Below the Belt #YourWay

from ANZUP Annual Report 2021

2020 ANZUP ASM

In line with ANZUP’s Strategic Plan to expand the Below the Belt Pedalthon, and to reformat the event during COVID-19, the Below the Belt #YourWay Challenge was held throughout the month of September 2020 .

The Below the Belt #YourWay campaign idea originated from a song penned by ANZUP member Professor Dickon Hayne who recorded it with his two daughters, Zoe and Natasha .

This challenge was developed as a digital and virtual campaign to increase engagement and awareness of ANZUP and below the belt cancers, with both current and new supporters .

The main objective of the #YourWay Challenge was to raise $100,000 for ANZUP’s clinical trial research via the Below the Belt Research Fund . The funds raised then go on to support the important work of ANZUP clinicians and researchers allowing them to continue to improve treatments and outcomes for those with below the belt cancer during isolation and into the future . The Below the Belt #YourWay Challenge was open for the month of September and provided participants the option to ride, walk, run, and swim as many kilometres as they could, anywhere and at any time, whilst fundraising for ANZUP .

The current www.belowthebelt.org.au website was updated so the branding represented the new activities . The website tracked participants, kilometres, fundraising via leader boards, and other virtual value adds e .g . gamification and badges . All participants required a way to track their kilometres .

Each participant was able to decide how they wanted to complete the challenge - at home, in their office, outdoors, as a team, with their family, with work colleagues, with a friend or by themselves . They could do it every day or just some days in September .

The #YourWay Challenge was a huge success with 237 individual participants and 43 teams involved, completing 72,783kms across Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and beyond . And most impressively the fundraising target was surpassed and an extraordinary $173,000 was raised for the Below the Belt Research Fund .

Some highlights from the event

Professor Dickon Hayne not only inspired the challenge with his song #YourWay, but he was the team captain for the Fiona Stanley Freemantle Hospital Group. They were the highest fundraisers raising an incredible $15,800 with several activities contributing to the challenge.

Another ANZUP member, Professor Louise Emmett and her team ‘Sydney Opera House to Manly Beach’ walked all day and into the evening. They covered an incredible number of kilometres and were able to enjoy the scenic adventure. Associate Professors Andrew Weickhardt and Dave Pook, also ANZUP members, completed their kilometres virtually by cycling in the Zwift cycling community.

“Under lockdown the only way is virtual hill climbs - so far >7000m elevation climbed upwards on the bike - Mont Ventoux, Mt Evans and others.” Andrew Weickhardt

Belinda Jago, Chair of ANZUP’s Consumer Advisory Panel, was the highest individual fundraiser raising $5,455. She also exceeded her walking goal of 150km and covered 347km.