Doctors put in the hard yards for Fair Game

Sometimes you have to put in the hard miles to make a difference for the Pilbara’s remote communities.

That’s why Hedland Health Campus doctors Aleisha Anderson and John van Bockxmeer say they are planning to run the New York City Marathon on November 1 and raise money for locally-based charity Fair Game.

Founded by Mr van Bockxmeer, Fair Game travels to remote Pilbara communities to run sports clinics and hand out donated equipment, ranging from footies and basketballs to shoes.

Ms Anderson said the mix of running and supporting Fair Game helped promote health and fitness.

“We thought we could bring the ideas of doing something we’ve always wanted to do in run a marathon and get an awesome trip to New York … with doing something useful by supporting a local charity,” she said.

Their support for Fair Game comes as its 140 volunteers have now handed out almost 20,000 pieces of recycled sports kit and run programs 8000 people have taken part in.

The programs aim to support indigenous Australians, migrants and refugees and adults suffering from chronic physical and mental illness.

Founder Mr van Bockxmeer earned Western Australia's Young Australian of the Year Award in 2014 for his work with the charity.

Now that work will be given a further boost as Ms Anderson, Mr van Bockxmeer and 10 friends aim to raise $20,000 for Fair Game from their New York run.

Having only ever run a half marathon and leaving herself just six months to train, Ms Anderson says the Pilbara heat added an extra dimension to the challenge.

“I wouldn’t want to be training much beyond November,” she said.

“I do tend to get up at 5am to go for my long runs but at that time it is pretty nice.”

And while her regular training loop from Pretty Pool to the West End and back might get monotonous, the alternative is littered with obstacles.

“You can run from Port to South and back (to clock- up enough miles) but you have to dodge a few road trains, which is not quite as nice,” she said.

Anyone wishing to donate to the duo can visit their page for more information at https://www.justgiving.com/FairGameNYmarathon .