THE Fassifern Fangs will continue a fine tradition of community involvement when they line up in Sunday’s 20th Park2Park events in Ipswich.
Previous groups with quirky names like the Fangs include the Frosty Frogs, Ipswich Slow Coaches, Trainin Wheels, Easy Striders, Eat Speak Repeat and Mad Mummas.
However, the Fangs have their own reason to cut their teeth at the annual fundraising project around the challenging hills of Limestone Park.
“It’s merely a bit of fun, a name we can use outside of work being the Boonah Dental practice,” Louise McLoughlin said.
Louise is the dental clinic’s principal dentist and practice owner.
She is pleased to be among the well-named Fangs contingent, a majority of who work for or have worked at the Boonah clinic and live in the Fassifern area.
They are joined by other friends from Ipswich and Brisbane.
Louise said the Fangs came together after first joining forces with Susan Yates, from BodyJoy in 2017, to form a combined team.
Susan’s husband Tom was a well-respected past CEO of the Ipswich Hospital Foundation who was involved in many community and fundraising efforts.
Louise, who first contested the Park2Park in 2015, appreciated having Andrew Spark design the team’s logo. T-shirts were printed for the Fangs.
Louise said most of the Fangs are walking in Sunday’s 5km event, with a few participants running over the 5km and 10km courses.
She said the motivation was being involved in “a great event, coming together as a team in a healthy way”.
“It’s a good cause, affects all of us,” Louise said.
“And, as the majority of our team live in the Boonah surrounds, there is an added incentive that we are also raising funds that benefit the Boonah Hospital and its patients.”
As for the notorious hills of Limestone Park awaiting the Fangs, Louise was ready.
“The hill of death?” she responded.
“I raised three children in Ipswich . . . they all experienced the hills during school cross country so I’m mentally prepared.”
Louise said other Fangs members prepared by “getting enough sleep”.
The Fangs will be among more than 1000 participants fundraising for medical research across the region.
The 10km race is at 7am before the 5km event at 8am, the Kids Challenge at 9am and the Mascot Marathon from 9.30am.
“Ipswich usually turns on her perfect winter weather,” Louise said.
“It’s a great community event, and as most of us walk, it’s lots of good conversations over the 5km.
“Plus I host a brunch post-event for the Fassifern Fangs so the socializing continues.”
The Fasssifern Fangs have a Facebook page welcoming donations to help the major fundraising cause.