Lungka Kija man Seymoure Farrer credits a running and leadership program with helping him to see a more positive future — not just for himself, but for other young Indigenous people in his Kimberley community.
Mr Farrer and Karajarri man Wynston Shovellor-Sesar have been chosen from about 130 applicants from around Australia for this year's 12-person Indigenous Marathon Project squad.
Every year, the Indigenous Marathon Foundation selects a group of young Indigenous men and women, aged between 18 and 30, to take part in the world-famous New York Marathon in November.
It's an honour the two Kimberley men carry proudly, and an opportunity they do not intend to waste.
"I've seen, over the years, previous participants and the positive changes it made in their lives," Mr Farrer said.
"I've been struggling with mental health.
For Mr Shoveller-Sesar, joining the squad was a long-held ambition.
"I had a couple of attempts to apply … in the past. I just had to jump at it," he said.
Head coach Damian Tuck said Mr Shovellor-Sesar's application stood out.
Influencing the community
All 12 runners are hoping to serve as an example to their communities. This year, as well as Western Australian runners, the squad has members from the ACT, the Northern Territory, Queensland, including a Torres Strait Island runner, Tasmania and New South Wales.
"They want to be role models," Mr Shovellor-Sesar said of the team.
Closer to home, he sees an opportunity to set an example in his own community.
"There are so many social issues in and around Broome," he said.
"I wanted to get fit [and] improve my healthy lifestyle, while also trying to demonstrate and influence the community."
Mr Farrer also hopes to motivate others.
"No matter what you are going through, there's always a positive somewhere, and that somewhere for me is finding this program," he said.
Mr Tuck said the program had always been about more than running.
"[Graduates] have this real ripple effect," he said.
The 2022 squad will complete a Certificate IV in Indigenous Leadership and Health Promotion, a Level 1 Recreational Running Coach course, and a first aid course.
Their training schedule sees participants run 5km every Tuesday, 7km every Thursday, and 10km on Sundays.
To New York and beyond
For the first time since the pandemic began, the project will culminate in New York, alongside 50,000 other runners and 2.5 million spectators.
And the two Kimberley runners are backing each other all the way.
"We're supporting each other no matter what," Mr Shovellor-Sesar said.
"If they feel determined to take part in the program in the next year or two, I'll be happy to support and mentor them."
The Indigenous Marathon Project was established in 2009 by world marathon champion Rob de Castella.
Since then more than 100 graduates have finished a major international marathon, including in New York, Boston, Tokyo, London, Paris and Berlin.
They have also completed compulsory education in health and leadership as part of the project.
