A FAMILY of seven have made the most of their time cooped up in hotel quarantine by running 300km to raise money for charity.
The Ross family, regulars at the Sunshine Coast’s Maroochydore parish, have spent the past 10 months in Canada on an exchange program.
Returning to Australia, and finding themselves confined to a three-bedroom apartment in Sydney, parents Jeff and Nicola decided to set a healthy challenge to occupy their children, all under the age of 12.
“They are bounding with energy … but lots of encouragement every day getting them to focus that energy on it,” Nicola Ross said, during an online interview with Channel Seven’s Sunrise program.
With all the family huddled together and enjoying the notoriety of appearing on national television, father Jeff explained that the addition of a treadmill on day three made the challenge a fun exercise.
Even the youngest of the family joined in the treadmill fun with assistance and under close supervision.
Parents Jeff and Nicola, who teach at the Stella Maris Catholic Primary School in Maroochydore decided their “quarantine quest” charity run should go towards helping The Salvation Army.
“The Salvos have a really long history of supporting the most vulnerable of our community,” Mrs Ross said.
“They have a message of hope and as we all know at this stage we can all do with a bit of hope; it’s a really difficult time for so many people, so many people needing their services more than ever.
“In this pandemic situation there’s a frontline – increasing homelessness, job losses, mental health – they (The Salvos) cover all those things and they have that long history of doing such a good job of it.
“We thought God bless the Salvos.”
The Ross family’s “quarantine quest” has already raised several thousand dollars. You can add to the total by donating here.
