Mark Webber Tasmania Challenge to return in 2011 02 Dec 2010
Mark Webber’s charity fundraiser, the Tasmania Challenge, will return to the sporting calendar next year after a two-year absence. The gruelling race sees sportsmen and women from various disciplines running, mountain biking and kayaking across the Australian state.
“This is fantastic news for Tasmania and we welcome Mark Webber back as one of our state’s greatest ambassadors,” said Minister for Tourism Michelle O’Byrne, announcing a new three-year agreement for the event.
The 2011 Mark Webber Tasmania Challenge will run over four days from December 5-8 and could be expanded to include sports such as swimming, white water rafting, caving or ropes courses, highlighting Tasmania’s most iconic adventure tourism locations, including Cradle Mountain, Freycinet and the Bay of Fires.
“The course will be designed to not only test the elite athlete, but to provide an opportunity for the less ‘hard core’ adventure sports enthusiasts to compete and challenge themselves,” added Ms O’Byrne. “And as in previous years, we expect the event to attract a number of celebrities, elite athletes and high-profile visitors, whether as competitors or sponsors.”
The Challenge was previously held in 2006, 2007 and 2008. During that period, over $1 million was raised for Webber’s nominated charities, the Leukaemia Foundation and the Save the Devil Campaign.
