By Eleanor Wilson
Sunday’s historic Run For The Kids after a two-year hiatus due to Covid was an emotional day for many Victorian families.
But none more so than the Allan family, who lost their 13-year-old daughter Bella Allan in February after an almost seven-year battle with leukaemia.
Bella’s parents Alison and Troy Allan and siblings Josh and Chelsea were joined by 300 family and friends to make up Team Bella, running the 14.8 kilometre course in a sea of yellow to represent the teen’s favourite colour.
Mrs Allan, who hails from Tooradin, said the day was filled with “joy, happiness, heartbreak and sadness mixed into one.”
“Bella has attended with us in past events, in which we would push her in a pram and she would also run some, so not having her join us this year was emotionally hard,” she said.
“A friend was able to decorate her pram with a memorial of her. We pushed that for 14.8 kilometres with her monkey on board.”
Team Bella’s efforts on Sunday have raised almost $10,000 for the Royal Children’s Hospital, which Mrs Allan said has been a “second home” for the family throughout Bella’s six-and-a-half year battle.
“The hospital has always been an amazing support. We are lucky to have such a wonderful hospital right at our doorstep,” she said.
“To be able to give back to them is heartwarming, so they can continue to help others families and children during difficult times.”
Team Bella were among thousands of Victorians who ran on Sunday, collectively raising more than $630,000 ahead of the Good Friday Appeal next Friday.
