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About Us

The Indigenous Marathon Foundation

Photo: 2024 Indigenous Marathon Project squad after picking up their race bibs for the TCS New York City Marathon.

Making a difference

At the Indigenous Marathon Foundation (IMF), we deliver five programs across Australia focused on running and physical literacy built on the premise that:

    • Every session builds resilience.
    • Every kilometre or activity builds confidence.
    • Every participant learns leadership skills.
    • Every step forward is about developing leaders and role models.
Sixteen years of experience underpins the design and delivery of our programs.

Photo: 2025 I-CAN Championships at Stromlo Forest Park, Canberra.

THE IMPACT OF the indigenous marathon foundation

We use running as a vehicle to develop First Nations leaders who model reslilience, healthy living, discipline and possibility within their communities. Our programs create visible pathways for leadership with proven long-term community impact.

OUR PROGRAMS

Indigenous marathon project

Each year, 12 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participants (aged 18–30) are selected to train for the TCS New York City Marathon, the culmination of a six-month health, education, and leadership program that uses running to nurture leadership, strengthen identity, and inspire positive change within communities. 

IMF RAW (Running and Walking)

IMF RAW (Running and Walking) is a free and inclusive community-driven running and walking program which provides an accessible and safe space to help people live healthier lives through movement and social connection. There are more than 60 thriving IMF RAW communities across metro, regional and remote Australia.

I-CAN (Indigenous Communities for Activity and Nutrition)

The I-CAN (Indigenous Communities for Activity and Nutrition) program gives students in remote and regional Australian primary schools access to fun, culturally safe, and educational health and fitness literacy activities to promote a healthy lifestyle and school engagement.

IMF Warrior Project

The IMF Warrior Project uses running to help break cycles of offending and reoffending by establishing running clubs and an education program within prisons and detention centers and supporting participants post release to run.

Front Runners

The marathon is just the beginning. Through the IMF FrontRunners program IMP graduates and IMF RAW Run Leaders continue their journey to create meaningful change and advance Indigenous Australia. The program offers access to grants and mentoring in health, education and leadership.

OUR HISTORY

The Indigenous Marathon Foundation was established in 2013 by Robert de Castella AO MBE, former world marathon champion, and four-time Olympian. However, the first major initiative was the Indigenous Marathon Project in 2010, when Charlie Maher, Joseph Davies, Juan Darwin, and Caleb Hart (pictured) became the first First Nations peoples to complete the New York City Marathon.

Their legacy continues today with 167 IMP graduates running over 300 international marathons. Our five programs are about bringing potential and opportunity together to show what's possible.

Photo: Rob de Castella with Charlie Maher, Joseph Davies, Juan Darwin, and Caleb Hart, the first First Nations peoples to complete the New York City Marathon in 2010.