Paul Noldt is preparing for one of the biggest challenges he has ever tackled.
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The Kootingal Roosters coach and oztagger will next month attempt to complete 100km on a cross-trainer in support of the Autism Advisory & Support Service.
Noldt first became associated with the charity, which offers a wide range of support options for people with Autism, when he met his partner Justine 10 years ago. She was heavily involved, and he started attending their annual charity ball.
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"It's just an amazing organistion," he said.
"Seeing what they have done and meeting parents that have kids with autism or kids growing up with autism, it was just an eye-opener."
Unfortunately with the pandemic this year they haven't really been able to do any kind of fundraising.
The seed for doing a 100km Elliptical was planted by good mate and fellow Roosters coach Geoff Sharpe.
He was supporting Noldt while he was doing a marathon on the cross-trainer, which after undergoing a total knee replacement last year was the only kind of training he could do.
"I said 'I'm going to do 100k' and he put it into my head that if you're going to do 100k's why don't you do a charity thing," Noldt said.
The AASS was the first that came to mind.
He has been preparing since around April and as of Tuesday he counted he has done 145 sessions, 220 hours and covered 2550km.
On advice from a friend, who is an ultra-marathoner, he has been doing back-to-back sessions of 30-35ks, interspersed with a 50k session "every so often".
"In August I did eight straight days of half-marathons just to try and get that recovery in my muscles and see how they go," he said.
Noldt is hoping to raise $5000 and is well on the way to that. He's already up to over $1300.
But it's not just about raising money, it's also about raising awareness.
"My part of it is raising awareness for the mental health side of autism with families and children," he said, adding that "if it changes one person I've done my job for the day".
The fundraiser will be held at the Kootingal Hotel on Saturday November 21 with Noldt set to hit the cross-trainer at 8am.
"I've got to 50k's and I was comfortable but after that it's going to be an unknown for me and on the day," he said.
"(But) With the training I've done I'm pretty confident that I'll get through it."
Donations can be made on the day, via Noldt's Facebook Fundraiser page or by contacting the Kootingal Hotel.
