Australian athlete and author Turia Pitt has joined The Fred Hollows Foundation as the ambassador for Fred’s Big Run, a virtual event in which participants walk or run at least 25km in August to raise funds for The Foundation.

Fred’s Big Run is named after Australia’s most well-known eye doctor, Professor Fred Hollows. The event reminds participants of the legacy that Fred left behind, working to ensure no person is needlessly blind or vision impaired.

Turia said she was proud to be joining The Foundation to raise awareness of avoidable blindness.

“I grew up seeing the iconic black and white photo of Fred in Vietnam and hearing about The Fred Hollows Foundation’s amazing work,” said Turia Pitt.

“Most people know I love running and helping others to run, so teaming up with The Foundation for Fred’s Big Run is the perfect way to encourage people to take those steps for a special cause. We use our eyes for everything and yet we rarely think about just how precious our vision is. Giving the gift of sight to people who wouldn’t otherwise be able to access treatment is something I’m very excited about.”

“I encourage people to sign up to Fred’s Big Run and join me. You don’t need to be an avid runner like me, but hopefully I can help inspire you,” Turia said.

Gabi Hollows warmly welcomed Turia to the extended Hollows family and urged people to register for Fred’s Big Run.

“I am so thrilled and humbled that Turia has joined The Fred Hollows Foundation as our ambassador for this wonderful event,” Gabi said.

“Turia is a remarkable Australian, someone I admire and respect deeply. She has overcome immense challenges and uses her strength to help others.

“My family and I look forward to taking part in Fred’s Big Run again. We all live in different places so it’s uplifting to know we’re united in this virtual challenge together, with Turia and thousands of other people around the world.

“To every runner, walker, personal trainer and sports team, I urge you to take up the challenge and pledge your steps for Fred. Every dollar makes a huge difference to our goal of restoring sight and ending avoidable blindness.”

This year marks the second year of Fred’s Big Run following its launch in 2020. Registrations are now open and participants can sign up for free, participating individually or as part of a team.

In 2020, more than 7,300 people in 782 teams took part in Fred’s Big Run from 25 countries around the world.