15 October, 2020

UPDATE: At 99 years of age, Enid Webster completed her sixth City2Surf over the weekend to raise funds for the ADRA Appeal. She completed the 14km walk in just under 3 hours and 30 minutes and says of her daily walks, “Regular walking sure pays off!” as the next day she was out walking again and feeling no ill effects.

Enid was joined by 14 family members who also completed the walk.

Enid and her family after the completion of the City2Surf, October 2020

~ ~ ~

On Sunday morning October 18, Enid Webster will once again don her walking shoes to participate in the 14km City2Surf event to raise vital funds for the ADRA Appeal. 2020 marks the 50th Anniversary of the City2Surf and for Enid, aged 99, it marks six years walking the City2Surf for ADRA.

“Enid completed her first City2Surf event when she was 93,” says Ruth Webster, Enid’s daughter-in-law. Enid has participated every year since, except 2018 when she was registered but was too unwell to walk on the day.

At the end of last year, Enid was ready to retire her fundraising efforts as the return trip to Sydney from her retirement village in Cooranbong was becoming too taxing. But when COVID transformed the City2Surf into a virtual event, Enid couldn’t resist doing her annual fundraising event for the ADRA Appeal by completing the 14km walk in her own neighbourhood.

Enid Webster at the finish line in 2019, aged 98

This year, 14 of Enid’s family members have signed up to do the City2Surf with her. The virtual nature of the event means that she will be joined on Sunday by family members in New South Wales, Queensland, the Northern Territory and even one person from Hong Kong!

Enid lives independently in her retirement village and enjoys filling her days with knitting and crocheting, gardening, cooking and keeping her house in order. With her knitting and crocheting she makes blankets and other similar items that she donates to others in need. She is active year round and every morning begins the same way.

“At the moment she is still doing 10,000 steps a day,” says Ruth. “We meet her every morning on her morning walk. So she’s up early and out walking.” Ruth says that not even a rainy day deters Enid’s efforts. “She puts a raincoat on and goes! There was one morning I said ‘Did you walk this morning?’ because it was raining. And she said, ‘Yes, and I didn’t see you!’”

The funds that Enid raises will go towards the ADRA Appeal, the largest source of funding for ADRA programs in Australia. In partnership with Seventh-day Adventist Churches, ADRA Australia’s volunteer-run programs feed, clothe, house, connect and empower people to overcome hardships and crisis and get back on their feet.

To support Enid’s fundraising efforts donate at https://adraappeal2020.gofundraise.com.au/page/Enid-33749543. To learn more about ADRA Australia, visit https://adra.org.au