Prominent Canberra leaders have stepped up as ambassadors for the Karinya House Walk For Hope – and it’s hoped the community will join them in force. Photo: Michelle Kroll.
Fifty dollars might not seem much, but it can go a long way for a woman facing motherhood alone. This September, the Karinya Walk for Hope invites Canberrans to show up, chip in, and carry the weight – literally and symbolically – for mothers doing it tough.
The passionate rural community of Boorowa founded and ran the event 10 times before it met a long COVID-induced hiatus. It now makes its debut in the capital amid hopes it will return stronger than ever.
Far more than a fun run, it’s a statement of solidarity and a powerful reminder support doesn’t need to be grand to be life changing.
“Our hope, in bringing this event to the national capital, is that it comes roaring back, galvanising the community in one clear message – that there’s no place for disadvantage for children, pregnant women and women raising children in Canberra,” Karinya House CEO Lavinia Tyrrel says.
“We hope the community will come out in force to show we stand alongside women in a time that can be so beautiful, but also for some, a time of heightened risk.”
The event, supported by major sponsor Doma Group, carries a lot of symbolism. The new distances – 4.5 km and 9 km – represent the one in four women who experience intimate partner violence in their lifetime and the number of months in a full-term pregnancy.
Every kilometre along the routes, organisers will display a fact about pregnancy and parenting for entrants to read.
There’s also an option this year for individuals and teams to carry the average weight of a single or multiple pregnancy – 10 kg to 16 kg per baby — with them during the event.
“It represents the physical challenges, but also the emotional load of pregnancy and raising children,” Lavinia says.
“The weights can be shared amongst team members, which signifies sharing the load. That ties closely to the broader focus of the event – the adage ‘it takes a village to raise a child’.”
ACT Meteors player and Community Champion for the walk Holly Ferling and Karinya House CEO Lavinia Tyrrel contemplate the kind of weight vest some participants will wear during the event, symbolising a sharing of the load. Photo: Michelle Kroll.
Karinya House is almost half way to the fundraising goal of $100,000. Twenty “champions” – prominent local leaders and politicians who will act as ambassadors – have signed up this year to boost this fundraising clout and increase the visibility around the event and cause.
Among them are Hands Across Canberra CEO Genevieve Jacobs, Labor MP Alicia Payne, Property Council of Australia ACT and Capital Region executive director Ashlee Berry, Build Like a Girl founder Jo Farrell, Parbery founder and co-CEO Kylie Burnett and Canberra Southern Cross Club CEO Matt Walshe.
“Some of them are already training with weight vests to take on the extra weight challenge,” Lavinia says.
Community Champions running or walking on the day include St Edmunds, St Clares, ACT Meteors, Region Media and Chafe Chasers running group.
Each champion has committed to raising $5000 – but organisers are strongly encouraging everyone to sign up regardless of their fundraising capacity.
“It’s as much about solidarity. We want to create a future for Canberra where all women and their babies and children have the support they need in this period,” Lavinia says.
“And even if you felt you could only raise $50, that would cover pharmacy supplies for a woman and her newborn. It’s a big, tangible impact.”
The Karinya Walk for Hope takes place Sunday 14 September 2025.
