The CANEGROWERS Great Barrier Reef Marathon is arguably the biggest sporting event on the Douglas Shire calendar, and it could now be considered one of the most charitable, too.

The 2013 marathon festival raised around $3500 for key local charities and organisations, through events including the Redkite Fundy 5km.

Among the beneficiaries, Coles Port Douglas received $1500 for the supermarket chain's national partner charity Redkite, which offers real and practical support for children and young people with cancer, and their families. 

The Port Douglas Outrigger Canoe Club and the local Surf Lifesaving Club each received $1000.

Port Douglas Events Management’s Jess Coleman, herself a full marathon finisher on November 3, presented the Redkite funds to Coles Manager Jason Smith this morning.

“The CANEGROWERS Great Barrier Reef Marathon team were thrilled to partner with Coles Port Douglas for the 2013 event,” Ms Coleman said.

“Thanks to the generosity and support of the Douglas community and big-hearted visitors, we were able to raise much-needed funds for Redkite and the two local clubs.

“We particularly want to thank Jason, who was the driving force behind his store’s involvement. A big thanks also to our fantastic volunteers, who worked around the clock to make our event a huge success.

“We look forward to working with charities again next year, and hope to encourage even more participants to get involved in the 2014 event, on November 9.”

“Our sports club was happy to be involved in a local sporting event,” said Outrigger Canoe Club President Ingrid Juchem.

“We just bought a $23,000 canoe and had to put down a deposit straight away, so the $1000 went straight towards that.”

The marathon’s Redkite donation adds to Coles Port Douglas’ already impressive total, with more than $42,000 raised this year. Mr Smith was awarded Queensland's 2013 Store Manager of the Year in October.