Make your Mark

The Indigenous Marathon Foundation (IMF) is a health promotion charity (DGR1 status), which uses running and walking as a platform to celebrate First Nations achievement. At IMF, our work is underpinned by the ethos that running and walking is a vehicle for addressing chronic health conditions, personal growth, building leadership qualities, and community good.

Importantly, our work and impact goes beyond having the strength, resilience and discipline to ‘run a marathon’. It’s about setting a high standard. It’s about arming the people who participate in our four key programs with the tools to create ripple effects of change within themselves, within families, and within the communities in which they live.

We’re striving for a reconciled, unified, and healthy Australia.

Running is simple, accessible, and powerful. It requires just one foot in front of the other – but it’s tough. It inspires. It shows results. It’s physically exhausting. It’s mentally and emotionally recharging. While our programs now extend beyond running to incorporate physical literacy and education, our focus is on achieving better health outcomes for First Nations peoples and providing opportunities for reconciliation.

At IMF, we deliver five proven programs:

The Indigenous Marathon Project (IMP) is our flagship program. Each year, 12 Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples aged between 18-30 are selected to train for the biggest marathon in the world in November, the TCS New York City Marathon.

I-CAN (Indigenous Communities, Activity and Nutrition) is an eight-week fun, culturally appropriate and educational health and fitness program delivered in remote primary schools and communities across Australia, designed to encourage school attendance and addresses childhood obesity and inactivity.

IMF RAW (Running and Walking) provides a free, inclusive and safe environment for running and walking across Australia. Driven by IMP Graduates and Community Members, IMF RAW addresses chronic disease by normalising physical activity.

IMF Warrior Project is a 12-month program designed to transform correctional centres into spaces of personal growth through running, mentoring, and cultural connection, helping participants rebuild mental resilience, physical strength, identity, and hope.

Finally, FrontRunners is a grants and mentoring program which extends the involvement of IMP Graduates, facilitating leadership opportunities in their respective communities.

Our proven community-led programs are designed to help address the health and life expectancy gap between First Nations peoples and non-Indigenous Australians across remote, regional and metro First Nations communities.

Currently, our programs are contributing to eight of the 17 Closing the Gap targets.

IMF is a charity (DGR1 status), not for profit, and registered with the ACNC. There are many ways you can help support our work. It’s easy to make a tax-deductible donation. You may consider fundraising for us. We also welcome enquiries about corporate partnerships. Please get in touch if you’d like to know more.

Contact [email protected] or call 0477 111 477 for general IMF enquiries.