TeamMONASH: keeping fit, staying engaged
TeamMONASH is as much about community engagement as it is about fitness
Engaging with local communities has long been one of Monash University’s highest priorities, and not just via traditional academic means. This year alone, TeamMONASH, a program which connects and supports some of the University’s most health-conscious students, staff and alumni, will participate in 12 major community events around the world.
Martin Doulton, Director of Monash Sport said TeamMONASH exists to promote: fun, family, fitness, friends and fundraising.
“We’re proud of the way TeamMONASH has become more than a fitness group and turned into a really strong fundraising and volunteering organisation, which in turn has enhanced Monash University’s already well-recognised and admired presence in the community,”Mr Doulton said.
Monash Sport recently won the Industry Challenge Award for the Top Fundraising School/University Team in Around the Bay in a Day for the third year in a row. They raised $23,728 for disadvantaged children, a noteable achievement given that $800,000 was raised at the event in total.
“Within the last decade or so, there’s been a bit of a change in the way people approach fitness,” Mr Doulton said.
“More people prefer an active recreation experience as opposed to a competitive sporting one. Because of this, the University has evolved its sports program to support those members of the University community who would like to participate under a team banner in major public community fitness events.”
One of those is the Mother’s Day Classic, a fun run (or walk) established to raise money for breast cancer research, which TeamMONASH will participate in on Sunday, 8 May. Last year, Monash won awards for the largest Victorian tertiary education team at the event, as well as the largest tertiary education team in Australia.
Monash Sport estimates that since 2004 more than 15,000 members of the Monash community have participated in over 65 community fitness events.
“TeamMONASH not only engages with communities close to Monash, but strengthens the Monash community itself,” Mr Doulton said.
“We often get told by organisers that our presence – from our team uniform to our event support - is on a par with event sponsors and high profile city corporates. Apart from having fun and supporting good causes, we’re showing that Monash is serious about promoting a healthy lifestyle and a positive community spirit."
For more information about TeamMONASH events, visit their website.