I Run For Her and the Canberra Sunday Runners team up to say NO to domestic violence

Posted on 20 October, 2026

In support of Got Your Back Sista, local marathon runner Amanda Kennedy is calling out to other Canberrans to be the change they want to see.

Canberra loves to get outside; whether it is running or walking, our city will show up. But what’s better than just a run or walk? Doing it for a cause and supporting the community along the way.

Collaborating with Canberra Runners’ Sunday Runners group, Amanda will host Canberra’s I Run For Her campaign on Sunday 25 October at 7.30 am.

Got Your Back Sista is a Hunter region-based charity that supports women and children who have experienced domestic and family violence. In the last 10 years, they have provided emergency food and hygiene kits, household essentials, casework, housing support, referrals for legal and financial counselling, and supported trauma recovery. I Run For Her raises money to ensure those vital resources can be provided.

“I encourage people to sign up so they can show their support for this cause and send a message that domestic violence is not tolerated,” explains Amanda.

When Amanda saw I Run for Her participants wear shirts with the message ‘I say no to domestic violence’ in Newcastle, she says that knew it was important to bring it from the coast to the capital.

“What we see in the media is the end result of things that are happening behind closed doors that people are turning a blind eye to,” she explains.

“Domestic violence and coercive control can often culminate in physical violence, so we want a society where that’s not acceptable.”

As a single mum of three girls, she wants them to grow up in a world where women are empowered and can use their voice to call out things that don’t feel right.

“I think the onus is on us all to leave a future and society for our girls where we challenge these results and terrible outcomes we see in the media and try to create a culture that doesn’t tolerate it from the start,” says Amanda.

The event will kick off at Abode Hotel Woden at 7.30 am, with participants walking or running towards Curtin and back. Runners will do 7km, while walkers will do 4km, both with a marker to signal the respective turnaround. Afterwards, participants are welcome to stick around for a coffee.

Running is not your thing? No worries! You can walk, skip, or even shuffle! Amanda is making sure this event is accessible for everyone..

“There’s no competition or anything like that; the more important thing is gathering together and participating in whatever capacity you can on the day.”

Not only will donations go a long way, but so will the messaging that the fundraiser will send. Amanda is hoping that victim survivors who feel like they don’t have a voice will feel support from the community.

“When women are in that situation, it’s so isolating. Nobody should feel controlled by another person, or that their life decisions are not their own. We want to make sure that women and girls have stronger voices and feel that they can advocate for themselves and we as a community support them.”

Interested? Donate or sign up for the Canberra I Run For Her group at irunforher.com

Images supplied.