What started with 350 participants on the grounds of Grand Lakes Estate in 2010 has become one of the region's most anticipated community events. The Lara Fun Run now draws close to 1,000 participants each year, locals, visitors from across Victoria, and runners from interstate and overseas, all converging on one of Lara's most distinctive settings.

That setting is no accident, Bisinella Developments not only provides Pirra Homestead as the event's home base but has been a financial cornerstone of the Fun Run since its very first edition. Sixteen years on, that commitment hasn't wavered.

PB Events, the locally owned and operated business behind the Lara Fun Run, said the partnership with Bisinella is what makes the event viable.

"The Lara Fun Run would not be possible without the support of Bisinella Developments," Justin Higgins from PB Events said.

"They were an integral part of the very first event and have backed every single one since. That kind of consistency means everything when you're trying to build something the community can rely on year after year."

The event has found its ideal home at Pirra Homestead and Serendip Sanctuary, where participants run bush trails that are typically closed to the public. It's a genuinely unique experience, part fun run, part nature reserve access, and one that draws people back annually.

Every finisher receives a medal at the line, entry fees are kept deliberately accessible, and the atmosphere is built around inclusion rather than competition. All abilities are welcomed, families are catered for before and after the run, and the event functions as much as a community day as a sporting one.

The broader impact is measurable. Since 2010, the Lara Fun Run has raised more than $50,000 for local community groups, while also creating meaningful promotional opportunities for local businesses and fundraising platforms for community organisations. It is one of Lara's most productive community events.

Bisinella Developments Managing Director Richard Bisinella said supporting the Fun Run was a natural extension of the company's commitment to the Lara community.

"We've been part of this event from the beginning and watching it grow into what it is today has been genuinely rewarding," Richard said.

"Events like this do more than bring people together for a morning, they build community pride, support local groups, and give families a reason to get active together. That's exactly the kind of thing we want to be part of."

 Looking ahead, PB Events is targeting 1,000 participants and remains focused on what has made the event work from the start, keeping it local, keeping it accessible, and delivering an experience the Lara community can be proud of.

With Bisinella Developments continuing to provide both the venue and the financial foundation, the Lara Fun Run is well positioned to keep growing for years to come.