Weekend Sunrise to stage Parathon

Andrew O’Keefe and Angela Cox will present a special extended edition of Weekend Sunrise on Saturday, March 5 in support of Australia’s Paralympic team.

The Parathon will help raise funds to send Australia’s Paralympic team to Rio. It will broadcast Live from Martin Place between 7am-12pm AEDT and will feature Para-athletes and special guests..

Seven West Media’s Chief Executive Officer, Tim Worner, said: “We hope all Australians will be inspired by the stories of our Para-athletes. The Weekend Sunrise Parathon is a call to dig deep and get behind our Paralympic hopefuls; to show your support and help these skilled athletes get their chance against the world’s best in Rio.”

The Australian Paralympic Committee (APC) is aiming to send 170 Paralympic athletes from 15 sports to Rio, at a cost of $7 million.

All money raised at the Weekend Sunrise Parathon will go directly towards sending the team to the Paralympics.

Funds raised above the APC’s $7 million Rio funding target will be used for community driven programs to identify future generations of Paralympians and inspire people with disabilities.

Australian Paralympic Committee Chief Executive, Lynne Anderson, said: “In partnership with Seven, we are very excited to introduce Weekend Sunrise viewers to some of our Para-athletes aiming for gold in Rio and importantly, provide an opportunity to donate desperately-needed financial assistance to help ensure the Australian Paralympic Team is given the chance to succeed at the Rio Games in September.

“Our Paralympic athletes aiming for Rio are extraordinary elite athletes that we are sure all Australians will respect and admire.

“The Weekend Sunrise Parathon is an Australian first and we really hope Corporate Australia and the wider community embrace it. We want Australians to realise that a contribution to the Parathon can make a meaningful impact on this outstanding group of Australians with a disability.”

The Rio 2016 Paralympic Games will commence on September 7.