Runners fly the flag for depleted Papua New Guinea marathon team
- 3 hours ago
- 4 min read
BY SIMONE WORTHING
“I know it was really hard, but I thank God for giving me this opportunity,” said Haraga, who completed the Gold Coast Marathon on Sunday 5 July as part of The Salvation Army’s Hope and a Future Program.
“I am so grateful to be in the team,” said Jan, another runner. “The team encouraged us with so much work and built us up with our mission to become a great leader in the future. And I am so proud that I’m standing here as one of the leaders who has confidence in herself and who can do anything for Christ. So, thank you for everything.”
This year sadly, of the 10 runners in the team, only Haraga and Jan received visas to come to Australia for the event and subsequent leadership training and service. Additional efforts to secure visas for the remaining eight runners were not successful.
“We missed the rest of our team, and it was a different, more sober run this year because of that,” said Envoy Bill Hunter, head coach and leader of the Salvos God’s Sports Arena. “We were praying for them, too, but we still tried to make the most of the event.
“Many of our Aussie and PNG mentors and supporters rallied and ensured a fun, exhilarating, uplifting, loving and supportive weekend.”
These young men and women from Papua New Guinea were trained to run the marathon, mentored in leadership skills and assisted with their education to help them become leaders in their corps, communities and country.
These activities are modelled around the four key pillars of the Hope and a Future program – faith, fitness, education and leadership.
The program began in 2014.
To meet the entire team, click on the video below.
Runner testimonies
During the debriefing session on Sunday evening after the marathon, runners, mentors and support crew gathered to share their experiences and impressions of the day. Bill and Commissioner Miriam Gluyas – co-founder of the program – led the session.
Jan (named after Commissioner Jan Condon) broke the record for the fastest female Hope and a Future runner, completing the marathon in four hours, 21 minutes – just one minute under the time set by fellow marathoner, Mohre, in 2017.
Karlo and Rachael, two mentors from Papua New Guinea, were also part of the team. Rachael, struggling with an injured knee, ran the final 10km to mentor in the final stretch of the race.
“Mentoring is not all about running, though,” Bill assured Rachael. “And sometimes our body doesn’t always do what we want it to, but we can work in other ways. So well done today. You should be very proud of how you’ve led and how you’ve mentored.”
Karlo ran a personal best time, beating his previous record by 15 minutes. “I enjoyed this run but at the same time, I was sad that I didn’t get to run with my boys [whose visas were denied].” He thanked both the runners and the leaders for helping him to become “a better version of myself”.
Karlo also congratulated Haraga and Jan. “I’m so proud of you,” he said. “I’m happy that you completed the 42.2km and smashed it just like that.”
“My run today was a bit tough,” Jan shared. “When I came up around the 33 or 34km mark, I doubted myself, but I was praying with mentor Adrian (Adrian Kistan, General Manager Ministry Resourcing and Support). Thank God for having Adrian beside me with Sharon (Sharon Callister, co-founder of the program). And I finished really strong and I was so happy that I broke that record. I appreciate all of you so much.
“This race has taught me a lesson. The past six months of training has also taught me lessons. But I was waiting for this day and today I did it! I did it for my country. My community. My church. And most of all, for my family.
“Thank you to the mentors who supported me on the training, for Captains Rose and John [Papua New Guinea officers who lead the Hope and a Future program there] for looking after us every day and to all of you for your kind support and your warm welcome.”
Haraga also expressed her heartfelt gratitude to the team. “You guys encouraged us with so much work and built us up with our mission to become a great leader in the future,” she shared. “And I am so proud that I’m standing here as one of the leaders who has confidence in herself and who can do anything for Christ.”
Bill added his congratulations to the runners. “Anyone who has run a marathon knows it hurts,” he said. “It’s just overcoming that. You were so strong from the beginning to the end. And you pushed through the pain. I think that’s what marathons are all about. It’s very rare when everything comes together. You didn’t give up and it was a privilege to run with you.
“I loved it at the end, Karlo, when you finished but you kept coming back to wait for the others. And you wanted to be there right at the end when they came. I just thought that was a great mentor type of situation.”
Bill expressed his thanks to The Salvation Army leadership and the support crew who don’t run, acknowledging that “we couldn’t achieve what we do without your support. It’s been a deeply emotional day in lots of different ways, but an awesome one!”
Additional training
This week, after a rest day, the Papua New Guinea team have been receiving training in leadership development from Majors John and Nicole Viles, Team Leaders at Tweed Heads-South Gold Coast. This training is part of the educational pillar of the program.
They also shared their testimonies as part of a devotion during the annual Salvation Army Basketball and Netball Carnival, currently underway on the Gold Coast.
This weekend, the team will lead worship at God’s Sports Arena in both Caloundra on the Sunshine Coast and in Brisbane.
Click through the slideshow below for more photos of the 2026 Hope and a Future Program.
