Earle Page College, University of New England, Armidale

Established 1980

The Annual Earle Page College Charity Coast Run is now in its 31st year of life.  The run was established by local Armidale identity Brent Gregory, who debated with friends whether one person could make a difference in the world.

Students from Earle Page College at the University of New England make a pilgrimage each year from Armidale to Coffs Harbour to raise money for the Children’s Medical Research Institute.

Mr Gregory initially started the Charity Run with a strong motivation to support an organisation whose focus is on preventing childhood illness.

Every year a group of dedicated students at the College spend countless hours organising sponsors and staging fundraisers to make the event possible.  Events include the annual fashion parade, trivia nights, tipping competitions, Blind Date week, and even scavenger hunts.

A group of forty runners then make their way from the front lawn at Earle Page College, through Dorrigo, Megan, Brooklana, Coramba and finally to the jetty at Coffs Harbour, completing the tough 220km trek.

For the past five years, their efforts have paid huge dividends with the annual donation to the CMRI setting new records.  In total, Earle Page College has raised over $250,000 for the Institute.

Earle Page College Coast Runners upon arrival at the Coffs Harbour jetty in 2005