Benita Crocker hopes to raise funds for five-year-old Matilda. 72965 Picture: DAMJAN JANEVSKI
By Charlene Gatt
YARRAVILLE mum Benita Crocker is getting in some last minute training before taking part in the first-ever City2Sea fun run this Sunday.
Ms Crocker, 37, will run the 14 kilometre course from Melbourne’s CBD to St Kilda Beach to raise some much-needed money for the Batten Disease Association.
Ms Crocker chose the charity after five-year-old Matilda, who is in the same playgroup as her daughter, was diagnosed with the rare disease.
Batten disease is an inherited disorder of the nervous system that usually manifests itself in childhood.
Early symptoms of the disease include vision problems, seizures, or personality and behaviour changes, slow learning, clumsiness or stumbling.
Over time, affected children suffer mental impairment, worsening seizures, and progressive loss of sight and motor skills. The condition worsens until the sufferer becomes totally disabled and eventually dies.
Ms Crocker has raised more than $2000 and hopes to get at least another $500 in donations.
She regularly does fun runs and has done the odd marathon – “before I had kids,” she laughed.
“I think I’ll be able to make the distance, but it won’t be an Olympic time.
“It’s exciting, it looks like it’s going to be a good course.”
Husband Ben and father-in-law Bob will also run the course, but Ms Crocker insists there will be no in-family competition on the day.
“My husband’s dad is one of those guys who doesn’t need to do any training whatsoever and then goes out on the day and kills us all,” she said.
“My husband and I don’t actually run together, we’re both pretty focused on getting over the finish line. We don’t take it too seriously.”
The City2Sea fun run has been touted as the sister event to Australia’s most popular fun run, the City2Surf.
To sponsor Benita, go to www.everydayhero.com.au/benita_crocker_5
