David, 90, leads most inclusive field ever to bay

After months of training, more than 16,000 Lumary City-Bay warriors – the most diverse group in the event’s 49-year history – are hitting the road this morning of the 2023 fun run.

After months of training, more than 16,000 Lumary City-Bay warriors – the most diverse group in the event’s
49-year history – are hitting the road this morning of the 2023 fun run.

Runners can expect crisp early morning temperatures to rise from 11c to about 25C by noon, heading to a sunny top of 28C in the afternoon.

Race committee executive officer Rod Wiliams said this year’s runners, joggers and walkers stood out for he variety of “diverse backgrounds and different age groups”.
“in particular, we’re seeing more people who are disabled and more people participating in wheelchairs,”
Mr Wiliams said. “We’ve seen quite a few older runners, including about half a dozen who actually ran in the first event in 1973.”

Mr Williams said entry numbers for the event, supported by the Sunday Mail, were up on 2022 and more than $270,000 had been raised for charity.

“Next year’s our 50th event, So we’re very, very pleased about the range of people who are participating.”

Great granddad and City-Bay legend David Saies will take on his 31st event with “four generations” of the Saies family joining him on the big day for the first time this year.
The 90-year-old from Myrtle Bank will run the 12km with his children Jo Saies, 60, and Andrew Saies, 66, as well as four grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Michael, 63, will be there to cheer them on.
Mr Saies said it “meant the world” to have his family there with him on the day and he couldn’t be more grateful.
I just love to get out there and run and want to keep going until I can’t,” he said.

Fellow Entrant Edward Cheesman, wo lives with quadriplegic choreoathetoid cerebral palsy, said he spent the
Past three years training with his allied health team so he could run the race for the first time and raise money for his favourite charity.

Mr Cheesman’s childhood dream to attend the Superbowl and an NBA game was made a reality by
Make-A -Wish Australia when he was 15.
Thirteen years later, he wants to return the favour by raising funds so other children with illnesses can live out their own dreams with the foundation.
The once-in-a lifetime trip was “fun, incredible and crazy” he said, which is what inspired him to fundraise.

His dad, Kevin Cheesman, 60, said the idea to do the City-Bay “came up as a challenge” before the Covid pandemic.
“Ed didn’t hesitate, his first choice was Make-A-Wish so that he can help them help another kid like him to live out their dream,” he said.

“Ed’s been training so hard he’s gotten blisters, it’s taken such a long journey to get here and we’re so proud.”