Proud supporters of Indigenous employment and development, AccorHotels in Sydney will be supporting the inaugural Indigenous Marathon Foundation’s (IMF) Father’s Day WARRIOR Fun Run on Father’s Day, Sunday 6 September in Sydney’s Centennial Park.
World Champion marathon runner and founder of the IMF, Robert de Castella, will be challenging up to 3,500 runners to friendly 5km and 10km loops around Centennial Parklands.
The family-friendly event will finish with a celebration of Indigenous music, performers, health promotion and other activities that celebrate men.
Chief Operating Officer AccorHotels Pacific, Simon McGrath said, “Supporting the first WARRIOR Fun Run is a natural fit for AccorHotels as we are committed to seeing Indigenous Australians excel and reach their potential. We have proudly supported the Indigenous Marathon Project in helping a number of runners to achieve their dream of running in the New York City Marathon, and so to support this event and the participants on home soil is very important to us.”
IMF Founder and event director, Robert de Castella, said, “Men in our Indigenous culture have been the strong protector and provider – the warrior. However in recent times, especially in some Indigenous families and communities, the role, respect and value of men has been eroded and they are losing some of their hierarchy, self-respect and significance. This must change and the Indigenous Marathon Foundation is helping to change lives through running. We thank partners like AccorHotels for coming on board to support our first WARRIOR Fun Run event.”
The IMF WARRIOR Run aims to create a movement to highlight the importance of strong and positive men in Indigenous families, communities and society, and empower men to celebrate their role and positive contribution as fathers, uncles, brothers, sons and grandfathers.
The event is a major fundraiser for the IMF and all funds raised will help to further the goals of the Foundation which are to celebrate Indigenous resilience and achievement and to provide ongoing education, training and career pathways for Indigenous Australians nationwide.
Up to 12 other WARRIOR Fun Runs will be held across the country on Father’s Day in Indigenous communities to engage people from some of Australia’s most remote areas.