Team BHP Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA) took part in the first leg of the Trail to Triumph (TTT) ultra-marathon event in support of the Lung Foundation Australia.

The TTT ultra-marathon event pushes participants bodies to the limit as they run approximately 250km from Moranbah to Mackay – over two and a half days!

Lindsay Chicken, Shayne Riches and Ben Yount from Peaks Down, Martin Greenhalgh from Caval Ridge, Erin Roughan from Broadmeadow, Adam Parker and Ryan Johnson from Goonyella Riverside, Sam Foster from Saraji, and Brad Pane from Infrastructure & Services all woke up at 3am to take part in the challenge to run the first leg, which was 28kms from Moranbah to Broadmeadow Mine.

The BMA team members taking part raised an incredible $4993 for this important cause which raised a total of $51,469. The funding raised this year will go towards awareness campaigns throughout the year and a PhD scholarship research grant. 

The event is all about raising awareness of dust related lung disease and to honour ex Goonyella Riverside Mine employee, Tony Britton, after he passed away from Mesothelioma in 2014.

Kate Bachmann BMA Head of Health, Safety and Security said that prevention of dust related lung diseases is a high priority.

“The conditions can take years to develop, so ensuring we are consistently proactive in identifying and implementing controls to reduce exposure, and playing our part to support research into dust related lung disease is important,” she said.

“Putting this into action includes following dust management plans at our operations, wearing appropriate PPE that has been fit tested, and when in doubt, speaking up and asking for help.”

Over the last ten years, participants efforts as part of the TTT have helped raise over $450,000. Some of the funds have contributed to HEART 5, the Heart of Australia’s lung trucks, that travels to regional Queensland communities with the world’s first battery powered CT machine for mobile health checks.

Image caption: Ben, Shayne & Lindsay represented Peaks Down Mine.