Final stretch for marathon children’s fundraiser

MOUNT Duneed dad Nathaniel Blyth is nearing the end of a 440-kilometre fundraising run for a Geelong charity.

Mr Blyth is running at least a half marathon (21km) each day for the first 21 days of December in a bid to raise $21,000 for Geelong Mums.

He’ll have clocked up more than 441km, or the distance from Lorne to Wodonga, when he finishes the odyssey on Wednesday, December 21.

Geelong Mums works to ensure each local family has access to essential items that are needed for children to thrive, to alleviate economic, psychological and physical stress that can hinder a child’s ability to bond with its primary carer.

Mr Blyth said the charity’s mission resonated with him as a young father and inspired his mammoth fundraiser this month.

“I’ve been donating to Geelong Mums this year, toys and car seats and stuff like that.

“The thought of kids not having all the essentials as they come into the world at this tough time really upset me. No kid deserves that.

“I really wanted to do more, and I didn’t have 20 grand to give them, so this is the best I could come up with.

“I wanted to do something leading up to Christmas and I wanted all the money going direct to Geelong Mums at such an important time.”

Mr Bylth’s grueling campaign has involved two-hour runs with 5am starts on weekdays to fit in around his work and parenting schedules.

The effort has also involved a mini-tour of the Surf Coast and Geelong area, with some of his longer runs including a trip from Winchelsea to Birregurra and from Armstrong Creek to Barwon Heads.

Injury also threatened to derail the fundraiser before it had started.

As a keen runner, Mr Blyth had targeted a sub-three hour run at the Melbourne Marathon, but he says a back injury days earlier slowed his race down to around 3 hours 20 minutes.

He managed two practice runs before the start line of December 1 and despite admitting to being “a bit underdone” in the lead-up, said he was in good shape to surge in the final straight.

“I’ve had two really tough days. Running in 34-degree heat on day four in Barwon Heads was one of them.

“Then today (Tuesday this week), my legs were heavy, but it’s been so enjoyable and everyone’s support has been amazing, so overall I’m loving it.

“I’m just so grateful to everyone who has got behind it. People are sharing my posts sending my messages, tooting me as I go along.

“The support has been amazing.”

To donate to Nathaniel’s fundraiser, head to 21-kms-for-21-days-for-geelongmums.raisely.com