If you think you’ve got a killer week ahead, spare a thought for Point Cook’s Dani McLaren.
The 39-year-old primary school teacher will run seven marathons in seven days in seven states as part of the Bravehearts’ 777 challenge.
Bravehearts is a national child protection advocacy group that aims to educate, empower and protect Australian kids from sexual assault.
It’s the fourth year running Ms McLaren has taken on the challenge, and she’s close to reaching her $10,000 fundraising goal, having brought in $8550 already.
This year, her eight-year-old daughter will join in for seven kilometres of the Melbourne leg of the challenge.
Ms McLaren said she’ll keep doing the challenge as long as children are being sexually assaulted.
“There’s still occurrences happening daily of children being abused, so we need to keep spreading that message and hopefully very soon it all ends,” she said.
“It’s something that’s occurring too often. Each year, so many survivors come out and thank us and say, ‘you’ve given me a reason to keep going’, and I think that’s a real big push.
“I personally find it a mental challenge. Physically, I’m lucky, I pull up OK every year … but it is a matter of being smart and building up [my fitness], running each week.”
Ms McLaren hosted a colour run at the end of last year, and sold fresh mangoes and running socks to help raise her fundraising tally.
To find out more and donate visit bit.ly/2lpUOGJ
