Two Gladstone Park residents are taking up a gruelling challenge for a cause close to their hearts.
For the past seven years, Anthony Catalano has donated $1 each day to Médecins Sans Frontières. He signed up to donate to the international organisation for medical humanitarian aid when he was 18.
“It’s a small amount and doesn’t mean much for me, but when you see how much $1 can do and the effect it has on people [being helped by the MSF], it’s well worth it,” he says.
Mr Catalano will step up his philanthropy mission this year when he competes in the City2Sea fun run on November 17. “If they benefit out of my doing something I do as a pastime [running], then why not?” he said.
Mr Catalano hopes to raise about $1000 to donate to the Australian arm of the charity before he starts the 14-kilometre run.
It will be his third fun run this year, having competed in the charity events Run for the Kids and Run Geelong.
And for Josephine Kizana, also of Gladstone Park, City2Sea is one of many milestones she hopes to achieve this year. She started running as recently as March last year and has lost more than 25 kilograms.
“I couldn’t run more than 20 seconds before being out of breath,’’ she recalls.
“It was tiring and it was difficult, but running has worked wonders.” With the help of a trainer, Ms Kizana hopes to lose another 10 kilograms.
Clown Doctors, operated by the Humour Foundation, will benefit from her new-found exercise regime. She will raise funds in the lead-up to the charity run.
“I just thought, no one deserves to be sick in hospital, let alone children,’’ Ms Kizana said. “A bit of laughter does wonders.”
City2Sea participants have the option of making fund-raising their focus of the event. They can choose from a list of high-profile Australian charities to donate to, or one that’s close to their heart.
