Running for refugees: CalCC students cheer on marathon runner
Today, Caloundra Christian College students were excited to meet ultra-marathon runner, Jordan Chenery, and cheer him on his way to running 33 marathons in 33 days in support of Move2Belong. This is a – a month-long challenge that asks people to pledge support through donations or physical activities in solidarity with refugees who are forced to travel long distances to find safety.
Chenery visited Syria on his travels and was touched by the kindness and hospitality of its people. He now wants to draw attention to the plight of those fleeing the country, and other war-torn regions around the world, and hopes his marathons will garner attention and encourage donations to refugee charity, You Belong.
“When you see what a refugee does to move to a new location, you really start to appreciate how far people go to create a new life for themselves,” said Chenery.
“We’ve committed to doing a marathon every day in June – but I’m not running to save my life or move to a different place – I’m just running to create awareness to what goes on around the world.”
Tim Buxton, Founder of You Belong, also visited the College and spoke to Secondary students about the incredible contribution refugees have made both in Australia and around the world. Students gained a deeper understanding of the journeys refugees are forced to take to find safety, and identified with their universal need to feel accepted and , to belong.
Buxton said the global refugee crisis was the greatest humanitarian disaster since World War II2, with more than three times the population of Australia currently displaced.
He founded You Belong after spending four years with his young family in Iraq during the height of the ISIS crisis, providing housing, education, medical care, trauma counselling and relief to thousands of Iraq and Syrian refugees.
Now back on the Gold Coast, his charity welcomes and empowers refugees who come to find home in our communities. by facilitating programs, ongoing events and workshops to help them integrate and thrive here in Australia.
