IF YOU’RE deadly serious about inspiring and improving your community, the Indigenous Marathon Program (IMP) wants to meet you.
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On Wednesday night at The Youthie, IMP representatives and 2016 graduate Jacinta Smith will talk about the initiative, which trains up Aboriginal people to run in the New York City Marathon.
And you don’t have to be a runner or even fit, according to spokeswoman Kellie O’Sullivan – just determined to make a difference.
“The program runs from May to November, and we select six Indigenous Australian men and six Indigenous Australian women aged 18-30 every year,” she said.
“Most have had absolutely no running experience or very little experience in the past.
“We’re not looking for runners but people with determination, committment and strong purpose.
“We use running to drive change, essentially: they use what they’ve learnt over the six months with IMP and go back to their communities [with it].”
The program aims to promotes healthy and active lifestyles, reduce the incidence of Indigenous diseasem and create Indigenous role models.
Wednesday night’s information session will include a screening of the documentary Running to America, which follows the program’s first four participants in 2010.
Ms Smith will also talk about her experience. She now lives in Tamworth but was a Bourke resident when she joined the program to expose that community to a different path.
“I want to show them that it is OK to have a dream, and I feel I owe it to my family and community to be a role model and improve the self-esteem of my community,” she said at the time.
- The event will be held at 6pm on May 10 at The Youthie in Quinn St.
- A light supper will be provided; RSVP to trc@tamworth.nsw.gov.au