Bridge to Brisbane a sold-out success

Queensland’s biggest, brightest and best-loved community fun run was BACK IN BRISNESS!

A sold out throng of 30,000 people ran, jogged, walked and wheeled along Brisbane’s streets and over the iconic Gateway Bridge in The Sunday Mail Transurban Bridge to Brisbane on Sunday 15 October.

Participants spanned all ages and abilities, surpassed 2022’s crowd of 20,000 and brought the total number of entrants to 658,000 since the event’s inception in 1997.

It also represents the largest event in 6 years – when the event route was moved to accommodate a major road upgrade – and the largest number of people in a decade to tackle the current 10km and 4.5km course.

Competition was fierce on course with impressive times recorded for the winning participants:

• 10km Wheelie Winner: Geoff Trappett – 38mins 40secs
• 10km Male Winner: Tim Vincent – 29mins 30 secs
• 10km Female Winner: Eloise Welling – 33 mins 08 secs
• 5km Male Winner: Callum Davies – 12mins 52 secs
• 5km Female Winner: Kobi Walker – 15mins 58 secs

The Sunday Mail Editor Anna Caldwell said the annual event was one Brisbane’s most anticipated community celebrations with a unique ability to bring together people of all abilities and aspirations.

“The brand-new mango-coloured t-shirt lent The Sunday Mail Transurban Bridge to Brisbane a distinctly local flavour this year,” Ms Caldwell said.

“We promised an event that was bigger and better than ever and with the support of so many people, including our key partners Transurban and Event Management Solutions Australia, we certainly delivered that.

“I am also delighted to see The Sunday Mail Transurban Bridge to Brisbane continue its strong tradition of raising much-needed funds for Queensland charities and community groups.”

More than $1.15million was raised this year for organisations including The Courier-Mail Children’s Fund, Ronald McDonald House Charities South East Queensland, Children Hospital Foundation, Mates4Mates, White Cloud Foundation, Mental Awareness Foundation, Cure Cancer, Foodbank Queensland, The Salvation Army, Childhood Cancer Support, Rural Lifestyle Options Australia, The Pyjama Foundation and Anglicare Southern Queensland.

Peter Madsen was the highest individual fundraiser with $11,000 raised to support The University of Queensland’s Queensland Brain Institute (QBI).

“This cause is important to me as my grandmother has been living with dementia for many years,” Mr Madsen said.

“The fundamental research happening at QBI is what leads to the breakthroughs required to understand and find solutions for brain diseases such as dementia, motor neurone disease, Parkinson’s, stroke, anxiety, depression and more.”

Transurban Queensland Group Executive Sue Johnson said Team Transurban was proud to be named highest fundraising team for the third year, smashing its $200,000 target to raise more than $417,150 for its long-term partner Ronald McDonald House Charities SEQ.

“Our 350-strong Team Transurban were a sea of green on the course, as they tackled the peak of the Gateway Bridge, racing over the roads we keep safe for motorists every day.

“For the first time in the event’s history, our experienced traffic control room team worked behind the scenes on event day to ensure everything ran smoothly across the course, keeping an eye on runners from our state-of-the-art Network Operations Centre.

“It was great to see participants getting into the Bridge to Brisbane spirit, having fun with family, friends and colleagues, while keeping active, all in the name of charity.”

Aruga was proud to walk alongside our 2023 charity partner Rosies and raise $1,320 to support their mission. For over three decades, Rosies and their dedicated volunteers have been creating connections with the homeless or those at risk of homelessness. Over 1,400 dedicated Rosies’ volunteers spend time each month forging friendships with vulnerable Queenslanders to alleviate the often-unseen burden of loneliness and social isolation.

Joining the throng of walkers, runners and wheelers were Queensland identities and celebrities including Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner, pro boxer Jeff Horn and Channel 7 personalities Kendall Gilding and Tony Auden.

The colourful course played host to more on-track entertainment than ever before with live musicians, DJs and glamorous drag queens bringing the top tunes, fun and encouragement.

Committed costume-wearers got down to Brisness and blazed a trail along both the 10km and 4.5km courses with bold colour and retro vibes a key theme. Having kept an eye out on race day, a group of representatives from The Sunday Mail will select the best dressed Individual and Group winners – on Wednesday, October 18 2023.

Check race results, make a donation and subscribe for news about The Sunday Mail Transurban Bridge to Brisbane 2024 at bridgetobrisbane.com.au