Father runs more than 40km in a marathon fundraising effort for Katanning Community Childcare Centre

Marathon runner and father-of-two Johan Stassen ran more than 40km on Saturday to help the Katanning Community Childcare Centre smash its fundraising goal and get back on its feet in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis. It has been a difficult three months for childcare centres across the country after the Federal Government implemented a free emergency childcare package to support families during the peak of the pandemic in April. The change forced educators to operate on half their regular income, reduce student numbers, stand down staff and slash service hours. But the sector is set for another shake-up next week, when the Federal Government switches back to the national Child Care Subsidy. As a result, the Katanning Community Childcare Centre had to think of a creative solution to raise enough money to take on more students. Mr Stassen, an experienced marathon runner whose children attend the childcare centre, lent his legs to the cause, volunteering to run from Kojonup to Katanning on Saturday. He finished in just over five hours and was welcomed by a cheering crowd of children and parents. “I think mentally it was one of my tougher races especially running it alone,” he said. “Usually you share the field with fellow athletes and supporters along the road but luckily it was made easier with my wife meeting me at certain points on the route and some of my colleagues and friends driving out.” Mr Stassen said it was nice to be part of a team effort to support the centre. “The childcare centre did all the hard work — I just did the kilometres,” he said. “I am very happy and relieved that everything went so well. We will definitely consider doing this annually and see if we can hopefully draw in more runners as well.” Katanning Community Childcare Centre director Julie Hawkins said it was a “phenomenal achievement” to almost double the original goal of $2500, by raising $4800. “We far exceeded our expectations,” she said. “We had fantastic support from everyone, in particular Johan’s neighbours, his workplace and he was also handed money as he was running. “The money raised is directly benefiting the children.”