Mounties Group has continued its long-standing Easter tradition of spreading joy to vulnerable children and young people with its Mounties Bunny Run visiting four locations on Sydney’s Northern Beaches.
Now in its 32nd year, club directors and staff visit local disability organisations, hospices, schools and aged care facilities with the Easter Bunny handing out themed treats and gifts.
More than 100 children were treated to the spectacle as the adult-sized Easter Bunny and club volunteers treated them to some special gifts in the spirit of Easter.
The Bunny Run visited four local organisations including the children’s hospice Bear Cottage, the children’s support organisation Stewart House, the special education school Fisher Road School in Dee Why as well as the Adolescent Adult Youth Hospice in Manly.
Two Mounties Group team members, Kerrie Andrews and Colleen Cowan have been participating in this special giving-back initiative for more than 20 years.
“The Mounties Bunny Run is one of the most memorable moments for me each year and I have been both privileged and humbled to have the opportunity to take part for two decades,” explained Kerrie.
“The kids are always so excited to see the Easter Bunny and even those who work within these environments are beaming with smiles to see our special visitors.”
The Mounties Bunny Run was an initiative created by a staff member in 1991 with the goal to give back to those less abled in our community.
“Mounties staff member Maria Pullen came up with the idea more than three decades ago after noticing kids and adults within Mounties’ venue that had special needs and disabilities,” says Mounties Group CEO Dale Hunt. “After striking up a conversation, Maria went out of her way to find ways to help these people in our community and give back to local hospitals, schools and special needs organisations.
“Fundraising via bar collections and staff activities, Maria drove her very own car for the first Bunny Run to distribute gifts to Liverpool Hospital, Ronald McDonald House and Westmead Hospital.”
Since then, the Mounties Bunny Run has successfully expanded across three regions and this year representatives gave out more than 300 gifts and treats.
“Our teams greet and hand out gifts to the children during the Bunny Run and either provide Easter eggs or plush toy Easter bunnies to those within each location.
“It’s always such a highlight and thrill to be involved in these Bunny Runs and this year, once again, it was nice to add some face-to-face positivity to these locals who, like many, have had a very tough few years,” Andrews concluded.