RISE to the Challenge Lunch 2025
August 1 @ 12:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Book your Early Bird tickets today! On Friday 1st August, 12pm-3pm, The RISE2 Foundation will host a lunch at Alex Surf Club.
This is a fantastic opportunity to gather friends or family together and be inspired by exceptional speakers. You’ll enjoy a delicious meal and welcome drink, and the company of a fantastic community that support our Foundation.
Local celeb Ashley Robinson will be our MC for the day and our very own member, Kristy Munroe, will be joining us to interview our speakers. So book today and save on your ticket and we’ll post more information on guest speakers soon! Before you purchase your tickets, please read the terms and conditions
Our speakers:
Genevieve Gregson (née LaCaze) is one of Australia’s most accomplished distance runners, renowned for her versatility and resilience. A four-time Olympian, she has represented Australia in three distinct events: the 3000m steeplechase, 5000m, and marathon.
She holds the Australian record in the 3000m steeplechase with a time of 9:14.28, set in Paris in 2016. At the 2016 Rio Olympics, Genevieve reached the finals in both the steeplechase and 5000m events. Her Tokyo 2020 campaign ended in heartbreak when she ruptured her Achilles tendon during the steeplechase final.
Following her recovery, she transitioned to road running, making a remarkable marathon debut in 2023 with a time of 2:23:08 in Valencia, placing her third on Australia’s all-time list. Beyond the track, Genevieve is a dedicated mother to her son Archer, born in June 2022, and is expecting her second child.
Her journey exemplifies determination, adaptability, and the pursuit of excellence.
Torita Blake is a proud First Nations Dunghutti woman on a cultural journey to understand her heritage.
Born in Moree and growing up in Logan, Torita was barely a month old when she was a victim of family violence and suffered severe brain injuries and a broken rib and collarbone.
She is currently a full-time elite athlete training at the Queensland Academy of Sport, having been selected to compete for Australia on 8 occasions.
She is a 2-time Paralympian, a 2-time medallist at the Para World Athletics Championships, and a current Paralympics Australia First Nations Advisory Group member.
Her profile in athletics has given her the opportunity to work on community projects such as Deadly Choices and Athletics Australia’s Raise The Bar Academy, focused on encouraging Indigenous youth to further their academic and sporting endeavours.
As a survivor of family and sexual violence, Torita has a desire to contribute to the work of the Prevention Council by increasing the understanding of healing from trauma and as a national sporting hero wants to educate about domestic, family and sexual violence and how to overcome the odds.
Todd Waters is one of Australia’s most accomplished and respected motocross athletes. With a professional career spanning international competition in the MXGP and AMA Pro Motocross championships, Todd claimed the prestigious Australian MX1 title in 2019 and has consistently been a front-runner on home soil.
He’s proudly represented Australia at both the Motocross of Nations and the International Six Days Enduro—becoming just the third Australian ever to compete at both of these elite international events.
Off the track – originally from Atherton in North QLD, and now calling the Gold Coast home, Todd is a father of two and continues to play a major role in shaping the future of the sport. He currently manages the Husqvarna Australia racing team, mentors emerging talent, and runs multiple successful performance brands: TDUB and Raceline Performance.