Reconciliation Action Plan News 

Relationships/Community – Build Relationships with Community

The ,

“There are no shortcuts. Be patient and look long-term.” Robert de Castella, IMF Director 

The Indigenous Marathon Foundation (IMF) is a health promotion charity that uses running to celebrate Indigenous resilience and achievement and create inspirational Indigenous leaders. Earlier this year, St Virgil’s College staff member and young palawa mentor Jamie Graham-Blair was selected in the squad for the 2022 Indigenous Marathon Project which uses running to change lives and provide a sense of empowerment, purpose and pride. Its participants train all over Australia gradually building up enough fitness and experience to compete in the New York Marathon in November. Jamie has already completed three milestone runs on his way to the NYC Marathon including the Mother’s Day classic 10km race on Ngunnawal/Ngambri Country in Canberra, a Half-Marathon on Kombumerri Yugambeh Country on the Gold Coast in July and the 30km selection race on Arrernte Country in Mparntwe/Alice Springs. Within this journey Jamie has also completed his recreation run coaching certificate, sports first aid, mental health first aid and is nearing the completion of a Certificate IV in Indigenous Leadership and Health Promotion with the rest of his squad. 

This Monday Jamie will be flying off to Sydney for the pre-marathon camp, catching up with squad mates from around the nation, receiving his IMP race bib, conducting media engagements and networking with program sponsors and supporters. After that he will begin the long journey across the Pacific to his marathon debut, putting his years’ worth of physically and mentally demanding training to the test. Starting at 6.00 am on   November 6 (that’s November 7 at roughly 8.00 pm our time here in nipaluna/Hobart) the race is the world’s largest marathon.

With more than 50,000 runners each year and millions of spectators on the streets and watching online, we add our voice to crowd in cheering on Jamie and the rest of his squad in their marathon debuts.