Two Cities, One Community ... stronger than ever

The 2021 Hume Bank City2City will be a dual celebration of local frontline health workers and the resilience of our two cities, one community.

The Hume Bank City2City organisers confirmed plans are in place to stage a COVID-safe physical fun run on February 21, 2021, together with a virtual Walk and Talk event during February.

All going to plan, the City2City fun run will be one of the first large-scale community events to return to the community event calendar since the COVID-19 outbreak in March 2020.

"We are excited to bring the community together to thank our frontline health workers and acknowledge the strength and resilience of our community, which has been physically divided for so much of 2020," City2City organising committee chair Michelle Hudson said.

"We have had to make some changes to our usual format to ensure a COVID-safe experience for all, however we are confident the community will embrace the 2021 event in the same enthusiastic way it does every year.

"Should the COVID situation change and restrictions tighten once again, we have the ability to quickly revert to a fully virtual format. At this stage however, we are moving forward with our stakeholders to plan a COVID-safe physical Fun Run and a virtual Walk and Talk."

Wodonga mayor Kevin Poulton said the City2City would be a great opportunity to say thank you to the staff of Albury Wodonga Health.

"Whether you participate in the fun runs on February 21 or get together with friends to do the Walk and Talk sometime during February, I encourage everyone to get involved," he said.

Albury Mayor Kevin Mack said the City2City had become the flagship event for the Border communities.

"It is symbolic of the two cities, one community mantra here on the Border region. I can’t think of a better way to demonstrate the strength of our cross-border community than running the roads or walking the bike paths that connect our two cities," he said.

Registrations for both the physical Fun Runs (registrations capped at 2500) and virtual Walk and Talk open Monday, January 11. Funds raised by the 2021 event will be directed toward improving staff room amenities across the health service.

Albury Wodonga Health chief executive officer Michael Kalimnios said the organisation was grateful to the Albury Wodonga community and local businesses who support the City2City each year.

"Our team at Albury Wodonga Health has done an amazing job this year supporting the health and wellbeing of our community, ravaged first by bushfires, then quickly followed by impacts of COVID-19," he said.

"The City2City will be a wonderful opportunity to celebrate their great work.’

Albury Wodonga Health employees remain the VIPs of the event, easily identified at the City2City by their gold registration bibs.

For more information and/or to register head to www.city2city.org.au.