Sixty Indigenous children, aged nine to 13, from 12 remote communities across Australia, are enjoying their first visit to Canberra, thanks to the Indigenous Marathon Foundation and its founder, Robert de Castella.
For many of the kids, it's the first time they have left their communities.
If you're at the Stromlo Running Festival on Sunday morning, make sure you give them a shout-out. The young visitors will be taking part in the 2.5 kilometre kids' fun run.
The children have come to Canberra from the APY Lands (South Australia), Torres Strait Islands (Queensland), Arnhem Land (Northern Territory) and the Kimberley (Western Australia).
They have already visited Parliament House, Questacon, the Museum of Australian Democracy and the newly renovated Australian War Memorial, where they were met by Indigenous members of the Australian Defence Force Federation Guard.
The visit is part of the Indigenous Marathon Foundation's I-CAN Championships, an initiative supported by the National Indigenous Australians Agency.
It is designed to foster youth leadership, community engagement, and improved educational and health outcomes through the discipline and sense of achievement that comes with running.
And that's the philosophy that runs deep through the Indigenous Marathon Foundation.
The charity founded by Canberra's marathon man Robert de Castella dedicated to using running as a tool to promote health and celebrate Indigenous resilience and achievement. The foundation works to inspire the next generation of Indigenous leaders while promoting health, fitness, and active lifestyles.
Since 2010, it has supported 145 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to run marathons around Australia and the world.
Many have gone onto to run multiple marathons, including three who have run all world major marathons, one who ran seven marathons in seven states in seven days, three who have run 100 kilometres and one who was the first Indigenous Australian to go to the North Pole, where he ran his second marathon.
The foundation's I-CAN program works in remote Indigenous primary schools and communities across Australia to provide children with access to fun and educational health and fitness programs that encourages school attendance and addresses childhood obesity and inactivity.
"For many of these children, the trip to Canberra marks the first time they have left their communities or visited a major city," Mr de Castella said.
"Their visit will include educational excursions to some of the country's most iconic sites, helping to deepen their connection to Australia's history and culture."
A foundation spokesperson said highlights for the kids included meeting an AFP dog handler and her general duties dog Tux, and meeting other kids from different schools
"The kids have mentioned how amazed they are to see a big city with so many buildings and different people. Their families back in community have also been very thankful of the opportunity to have their children experience such significant learning opportunities," she said.
