The Indigenous Marathon Foundation (IMF) has officially launched in South Australia with the aim to provide more opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to participate, achieve their goals, inspire themselves, their families, communities, and the nation.
The foundation established their southern regional office in Adelaide in December last year to build on the work that has been carried out nationally over the past decade through its various programs.
One of these programs includes the Indigenous Marathon Project (IMP) where every year, 12 Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people between aged between 18-30 are selected to train for the New York City Marathon.
Squad members from all over Australia will meet at set times throughout the year to participate in a week-long camp, which consists of meeting inspirational leaders, participating in an official running event and completing an education component.
There are 15 graduates (young Aboriginal men and women) from South Australia who have completed the program and now volunteer as run leaders for Running and Walking (RAW) groups in Goolwa, Mt Barker, Christies Beach, Coober Pedy, Semaphore, Adelaide Metro, Northern Suburbs Adelaide, Mimili (APY) and the Murraylands.
IMF RAW (Running and Walking) groups provide regular opportunities for all Australians to exercise together in a free, fun, inclusive and safe environment.
As part of the IMF’s southern regional office launch, a free 2km fun run/walk was held at the SA Athletics Stadium on the weekend.
The IMP 2024 squad also ran in yesterday's Adelaide Marathon Festival in the half marathon event, which marked the halfway point of their journey to the New York Marathon at the end of the year.
The IMF was established in 2009 by World Marathon Champion, Rob de Castella to foster opportunities through running for reconciliation and education.
For more information about the IMF, visit: imf.org.au
Quotes attributable to Indigenous Marathon Foundation Director Robert de Castella
The IMF uses running to showcase Indigenous achievement and excellence, develop First Nations leaders, and promote a healthy, active lifestyle for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders.
Over the last 15 years, our impact across South Australia has been huge. We have 15 SA IMP graduates who have gone from no running to completing a major international marathon in just six months, and then returning home and as volunteer run leaders, starting their own IMF RAW (Running and Walking) groups, and hosting and organising dozens of RAW events each year.
Their impact was the catalyst for us to establish our IMF southern regional office in Adelaide late last year, and since then we have seen even greater engagement and activity. We look forward to partnering with the SA Government to increase this even further.
