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On Sunday 21 April, Queensland Ambulance Service staff turned out in force to support the 2024 Run Army event.
This year's event heralded a new partnership between the Australian Army and the state's emergency services, raising vital funds for each service's chosen charity to support their staff in their own time of need.
Queensland Ambulance Service’s Brisbane-based Emergency Medical Dispatcher Carly Daly knows just how difficult life can be after trauma.
Each shift, Carly takes calls from people experiencing possibly the worst day of their lives.
But she has also seen first-hand the devastating impact trauma can have when a family member who'd worked with Queensland Police Service (QPS) couldn’t continue their duties after a traumatic work incident.
In that case, the QPS’s Legacy Scheme was there to offer Carly's relative some much-needed support and comfort.
So when the Australian Army announced its 2024 Run Army event would team up with first responders from the Queensland Police, Ambulance Service and Fire and Emergency Services, to raise funds for their organisations’ own charities of choice – in our case QAS Legacy Scheme – Carly was ready to pull on her socks and sneakers to support our cause.
Spurred on by a desire to support her own colleagues experiencing similar struggles, Carly joined the QAS’s Metro North Run Club team for the Run Army event, held concurrently in Brisbane, Townsville, and virtually, on Sunday 21 April.
“Knowing other families may be going through hard times encouraged me to do my part to help raise funds,” she said.
As a result, Carly was one of the top QAS fundraisers, raising an impressive $1,150.
"As two of my best friends are paramedics, this gave me a meaningful way to contribute to them and their families to ensure they’re looked after if anything ever happens,” Carly said.
Carly admitted she’s never been a runner, but nevertheless recruited one of her colleagues, Lisa, training at the gym between shifts and pounding the pavement around her local suburbs.
“I posted on social media, and my friends and family all got behind me and donated generously ,” Carly said.
On the big day, Carly said the rain failed to dampen the crowds' spirits, instead keeping participants cool as they ran their course.
“The atmosphere was super encouraging and everyone supported each other along the way,” she said.
Clearly, Carly wasn’t our only incredibly dedicated QAS team member - our MN team was awarded a trophy for the best overall fundraising effort, (and a year of bragging rights) for raising $12,495, while all QAS participants raised a fabulous total of $20,822.
QAS Legacy Scheme's President Jamie Rhodes-Bates said Run Army had become the biggest single fundraising event for the charity.
“We can't thank people enough for getting involved in fundraising for us, and it’s been amazing to see people come out to support their colleagues and this event," Jamie said.
“QAS Legacy Scheme provides a range of services to all QAS staff, stepping in to help our families and us navigate life and ease financial pressures when we get sick, injured, or sadly pass away.
“Last year QAS Legacy Scheme provided more than $50,000 in grants to our employees and their families.
“The funds raised through Run Army will enable us to provide further grants to people in need.”
Jamie said QAS staff participating in Run Army had also boosted the greater public’s awareness of the QAS Legacy Scheme’s work.
“The more we grow, the more we can broaden the support we provide,” said Jamie.
Carly said she is now motivated more than ever to continue to contribute to the wellbeing of her “work family”.
“I feel really blessed to have taken part in Run Army,” Carly said.
“After all our fundraising efforts, I’m grateful we got so many donations to go towards helping our people."