PNG ‘champions’ find strength and resilience – in running and in life
- simoneworthing
- Jul 9
- 4 min read
Updated: Jul 10
BY FAY FOSTER
“This has been a big day and a hugely successful day, and we’re all very, very proud of our team who wear those finishers’ shirts and finishers’ medals today.”
This was the comment by Sarah-Jane Alley, one of the mentors for the Hope and a Future team from Papua New Guinea (PNG) who had run the Gold Coast Marathon that day (Sunday 6 July).
“It was a long and hot day. And the conditions were quite tricky at the end. But you finished it. You can do anything.”
The 10 young people participating in the program – of which the marathon is a part – all completed the 42.2km course and received their finisher’s medal and shirt.
After the race, which included a celebration and recovery barbeque, the team, with their mentors and support crew, gathered for a time of sharing and debriefing.
One participant, Heagi, spoke about how she prepared for the marathon while injured. “It was a privilege to be running the marathon myself,” she said. “It’s been really tough, but it was fun. I’ve listened to the past runners telling their stories, and now I’m writing my own story, and I’m thankful for that to all of you in here right now and to God.
READ MORE: The Hope and a Future program kicks off for 2025.
“The training was fun, but in the middle, I sprained my ankle. The pain was not good. But I kept on pushing myself, and I want to thank God because I prayed, and I told [him] … I know you will get me through this. At times, I couldn’t walk properly, and my team had to carry me during the training, but I didn’t give up. I kept coming for training. I think in June I fully recovered. And I ran.”
Partway through the marathon, participant Elnora was afraid she wouldn’t make it to the end. “After 20km, I vomited very badly. I almost [pulled out], but seeing my mentor, she is confident in me. I don’t want to let her down.”
“I always get very emotional, because I do have just a little bit of understanding of the journey that you guys take to get here,” said mentor Captain Brad McIver, Head of Social Mission. “And the thing I love most about the marathon is that I get to learn about your life.
“Thank you for being selfless. We were at about the 40km mark, and I’m trying to feed [participant] Emcey gels and lollies to keep her going. And we came across two of our fellow runners, and I think they’re a bit light on gels. And next thing I know, Emcey got two gels out of her pocket, puts them down on the road so that the runners behind could pick them up. And I think that’s the heart of a true servant and a true leader.”
The project name, ‘Hope and a Future’ is taken from the Scripture, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future,” (Jeremiah 29:11). “What is incredible about this project is we’re all being prospered, we're all being blessed, and we’re all just growing from the experience,” said mentor Sharon Callister, one of the founders of the program and former head of Salvation Army Aged Care.
“And some of the things that I saw today – the absolute strength and determination. And when you are cramping or you are vomiting, it’s grit, it’s resilience, it’s belief. We did say a lot of prayers along the way, and I just have learned so much from you all.”
Project caterer Captain Joycelyn McIver, Team Leader Waverley Temple, agreed. “You are a generation who have been polite, been kind, you have looked out for one another. And I see in your leadership one that is Christ-centred because of those attributes. And you will take that into your ministry, into your leadership, into your communities. And you guys are going to change your country, the world. You are the most confident group we’ve had.”
Hearing the participants’ stories on the night of the marathon is a highlight for the mentors and supporters. “This year”, said Project Coordinator Kim, “I was especially impacted by the runners’ stories of finding strength and resilience – in life and during the marathon run – when they felt like giving up. I’ve been through some hard times, and I relate to their stories. They inspire me to keep going, to find my own strength and resilience, and not give up. And I’m so glad that I’ve been able to play a part in their stories.”
Commissioner Miriam Gluyas, Territorial Commander, co-founder of Hope and a Future and former Chief Secretary of the PNG Territory, attends the marathon weekend and supports the team every year. “This will be something that you’ll hold onto forever … there’ll be this bond forever … But what I love, it’s a bond with each other and it’s also a bond with God. And you have very little, but you have so much. It’s very special. You give that to us, and we are the blessed.”
For the next few days, the young people, with their Australian and PNG support crew, will attend leadership training development at Tweed Head Corps (led by Majors Deon and Michelle Oliver from Queensland Divisional Headquarters, and Major Narelle Unicomb, Faith Communities Development Secretary, NSW/ACT) as well as enjoy some much-deserved rest and relaxation. They will then head off to Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast to serve at corps until their departure next Tuesday.
The marathon experience was extra special for one of the mentors, Adrian Kistan, who ran alongside his older brother, Major Nesan Kistan. “My first time running this marathon was in 2014,” said Nesan, who serves as the Divisional Commander of the Intermountain Division in the USA and was in Australia visiting family. “It [Hope and a Future] is such a great program. The PNG runners really give their all ... they are all champions.”
