Murrumbateman medical receptionist Jef McGlashan will put on his long-distance running shoes next month to raise money for the town's only junior sporting club.
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Jef will run his first marathon - 42.2km around town, starting and finishing at his workplace, the Murrumbateman Health Hub, Rose Street - on the morning of Saturday, November 7.
Every cent he raises will go to Little Athletics Murrumbateman to buy sporting equipment. COVID-19 has stopped the club from holding its usual disco and trivia night fundraising activities this year.
"We really rely on those for funding, because we don't really get a lot of money from our athletes," president Kristin Butler said. "Jef contacted us out of the blue, and said he would generously [raise money] for us. That's really amazing; it's going to be so helpful!"
Some of the money will be used to buy hurdles, which will be offered as a new event this season.
Jef started his GoFundMe page on Monday; he has already almost reached his goal of $1500, but would be delighted to see that amount surpassed.
"It would be incredibly nice to see it double or triple," Jef said. "The more fundraising we can do, the better. I'm not asking people to put in a lot; if they saw me out in public doing a sausage sizzle, would they give me two dollars fifty? That's all I'm asking for."
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Little Athletics Murrumbateman began last year, and held its first season from October to March. Kristin had hoped for 40 members; triple that number - 130 athletes - registered.
"It was much bigger than we ever thought it would be!" Kristin said. "We have no other junior sporting clubs at all, and we don't have a school; the kids all go to different schools around Canberra and Yass. So it was amazing for kids here to meet, and have a group of friends outside school."
Jef will run as part of the Canberra Times Virtual Marathon. He has run half-marathons of 21km before - but nothing so arduous as a full marathon before. To train, he is running twice a week around Murrumbateman, from 10km to 20km each time.
Jef and a friend had originally planned to run their first marathon together in Queenstown, New Zealand, but coronavirus got in the way.
"So I decided to do it around the streets of Murrumbateman, because it's where I live and work," Jef said.
"I'm very excited for it. Because I've been publicising it through my work and through Little Athletics, people all day come into my workplace or see me in the Murrumbateman streets who know about it. I'm constantly being asked how I'm going, how the training is, if I'm excited. Every time I forget about it, somebody else reminds me of it!"
The whole town knew Jef, Kristin said. "Even though there are about 4000 residents [in Murrumbateman], we feel like a close-knit community. Everyone would know Jef's face if they go to the Murrumbateman Health Hub.
"This really encompasses what starting this club was about - getting the community together and helping each other. It's such a beautiful example of what happens when you live in a small community."
The Little Athletics season begins on October 28. Classes range from Tiny Tots (for those born in 2016/17) to under-6 and under-17 groups. The club is affiliated with NSW Masters Athletics, so older athletes can compete in state championships under the town banner. For more information, visit http://www.murrumbatemanlittleathletics.com.au/.
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