Geelong Running Festival

River’s Gift is proud to be an Official Charity Partner of the inaugural Geelong Running Festival, taking place on Sunday 20 September 2026.

Whether you’re tackling Geelong’s first-ever Marathon, taking on the Half Marathon, or enjoying the 6.5km event, this is your opportunity to challenge yourself while making a meaningful difference for babies and families across Australia.

The Geelong Running Festival will showcase some of the region’s most iconic landmarks, with participants enjoying traffic-free streets, a run through Kardinia Park, and stunning views of Corio Bay and the Eastern Beach foreshore.

By choosing to fundraise for River’s Gift, you’ll be helping fund vital SIDS research and infant safe sleep education programs that save babies’ lives. Whether you’re running solo, gathering a team of friends, family or colleagues, or simply supporting a participant, every dollar raised helps us move closer to a future without Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

You can also show your support by purchasing a River’s Gift running singlet, t-shirt or cap and proudly wearing our colours on race day.

Purchase Running Gear

Fundraise for River’s Gift

Together, we can make every kilometre count.

Register today, choose River’s Gift as your charity, and help us bring hope to families across Australia.

Meet Our River’s Gift Ambassadors

We’re incredibly grateful to the amazing individuals who have chosen to represent River’s Gift at the inaugural Geelong Running Festival.

Each of our ambassadors has their own personal reason for stepping up to the challenge, but they all share one common goal – helping create a future without Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

Over the coming months, they’ll be training, fundraising, sharing our message and inspiring others to get involved. From first-time runners taking on a new challenge to experienced athletes pushing their limits, every kilometre they complete helps raise awareness and vital funds for SIDS research and infant safe sleep education.

We invite you to meet our ambassadors below, follow their journey, cheer them on, and if you’re able, consider supporting their fundraising efforts.

Ben Boulanger Support Ben Taking on his first-ever marathon at the inaugural Geelong Running Festival, Ben is proud to be a River’s Gift Ambassador. Motivated by their mission to fund vital SIDS research and support families affected by SIDS, Ben has already surpassed his initial fundraising goal and continues to raise funds and awareness to help create a future without SIDS.

John Dickson Support John After dusting off the running shoes and returning to training, John is taking on the challenge of the Geelong Marathon as a River’s Gift Ambassador. He’s using his marathon journey to raise funds and awareness for vital SIDS research, helping River’s Gift continue its important work supporting families and creating a future without SIDS.

Lee Ruf Support Lee Lee’s passion for running began during COVID and has since grown into a love of challenging himself through endurance events. A proud dad of three, he’s taking on the Geelong Marathon as a River’s Gift Ambassador, using his connections within the Geelong business community to raise funds and awareness for SIDS research and safe sleep education. Lee’s goal is to raise an ambitious $20,000 to help create a future without SIDS.

Janine Laney Support Janine Janine is taking on the challenge of Geelong’s first-ever marathon as a proud River’s Gift Ambassador. Passionate about supporting families and helping fund vital SIDS research, she’s using her marathon journey to raise funds and awareness for a cause that is making a real difference across Australia. Every kilometre brings us one step closer to a future without SIDS.

Bree James Support Bree As a proud River’s Gift Ambassador, Bree is taking on the 42.2km marathon at the inaugural Geelong Running Festival to support a cause that means a great deal to her. Through her fundraising efforts, she’s helping raise awareness and vital funds for SIDS research and infant safe sleep education, helping create a future without SIDS.

Matt Gleeson Support Matt As a River’s Gift Ambassador, Matt is helping raise funds and awareness for vital SIDS research and infant safe sleep education. By supporting his fundraising efforts, you’re helping River’s Gift continue its important work and move closer to a future without SIDS.

Interested in fundraising for River’s Gift? We’d love to hear from you. Whether you’re running the Marathon, Half Marathon or 6.5km event, you can help make every step count for babies and families across Australia. 

Fundraise for River’s Gift