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STEP UP
FOR FIRST
NATIONS
HEALTH
Make your mark by helping us raise $1 million to support the next generation of First Nations leaders through running, health and education. Together, we can take a giant step forward.
Creating First Nations leaders
IMF celebrates and supports the strength of young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, using running, health education and leadership development to unlock their potential. This November, our marathoners will take on the TCS New York Marathon – but it’s never just about the finish line. It’s about building confidence, creating future leaders and inspiring healthier communities to thrive.
Your donation fuels a range of IMF programs – from marathon training and health education to leadership development and school-based initiatives – all designed to uplift lives, strengthen communities and drive lasting impact.
Meet the 2025 squad
Ambassador
Lance ‘Buddy’ Franklin
AFL superstar Lance ‘Buddy’ Franklin will be kicking new sporting goals as a 2025 Indigenous Marathon Project (IMP) ambassador, taking on the TCS New York City Marathon in November. From forward line to finish line – can this First Nations trailblazer go the full 42.2km?
Ambassador
Johnathan Thurston
NRL legend Jonathan Thurston is a 2025 Indigenous Marathon Project (IMP) ambassador who apping his footy boots for running shoes to take on the iconic TCS New York City Marathon in November. How fast will this First Nations role model and playmaker run 42.2km?
Squad member
Arika Appleby
Kelso, Qld (Regional)
Mob: Gudjala / Juru / Gugu Budhun
Arika is a proud mother based in Townsville, serving as a First Nations program coordinator at PCYC and radio host on 107.1FM 4K1G. Passionate about community, Arika applied for IMP to lead by example, embrace a challenge, and inspire others to pursue growth, break barriers, and realise their potential – fulfilling the dreams of those who came before her.
Squad member
Jedd Bell
Falcon, WA (Metro)
Mob: Gunditjmara
Jedd is excited about the opportunity to work as part of the IMP team, fostering a sense of camaraderie, and ideally friendship. He is determined to use the knowledge and experiences from IMP to inspire and lead others in his community. Being a member of the IMP Squad will allow him to dedicate himself to personal and professional growth, while inspiring others through the Boorloo RAW Group.
Squad member
Jack Atkinson
Park Holme, SA (Metro)
Mob: Wiradjuri / Yorta Yorta / Bangerang
Jack grew up on Country at Willow Bend Mission in Condobolin and now lives in Kaurna Yerta in Adelaide. A proud dad and civil construction apprentice, Jack is on a healing journey through running. Inspired by mentor Otis Carter, he’s training for the TCS New York City Marathon to beat past struggles, be a role model for First Nations peoples, and build a strong future for his daughter.
Squad member
Kiet Cook
Onslow, WA (Remote)
Mob: Yinhawankga
Kiet is an electrical and instrumentation technician based in Onslow, WA. A former social sports player, he’s embraced running in the past six months as a tool for mental health and fitness. Kiet applied for IMP 2025 to break personal and community cycles, lead by example, and inspire others to pursue growth through healthy habits, discipline, and resilience.
Squad member
Blake Griffith
Sydney (Metro)
Mob: Kunjen / Yorta Yorta
Through IMP, Blake hopes to grow as a leader and role model, sharing his story to inspire others while also learning from fellow IMP squad members. This program represents more than just running to Blake – it’s about breaking barriers, fostering pride, and creating lasting change, and he is eager to be part of that legacy.
Squad member
Chanti McHenry
Karratha, WA (Regional)
Mob: Bardi / Noongar / Ngarluma
Chanti’s 2025 IMP journey is driven by a desire to put remote kids on the map. After months of hard pre-season training, she was selected twice for the West Coast Eagles Talent Search and completed skills training. Leaving her family and job in Karratha to train in Perth, Chanti wanted to prove to herself and others that remote youth can achieve great things.
Squad member
Tyson Neal-Edwards
Geelong, Vic (Regional)
Mob: Gunditjmara / Wadawaurrung / Arrernte
Tyson is passionate about cultural fire management and creating more employment opportunities for his people. He’s excited to connect with like-minded individuals in the program, building relationships and sharing knowledge that can drive collective progress. He wants to bridge the gap between cultural preservation and meaningful employment.
Squad member
Jack Peckham
Dubbo, NSW (Regional)
Mob: Wiradjuri
Jack wants to be a positive role model in his community for his family, particularly through his work as an Aboriginal Education Officer at a school. Jack is motivated to encourage his community to support these initiatives, showing that through education and self-discipline, positive change is possible. He also aims to make his family proud, including his 14-year-old brother, who is under Jack’s care.
Squad member
Beverlina Riley
Borroloola, NT (Remote)
Mob: Marra
Beverlina believes participating in a marathon with the IMP Squad will improve her confidence and allow her to support and encourage other young people in Borroloola to get into running through the local IMF RAW Group. For Beverlina, running isn’t just about fitness – it brings happiness, strength, and a sense of purpose.
Squad member
Ellie White
Preston, Vic (Metro)
Mob: Kija Bardi
Ellie is driven to improve healthcare outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples by advocating for better cultural awareness and understanding among non-Indigenous healthcare workers. Currently pursuing her PhD, Ellie is dedicated to research that supports creating a more inclusive healthcare system where Indigenous peoples feel respected, heard, and supported.
Squad member
Sharman Williams
Cairns, Qld (Regional)
Mob: Kalkadoon / Pitta Pitta / Bundjalung / Meriam
Sharman started working at AFL Cape York House for Girls, working with Indigenous girls across the Cape and Queensland, supporting them the way ‘little Sharman’ needed. Some of the girls in the Cairns Deadly Runners and Walkers community inspired her to apply: “They can’t be, what they can’t see”. She wants to be that role model.
THE TCS New York City Marathon
Marathon Day November 2nd 2025
Help us cross the finish line and beyond
IMF Programs your donation supports
IMF RAW groups
RAW (Running and Walking) Groups have grown out of our community fun runs and the incredible work our IMP Graduates are doing on the ground. They’re all about giving back – helping others experience the same mental, emotional and physical benefits that running has brought into their own lives.
Find out more
I-CAN
I-CAN helps kids stay active and show up to school by creating fun, inviting spaces to move – like running tracks and fitness equipment in primary schools or local community parks. The program is dedicated to encouraging healthy habits early and keeping kids engaged.
Find out more
Warrior Project
A 12-month program that works inside correctional centres, using running, mentoring and cultural connection to help participants rebuild their strength – physically, mentally and emotionally. It’s about creating space for personal growth, restoring identity and building a sense of hope for the future.
Find out more
FrontRunners
This program gives IMP Graduates the chance to take their next big step – whether that’s starting a local running or fitness group, launching their own business, or building skills through personal, professional or career development courses.
Find out moreFrequently asked questions
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What sets IMF apart?
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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.
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Why running?
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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.
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I’ve heard of IMP, what other programs does IMF deliver?
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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.
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How is IMF contributing to closing the gap?
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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.
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How can I best support IMF?
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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 info@imf.org.au or call 0477 111 477 for general IMF enquiries.
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Our supporting partners
