The
Cause.
Every entry fee. Every dollar. All of it goes to Community Friends — a local Brisbane charity feeding and clothing hundreds of people who need it most, every single week.
Who they are
Community Friends is an independent, non-profit charity based in West End, Brisbane. Founded in 2011 by Mark McDonnell, the organisation exists to support people experiencing homelessness and disadvantage — providing food, clothing, blankets, shoes, and essential household items, all completely free of charge.
They receive no continuous government funding and have no religious affiliation. They operate on donations, community support, and the kind of stubborn determination that keeps showing up every week regardless.
What they do
Every Wednesday, Community Friends sets up at Bunyapa Park on the corner of Thomas and Vulture Streets in West End. Between 200 and 300 people come through each week — people who are homeless, people in housing stress, people who are struggling and need a meal and a kind word without being asked to justify why.
The organisation distributes food, clothing, blankets, sheets, towels, and shoes. They connect people with counselling services and medical care. They reach beyond the park into boarding houses and other locations where people can’t easily get to a distribution point. Their reach covers inner Brisbane CBD, West End, Highgate Hill, South Brisbane, Fairfield, and Logan City.
In 2015 alone they distributed more than 60,000 meals. That number has kept growing. The scale of what they’ve built from nothing — no government grants, no institutional backing — is remarkable.
The connection to Geoffs Runs
Geoff has always been clear that the event isn’t a fundraiser with a charity attached. It’s a charity event that involves running. The distinction matters because it changes what every participant is actually doing when agree to step on to the start line.
Every spare cent from your entry fee goes directly to Community Friends. The work they do in West End every Wednesday is the reason Dusk till Dawn exists, and the reason runners keep coming back year after year.
When you complete a lap at Toogoolawah at 3 in the morning and you’re wondering why you’re still out there — this is why.
How to support them directly
You don’t have to wait for race day. Community Friends accepts donations directly through their website, and they’re always in need of clothing, blankets, and non-perishable food items. If you’re in Brisbane, they’re at Bunyapa Park every Wednesday.
You can also follow their work on Facebook and Instagram at @communityfriendswestend.