On the 5th November 2023 I completed the TCS New York City Marathon running alongside twelve young wonderful Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men and women I’ve come to know from Rob de Castella’s 2023 Indigenous Marathon Project Squad. They have gone from no running – in a remote community of 500 people like Beswick (NT) for example, to running the largest marathon in the world in the largest city in the world – in just six months. Running was the easy part and the finish line is just the start of their leadership journey.  Our 2023 Squad also ran together at the end of October in Alice Springs, each of us qualified with a 30km run, for the New York Marathon.  

The program was established in 2009 as the Indigenous Marathon Foundation (IMF) and requires participation in workshops to build leadership skills that current and past Graduates have introduced and led in their respective communities. And I have witnessed first-hand being on country what a transformative effect this program has delivered to the Marathon runners and their communities, who are benefiting from the leadership training and additional IMG community programs such as Run and Walk (RAW). Australia needs more of this. IMF needs your support.

I would love your contribution to this ongoing program, the purpose of which is to create more opportunity for Indigenous and Torres Strait Islanders to be educated and live healthier lives with the same choices we have all had.  Some examples:

• $500 or $1,000 will contribute to education and development opportunities to the Indigenous marathon ‘graduates’; delivering long term outcomes and change in their communities.  
• $5,000 will fund IMF to create and support more Running and Walking Groups in remote communities. These free, inclusive, and safe groups help bind Indigenous communities together and tackle health issues. 40 Running and Walking Groups exist now, help us do more.
• $10,000 provides an Indigenous primary school with an educational and fun health and fitness program. It’s proven to increase school attendance and works to address childhood obesity and inactivity. IMF has conducted over 1800 health screenings in 17 remote Indigenous schools, built fitness and running tracks in 10 of these communities, and provided employment opportunities for over 20 IMP Graduates.
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• Alternatively please consider a donation of any amount that you feel comfortable – just click “Other” and insert your amount.

For offline donations, please contact me directly.

PLEASE NOTE: I personally funded my own travel and accommodation in addition to my own personal donation.  All funds donated to support IMF, go to IMF.  

https://www.imf.org.au/aboutimf/

Thank you sincerely in anticipation of your support

Kind regards Anne