectively walk more than 40,000km – longer than the distance between Melbourne and London!

Traditionally WalkWest is held each year on the last Sunday of March, with participants converging on Footscray Park to take part in a 2km, 5km or 10km walk or run alongside the Maribyrnong River. Over the last seven years the event has gained a loyal following, becoming a much-anticipated family event in Melbourne’s west. 

Due to COVID-19 restrictions barring the gathering of crowds, this year’s WalkWest was initially postponed and then reimagined into a virtual event. At a time when the community was feeling despondent with the ongoing COVID situation, the online event provided a positive focus for the community to get active while also raising funds in support of our healthcare heroes at Western Health.

The uptake to the virtual event was overwhelmingly positive with many of our live participants transferring across to the online event, and plenty of new people joining us for the first time. Feedback on the virtual event has been highly positive with plans to hold a similar event next year alongside our traditional live event.

WalkWest Virtual Landmarks Challenge Honour Board

We are greateful to the following individuals who raised $500 or more.