“I had never been a runner in my life. I started 4 years ago when I was a Uni student and I was working and studying. My back was playing up so my husband persuaded me to do the Cliffy shuffle and that’s how I started, pretty much shuffling. I kept going to small events around the area when I started which was out west.
I had heard of parkrun and was considering bringing it to the town we were living in at the time but due to circumstances it didn’t happen. My mum and sister lived on the Sunshine Coast and we used to visit. The parkrun was happening there and we joined in. It was this amazing community where we were welcomed. They didn’t know us but we felt part of the family. My Mum was 70 and started to Park Walk and her first time she did in a bit over and hour. Her aim was to get a personal best in under an hour. Every parkrun is 5 km and we start at 7am here in Lismore.
My mum was diagnosed with lung cancer and thankfully my twin daughters and I were living here in Lismore at the time and my husband was waiting on a transfer back to Lismore. We used to go up to The Sunny Coast anyway and do our ritual parkrunun with mum, even with her lung cancer, she was still walking. She was given 4 months to live and she lived 9 months. She was kind of what parkrun is all about. If she didn’t turn up people would say, Where’s Flo? So we made up shirts for my mum and they’re called ‘Fabulous Flo Fighter’ shirts. Whenever we run we give love hearts so if you see me give a love heart it’s my love to my mum. Mum was an inspiration of the true spirit of what parkrun is. It’s about coming together, being a community and caring for each other. It’s about embracing each other no matter what your lifestyle is or what your circumstances are. It’s about support and encouragement of each other.
I applied for several grants for parkrun here but wasn’t successful so I put it on hold and our Fabulous Flo passed away on the 4th July last year so I’ve just marked her anniversary and today I ran for her. My daughter Chloe, Leah and I have become 3 strong women and we ran for mum today though I didn’t feel great because I had just done a half marathon.
My sister is an event director on The Sunny coast and I’m an event director here. She runs a parkrun as well. My daughters and I used to commute to Yamba every Saturday. We would get up at 4.30 and be at Yamba every Sat to do a parkrun so I learnt the ropes off Vicki and Scott down there and then I was so determined that it would happen here. I approached all the businesses that now sponsor us, Goonellabah Physio, Inter-sport, Northern Co-operative Meatworks, Cross Miller Wilkinson Accountants, On Farm Auto air and Goonellabah Chiropractic Centre. We launched on the 2nd April and I dedicated our launch to Mum.
Even though I’m not a runner I want people to know that you can still come here and walk. It doesn’t matter. It’s about getting fit in a supportive environment in an atmosphere that encourages inclusiveness. We are all the same here. Doesn’t matter about race, gender, financial status, it’s about coming together and having a beautiful Saturday morning experience.
We have mums with bubs in prams, marathon runners, teens, kids, elderly, all shapes and all sizes, dogs, it doesn’t matter. People can bring their families including the dog. It’s not a race. You run or walk against your own time. There’s no competition here, It’s about your own personal best. We don’t get paid to do this. We are all volunteers and it costs you nothing to be a part of it. Ever since we have launched our volunteer roster has been full. It’s so amazing. To be able to see people’s stories starting to emerge from Lismore parkrun is beautiful and touching in that we have helped build this community.
So for those who would love to come along we meet every Saturday. Remember where we used to watch the Lantern Parade finale, well that’s the spot. If you go to the skatepark behind Heritage Park and walk directly over that little hill toward the river you will find us. The most people we have had is 218 and the lowest 129 and it’s growing. People always ask me why I’m so happy. I think we all shine in our own light and my mum has made a huge impact on my life.”
My Mums quote was – ‘Aspire to Inspire before you Expire’
To register go to the link on www.lismoreparkrun.com.au/register and print your barcode and everyone’s welcome.