Viper Community Ball
At Vipers Run Club (RC) we are more than a run club. We are a community of men who support and encourage each other through challenges and celebrate each other's successes when they come. Community, Mateship, Belonging, Wellbeing and Growth are at the core of our values. Being a part of Vipers Run Club means being part of something bigger than yourself.
Mateship as defined in Vipers RC is about developing relationships where you give more than you take. Where you show up for each other and you hold each other accountable. It’s about wanting to be a better person for someone else’s benefit. We value mateship and all it involves. Fostering deep connections through shared experiences is the foundation of mateship within Vipers RC.
Jeff Jenkins has fostered deep connections throughout the Vipers RC community since joining in 2019. He was instrumental in organising local clean ups of North Head, raising funds and awareness for Movember by having his luscious locks shaved off and always contributing to Vipers RC in any way he could. In August, Jeff's world was shattered. At just 38, he was diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND), a relentless condition that damages motor nerves and robs the body of movement, speech, and eventually, breath. There’s no cure, and the average life expectancy is only 2-3 years post-diagnosis.
This news was especially hard given that only months earlier, after a decade of intense study, Jeff had completed his training to become a podiatric surgeon. He and his wife Sarah invested everything into this dream, with Jeff travelling overseas for training and working tirelessly to secure a future for them and their two young boys. Just as he was ready to start practicing, his diagnosis took it all away, leading to the immediate revocation of his medical license. Sarah had also been made redundant as Jeff’s symptoms escalated, leaving their dreams in ruins.
2024 was supposed to be a year of enjoying their hard work, trying for their third child, and finally spending quality time together. Jeff, once an elite soccer player and passionate runner, is now facing a disease that strips away everything he worked for. It’s more than any family should have to bear.
Previously Vipers has raised over $500,000 for charities such as Movember and Lifeline. We do this because we want to support causes that are close to our hearts and that can have a positive impact upon our communities and families. Upon hearing the devastating news about Jeff, we wanted to raise money to support one of our own whilst showcasing the best our community has to offer and giving Jeff and his family a truly memorable night.
On Saturday 5 April, we come together to host the inaugural Vipers Community Ball. Held in the heart of Manly, at the newly renovated Manly Pacific Hotel, we invite you to join us for a night of great food, great entertainment and truly great people.
