A national health charity that celebrates Indigenous resilience and achievements set up by Canberra legend Robert De Castella will be in the spotlight during an upcoming endurance race in Far North Queensland.
Federal MP and long-distance runner Andrew Leigh will line up in the Cairns Ironman Asia-Pacific Championship on June 6 to raise funds for the Indigenous Marathon Foundation, which uses running to inspire and produce leaders and to change lives for the better.
Mr Leigh, who in 2015 began his association with the charity and has already run the World Marathon Majors - Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago and New York - said the charity had been "incredibly influential on my own running".
"My desire to get out there is just stronger when I'm running with an Indigenous Marathon Foundation singlet," the Fenner MP said.
"I've always wanted to do an ironman. It's always been one of those daunting events that I wondered whether I could get through.
"If I were going to try a difficult event. I should also try for a good cause."
Mr Leigh said he was inspired Nat Heath, one of the foundation's graduates, who in 2020 ran 100km to mark the charity's 10th anniversary during NAIDOC Week.
"He gave me a lot of advice when I was getting into triathlons. He himself has done a number of Ironman triathlons," Mr Leigh said.
"I did a half-ironman in Huskisson (NSW) in February and that went OK. But stepping up to the full event is something different.
"Marathons I'm comfortable with, but it's the 190km ride that scares me the most."
Mr Leigh said he hoped his efforts would not only raise money for the charity but also awareness of the work it does.
"One of the things I love about the foundation and the way that Rob had set it up is that it's both an elite leadership program that builds the skills of talented young indigenous people and a community program," he said.
"The graduates are then encouraged to go back into their communities and set up local fun runs and build active participation within their communities.
"So it's got the best of both worlds."
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Mr Leigh said his preparations for the endurance test in the tropical and humid weather of Cairns included making sure his training were "as intense as possible".
"So you're always doing intervals and sprints, trying to push your body hard in as little space of time as possible," he said.
"But invariably you have to also get out there on the bike for those long rides and for the long runs as well.
"It's also just a really terrific opportunity to be out there in nature.
"All of my running is around Mount Majora and Mount Ainslie on lovely bush trails, often surrounded by kangaroos and kookaburras laughing."
The charity holds various events across the nation and has four major programs focused on leadership development through education about health and fitness, including long-distance running.
Since 2010, more than 1400 people have applied with 109 graduates, who have completed 126 marathons to date.
The charity's founder Robert De Castella said graduates' achievements helped "amplified their voices and impact on communities around the country".
"It dispels the negative myth of the deficit that everyone focuses on and showcases the positive achievements," Mr De Castella said.
"Running and marathons are a wonderful metaphor for life.
"Anything worthwhile is a struggle and takes time and effort. That really resonates with our squad and our graduates.
"Anyone who runs understands the achievement and pride from the hard work put in."
Mr De Castella thanked Mr Leigh for his support, saying "Andrew's been an incredible ambassador and supporter for the foundation for years now".
"He's always been the first one to put up his hand and turn up to support our work," Mr De Castella said.
Mr Leigh aims to raise $22,600. Readers can also donate directly to the charity.
