Herald Sun/Transurban Run for the Kids has been proudly running, walking and rolling for the Kids since 2006. During this time, Run for the kids has contributed more than $24 million to the Good Friday Appeal..
We invite you to support this fabulous cause again in 2026.
Fundraise for the Good Friday Appeal as part of 2026 Herald Sun/Transurban Run for the Kids and you could drive away in a BRAND NEW MAZDA CX-60 G40E PURE MILD HYBRID
- STEP ONE - CREATE an official Run for the Kids fundraising page by clicking on the START FUNDRAISING button above.
- STEP TWO - POPULATE your page with your story outlining why you are fundraising for the Good Friday Appeal.
- STEP THREE - OPT IN to enter the Mazda fundraising prize promotion.
- STEP FOUR - RAISE at least $50 on your official fundraising page.
Mazda Promotion open to Victorian residents only. Promotion closes at 11.59pm (AEDST) on Wednesday, March 25, 2026.
Prize drawn at 4pm (AEDST) on Friday, March 27, 2026 at HWT Tower, 40 City Rd, Southbank, VIC.
Full terms and conditions at runforthekids.com.au
The Good Friday Appeal
Since 1931 the Good Friday Appeal has been raising money to enable The Royal Children’s Hospital to continue to give children their brightest futures.
$492M has been raised in the Good Friday Appeal 94 year history, funding groundbreaking research, cutting edge technology and equipment, attracting and retaining the brightest minds through education, and providing patient family centred care.
The Good Friday Appeal Impacts
- Research – supporting cutting edge research such as Gene Therapy, aiming to shorten time of evaluation in paediatric epilepsy services.
- Equipment and Technology – driving technological excellence: Mr PET technology is an advanced imaging tool for early disease management and detection.
- Education and Training such as supporting simulation based education programs to practice important skills.
- Patient and Family Centred care – helping fund programs like Child Life Therapy which has reduced the incidence of general anaesthetic supported MRI’s to kids over 5.
- Providing funding to six regional health services via the RCH helping to keep sick children closer to home and build capability in the regions
The Royal Children’s Hospital
Victoria’s Royal Children’s Hospital is committed to helping kids live their best possible lives and reach their potential.
2025 was another busy year for the RCH:
Recent projects funded by Run for the Kids
Vascular Access Specialist Team
Around half of all children admitted to The Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH) will benefit from a new service aiming to improve their experience of having a drip or catheter inserted.
Thanks to the generosity of Run for the Kids and the Good Friday Appeal (GFA), children receiving care at the RCH will be supported by a team of highly skilled nurses, specialised in the insertion of peripheral intravenous catheters (PIVCs).
PIVCs, more commonly known as cannulas or drips, are used to deliver lifesaving medications and fluids to patients across the RCH. Having a canula inserted can be distressing and leave children and families with bad memories of their time in hospital. This can then go on to impact their future experiences of health care.
The Vascular Access Specialist Team (VAST) will work closely with patients, families, and clinical teams to improve this experience, enhance staff education, and create a patient-centred approach to inserting PIVCs.
TOTAL Therapy Study XVII
Newly diagnosed patients with paediatric acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) and lymphoblastic lymphoma have been able to access the latest in personalised medicine through a trial.
Known as the TOTAL Therapy Study XVII or TOTAL 17, the trial is an international collaboration led by St Jude Children’s Research Hospital in America.
Once enrolled, the patient’s blood and bone marrow samples are sent to St Jude, where clinicians use state-of-the art-tools to identify specific cancer-causing gene combinations. This provides the child with the opportunity to receive treatment specifically designed to fight their type of cancer. Over the past two years, 61 RCH patients have been enrolled in the program.
Recruitment for the trial ceased in mid-2023 due to meeting enrolment targets. The patients enrolled will continue to have follow up, including neurocognitive assessments.
The overall aim of the trial is to reduce the toxicity of treatment, maximise the quality of life and improve the cure rate for children with ALL and lymphoblastic lymphoma.
Patient stories
MIMI
Mimi initially started losing her hair, eyelashes, and eyebrows around her first birthday, which was diagnosed as alopecia, an autoimmune condition. As part of her ongoing treatment, she required regular blood tests.
In December 2023, one of these routine blood tests revealed a far more serious problem: possible signs of leukemia. Mimi was rushed to The Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH).
Urgent tests confirmed the diagnosis: acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, a form of cancer. Mimi’s mother described the news as a nightmare, especially since she had lost her own father to a brain tumour as a child.
The doctors at the RCH immediately started Mimi on intensive chemotherapy to induce remission. The first six months were incredibly difficult for the family, with Mimi often too unwell to open her eyes or move.
Despite the struggle, the treatment worked. Within the first month, tests showed no more cancer䍩mi was in remission. However, she needs to continue chemotherapy for some time to ensure the cancer does not return, gradually reducing the intensity of her treatment over time.
Thanks to the Good Friday Appeal and Run for the Kids, newly diagnosed patients with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) and lymphoblastic lymphoma at The Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH) have been able to access the latest in personalised medicine through the Total XVII Total Therapy Study.
SEBASTIAN
Before having her son Sebastian, Daniela LoCastro rarely thought about the work that goes on inside The Royal Children’s Hospital. But after Sebastian suffered a stroke during birth, he was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, and went under the care of a team of specialists at RCH.
“(Before Sebastian was born) I never really understood what goes on inside those hallways, and the conversations around beds,” she said.
“But the people (who work there) are actual angels of service.” Now three years old,
Sebastian is “a happy, content boy”. But he faces a lifelong battle to keep up with his peers. The left side of his body is weak, which affects everything from his speech through to picking up toys and walking.
Daniela said the RCH paediatricians were working closely with allied health services to ensure he got the therapy support he needed.
“The goal of therapy is for his brain not to forget he has a left side,” she said.
“So we have a lot of play that needs two hands, and we’re encouraging the movement between them 栴o build connections in the brain.” Daniela said she was grateful to the cutting-edge research at RCH, which had ensured Sebastian received world-class care.
JORDAN
For Jordan, 7, who has Guillain-Barre syndrome, his treatment in the hydrotherapy pool at The Royal Children’s Hospital symbolises freedom, motivation and living in the moment. Jordan’s condition causes his body’s immune system to attack the nerves, resulting in upper and lower limb weakness.
“Jordan was an active and energetic boy,” his mother, Jasmine, said. “But this condition has turned his world upside down. He has experienced difficulty swallowing, full-body paralysis, severe nerve pain, persistent high blood pressure, and at times, he’s struggled to breathe.”
His treatment at the RCH includes plasma exchanges, which removes harmful antibodies from Jordan’s blood, and helps his strength and mobility. But water has been the best tonic.
“Hydrotherapy has been transformative for Jordan,” his mother said.
“Jordan loves being in the water, and his hydrotherapy sessions have become a source of joy and motivation in his healing journey.”
She added: “His road to recovery has been filled with resilience, determination, and hope.”
Jordan said the hydrotherapy pool is a happy place that allows him to “forget about the pain and enjoy the moment”.
“I feel brave because I kept fighting,” Jordan said. “I didn’t give up.”