It’s a marathon, not a sprint: 300 music industry professionals set for fundraising run

At least 300 music industry professionals will get their running shoes on and hit the road next month for a good cause.

Melbourne promoter, agency and events business Thick As Thieves is behind the Friday, Nov. 26 fundraising marathon, which raises much-needed money for The Fred Hollows Foundation, an organisation that focuses on treating preventable blindness.

This year’s Quick As Thieves Marathon looks set to dwarf the 2020 leg, which raised over $262,000 from its 140 participants.

Superstar British DJ Carl Cox will be on presentation duties throughout the day, which sets off from and finishes at the iconic beachside venue Riva on the St Kilda Foreshore, and takes in Melbourne’s beachside suburbs in Port Phillip and Bayside.

Cox, who now lives on the Mornington Peninsula, has a strong connection with The Fred Hollows Foundation, having undergoing cataract surgery.

So far, 300 participants from the electronic music community have signed up for either a half (21.1km), a full (42.2km) or an ultra (63.3km) marathon.

All 2021 starters will be raising raise cash from sponsorship, with 100% of those funds going directly to The Fred Hollows Foundation.

Already, more than $152,000 has been raised, and organisers have set an ambitious goal to nearly double last year’s efforts, and sprint past $500,000.

Thick As Thieves founder Mike Toner will again lace on his trainers, alongside such DJs and producers as Jack Glass (Bag Raiders), Nick Drabbe (Set Mo), Generik, Torren Foot, Benson & Sunshine, plus industry execs Ming Gan (owner, Fuzzy Entertainment), Stuart Balfour (agent of Fisher & Manager of Hot Dub Time Machine) and Monty McGaw (talent buyer, Untitled Group).

Late nights, parties and the lifestyle that accompanies the music industry can take its toll on mental health. Drop COVID into the mix, and the uncertainty surrounding business and life, music professionals are currently facing unprecedented times.

Quick As Thieves 2020

The annual marathon gives the music industry a health goal to work towards, in addition to raising money for a worthwhile cause.

“Last year’s Quick as Thieves event not only contributed to help restore sight to over 10,000 people, but it had an extensive ripple effect, with friends helping each other get fit and stay socially connected,” comments Toner, who will run the full 42km course blind-folded.

“Quick as Thieves provided an opportunity to improve the mental health of the electronic music community as a whole, during a very tough year.”

Since 2015, Toner, friends and colleagues have raised upwards of $1 million for The Fred Hollows Foundation.

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This article originally appeared on The Industry Observer, which is now part of The Music Network.