We’ve been running this event for over 20 years. But we’ve never seen a day quite like this.

Last year, 171 kids lined up to race. A solid turnout.

But this year? We looked at the registration list and had to do a double-take. 319 kids. That’s nearly double the attendance.

And while seeing that many kids pushing their limits is its own reward… that record-breaking turnout had a massive ripple effect on our local schools that we didn’t expect.

Here is what happens when a community truly shows up.

The Energy Was Electric

If you were anywhere near the starting line, you felt it.

Usually, a triathlon is a serious business. People checking watches. Nervous pacing. Silence.

This was different. This was 319 kids, ranging from tiny first-timers to confident teenagers, all buzzing with adrenaline.

For over two decades, the Ipswich City Rotary has hosted the Tuff Kidz Triathlon with a very specific goal in mind. It isn’t about finding the next Olympic gold medalist. It isn’t about split times or personal bests. It is about character.

We wanted to give kids a safe environment to do something hard. To swim, ride, and run when their legs are tired. To cross a finish line and realise they are capable of more than they thought.

When you see a 7-year-old stumble, get back up, and keep running because the crowd is cheering them on? That is the magic of this event. But this year, the magic went beyond the race track.

The Little Shirt That Did Big Things

We tried something new this year.

We introduced the “Amazing Tuff Kidz T-Shirt.”

It sounds simple. It’s just a piece of fabric. But in the world of fundraising, sometimes the simplest things move the needle the most.

We didn’t just want to hand out a generic participation trophy. We wanted the kids to wear something that made them feel part of a team. A badge of honour they could wear to school on Monday to say, “Yeah, I did that.”

The response was overwhelming. The shirts flew off the tables. Parents bought them. Kids wore them proudly.

And because of that enthusiastic response, combined with the record-breaking registration fees, we hit a financial milestone that we are incredibly proud of.

$13,000 Raised for Local Schools

Let’s talk about where this money goes.

It’s nice to say we raised money “for the community,” but that is vague. We believe in being specific. We believe you should know exactly where your dollar ends up.

The $13,000 generated from this event is going directly to the School Fruit Programme.

If you aren’t familiar with it, the concept is dead simple but vital.

Teachers know that you cannot teach a hungry child. It doesn’t matter how smart the kid is or how good the teacher is. If a child goes to school on an empty stomach, their brain simply cannot focus. They get agitated. They get tired. They fall behind.

The Fruit Programme provides fresh fruit boxes to local schools. It ensures that when a kid forgets their lunch, or when a family is doing it tough and there just isn’t enough food in the cupboard at home, that child can still eat.

They can grab an apple or a banana. They can fuel their body. And they can get back to learning.

It is a small gesture that solves a massive problem.

Connecting the Dots

There is something poetic about how this works. Think about it.

On one side, we have 319 kids exercising. They are running, swimming, and cycling. They are prioritising their health and fitness. They are sweating and working hard.

And because of their physical effort, we can provide nutrition to other kids in the classrooms of Ipswich.

Health creates health.The sweat of the Tuff Kidz runners literally translates into food for students who need it most.

20 Years and Counting

We have been doing this for a long time.

When we started Tuff Kidz over 20 years ago, we had no idea it would grow into this.

We didn’t know we would eventually have over 300 competitors. We didn’t know we would be raising five-figure sums to feed school children.

But this year proved that the community spirit in Ipswich is stronger than ever. To every parent who woke up early to drive their kids to the event: Thank you.

To every rotarian and volunteer who marshalled the course, handed out water, and cheered until their voice was gone: Thank you.

And to the 319 Tuff Kidz who laced up their shoes and gave it everything they had: You are legends. You didn’t just run a race. You helped feed your classmates.

We are already looking at the calendar for next year. We have a new record to beat, after all.

See you at the starting line.