Families across the Hunter will raise heart rates and funds for children living in poverty this month.

On Friday 12 June, an inaugural Home Fun Run event will call on families to build their own obstacle course and raise money for The Smith Family.

“One hundred per cent of funds raised from Home Fun Run will go directly towards The Smith Family’s Learning for Life program and Toy & Book Appeal,” Newcastle Family Partnerships Coordinator, Lyn Falkiner, said.

“The funds raised will assist children experiencing heightened hardship and help them overcome the obstacles of poverty during this global pandemic, and long after.”

The Learning for Life program aims to provide educational support to the 1.2 million Australian children who face poverty.

“This program is providing vital long-term educational support to students who are at a heightened risk of falling behind,” Ms Falkiner said.

“Our families are relying on us now more than ever.”

The Home Fun Run initiative was created by School Fun Run, a long-standing fundraising idea that helped Australian schools raise more than $9 million in 2019.

School Fun Run Director, Brendan Hopp, saw an opportunity to re-purpose their fundraising vehicle to battle the economic impacts of COVID-19, while also giving families a fun physical activity to achieve together at home.

“We’ve seen the hardship Australians have endured during this trying time and it got me wondering, with a network of over 130,000 school families, what could we do that would help those most in need,” Mr Hopp said.

“After talking to The Smith Family, I was saddened to learn how significantly children experiencing poverty are affected by COVID-19 and the need to support their education to help break the cycle of poverty.”

Families are encouraged to hold their Home Fun Run anytime next week, with the official day on Friday.

Any funds raised are greatly appreciated; $20 can provide a family with a reading resource pack to help develop a child’s literacy skills, $50 can help a child who is struggling with reading, while $624 is enough to support the education of a child in need for 12 months.

For more information or to register, visit the Home Fun Run website.