For many people, completing a marathon is a once in a lifetime achievement, but for Yarraville grandmother Melissa Elphinstone, it will soon be once a day.
From Monday, June 30 to Sunday, July 6, the assistant principal at Movell Primary School in St Albans will run 42km a day as part of the Bravehearts 777 Marathon fundraising event.
Run by Bravehearts, a national child protection organisation dedicated to the prevention and treatment of child sexual abuse, the 13th annual event not only involves participants running seven marathons in seven days, but across seven different states too, hence the third digit in the name.
Not that any of these numbers faze Elphinston who has done it all before.
“This is my fifth year with Bravehearts 777 and my fourth year as a national runner and I absolutely love it,” said Elphinston, who is returning to running the event in 2025 after serving as a crew member last year.
She said participating in the fundraiser has set a great example for her students.
“As a principal, it demonstrates grit, passion, dedication and shows that if you put your mind to it, you can do almost anything.
“It also shows the dedication I have to advocate for their safety and for Bravehearts.”
The 2025 Bravehearts 777 Marathon begins on the Gold Coast and finishes in Perth, with the Melbourne leg on Wednesday, July 2.
Details: https://fundraise.bravehearts.org.au/event/777marathon25/home
To donate to Ms Elphinston: https://fundraise.bravehearts.org.au/fundraisers/melElphinstone
