Papua New Guinea runners on their marks for Gold Coast Marathon

simoneworthing
Jul 3
2 min read

Updated: Jul 3

Mentor Michelle Watts (back row in singlet) with the Papua New Guinea Hope and a Future participants and supporters during a training session in Port Moresby last month.

BY FAY FOSTER

Ten Papua New Guineans who are part of this year’s Hope and a Future program will arrive in Australia today to participate in the Gold Coast Marathon this Sunday (6 July).

Each year, 10 ‘future leaders’ are selected to participate in The Salvation Army program, and are paired with experienced marathon runners as mentors, before being brought to the Gold Coast to run.

And it’s not just about running a marathon! The program provides young nationals from Papua New Guinea (PNG), identified as having leadership potential, with the opportunity to be mentored in leadership skills, and is modelled around four key pillars – faith, fitness, education and leadership.

Salvation Army mentors and supporters encouraged all team members to cross the finish line during the 2023 Gold Coast Marathon.

This year’s team is made up of five young men: George Kumye, Somo Iga, Lox Pala, Karlo Ramson and Ragina Raga – and five young women: Manupe Barona, Monica Numa, Elnora Temine, Heagi Koiari and Rachael Buka.

Their support team from PNG includes the two Territorial Youth Secretaries (Captains John and Rose Raga), and Alyshia Van Kannel, a Canadian currently working for The Salvation Army in PNG. This year’s mentors, Omis Diruza and Esau Los, were selected based on their great participation in last year’s Hope and a Future Team.

The 2024 team at their post-race debriefing session with Bill Hunter and Commissioner Miriam Gluyas (top right).

The team coach, Queensland Divisional Envoy Bill Hunter, said, “We didn’t know it at the time of the selections, but six of the selected participants are children of Salvation Army officers.

“Usually, most of the participants are from Port Moresby, but this year quite a few are from outlying villages, and just travelled into Moresby for the selections.”

Bill said that despite a lot of injuries during training, all the participants have been very resilient. What stands out to him about this year’s team is that they are “the most united as a team – united in prayer and in supporting each other”.

Service and learning at local corps and centres is part of the Hope and a Future program. The team pictured last year leading worship at the Gold Coast Temple Corps.

The group will be joined in the marathon by Bill and eight mentors from Australia, who will run alongside the team.

After celebrating their success that night, the team will engage in eight days of ministry and activities with Queensland corps before returning to PNG on 15 July.