10 October 2018

• Runway Run expanded to include food, entertainment and other family activities
• Tickets now on sale for the 25 November 2018 event, with proceeds supporting official charity partner Cure Cancer Australia
• Family Fun Runway Run kicks off six-week Sydney Airport Community Christmas Giving Appeal, which last year raised $408,000 for Cure Cancer Australia

Tickets are now on sale for this year’s expanded Sydney Airport Family Fun Runway Run, with money raised through the charity events supporting Cure Cancer Australia’s efforts to combat all types of cancer.

The annual Runway Run event marks the official start of the Sydney Airport Community Christmas Giving Appeal – a six-week fundraising and awareness campaign uniting the airport community and travelling public in support of a great cause. The Appeal has raised $1.4 million over the past six years.

Continuing its support for the Community Christmas Giving Appeal’s official charity partner, Cure Cancer Australia, the airport is once again encouraging families to lace up their runners and hit the tarmac as part of its popular Runway Run.

This year, however, the event will be expanded to feature food, entertainment and a host of fun family activities.

Last year’s Community Christmas Giving Appeal raised more than $400,000 for Cure Cancer Australia, funding a two-year research project into neuroblastoma, a childhood cancer with low survival rates.

Sydney Airport CEO Geoff Culbert said the expanded Runway Run would allow families the unique opportunity to run on one of Sydney Airport’s runways and enjoy a variety of fun new activities, while driving support for a great cause.

“The Runway Run has undoubtedly become a highlight in Sydney’s calendar and we’re very excited about this year’s event being even bigger and better with the addition of our new family fun day,” he said.

“We’re pleased to continue our support for Cure Cancer Australia and their vision through our Community Christmas Giving Appeal.

“The Runway Run is a great way for the community to rally together each year to support a great cause while also having a fantastic day enjoying a one-of-a-kind airfield experience.”

Cure Cancer Australia CEO Nikki Kinloch said: “We are thrilled to once again be Sydney Airport’s charity partner this Christmas. Cancer will account for an estimated 9.6 million deaths worldwide this year, and the only way we can improve this is through research.

“The Sydney Airport Community Christmas Giving Appeal is a fantastic opportunity to raise critically important funds for cancer research. The money raised as a result of last year’s appeal has provided a two-year research grant to children’s cancer researcher Dr Orazio Vittorio.

“This year, we hope to raise even more so that we can continue to fund bright young cancer researchers who dedicate their lives to making this the last generation to die from cancer.”

The Sydney Airport Community Christmas Giving Appeal launches on Sunday, 25 November with the Runway Run, where members of the public will have the unique opportunity to take part in a series of running races designed to suit all ages and abilities on the runway itself. Food, entertainment and family activities will follow.

Tickets for this year’s event can be purchased here, with all proceeds going to Cure Cancer Australia.

Additional activities

Over the course of the six-week Sydney Airport Community Christmas Giving Appeal, Cure Cancer Australia will also be running a series of exciting activities at the airport, including a giant Santa Selfie Bauble in T1 and a Santa Selfie Booth in T2.

These fun, family-friendly installations allow anyone to snap a selfie with the Cure Cancer Santa, which can then be shared across social media to spread a festive message of hope in the fight against cancer.

The appeal also includes opportunities to donate in-terminal via coin-collection volunteers, Rotary bins and through Tap to Donate machines at participating retailers.

Cure Cancer will also be hosting a 12 Days of Christmas Silent Auction, launching via curecancer.com.au on Saturday, 1 December. There will be a range of prizes available to bid on, with all funds raised going towards innovative cancer research.