TWO locals will run the equivalent of Renmark to Gawler this week to raise money for the fight against Multiple Sclerosis – a cause close to their hearts.
Renmark brothers Josh and Jaydn Mason are running five marathons in five days this week to raise money for MS SA/NT, with their mother Stacie currently suffering from the disease, after being diagnosed in 2013.
Josh and Jaydn originally planned to hold their fundraiser earlier in the year, starting over Easter, however due to COVID-19, they were forced to reschedule.
The pair started their challenge yesterday, as they set out to cover a total of more than 210km back and forth along the Renmark river front until Saturday.
Josh said him and his brother wanted to do what they could to raise money to help fight MS.
“We wanted to do something to raise money for MS, because mum has had it since 2013,” he said.
“We thought if we were going to do it, we want to do it properly.”
Josh said he was confident of being able to complete all five marathons.
“We have done plenty of training after coming up with the idea a bit over a year ago,” he said.
“We certainly feel like we will be able to do it.
“The last couple of days will be pretty tough, but we will get there.”
According to Josh, he and his brother are looking for the community to get involved over the five days.
“We are keen for people to come join us, otherwise we are going to get bored out of our minds,” he said.
“We aren’t going to be setting records with pace or anything, so it is going to be pretty slow and cruisey.”
Josh said the reaction from the community to the fundraiser has been “awesome”.
“The pub has been amazing helping with fundraising for us and just the support we have received through social media has been great,” he said.
The boys are already on track to raise a significant amount of money.
“We are currently at $10,000, so if we can get to $15,000 by the end of it all,” Josh said.
“I would have been blown away initially by $10,000, so we want to keep going and raise as much as we can, to help as many people as we can and raise as much awareness as possible.”
Stacie said it was “humbling” to see her boys raising funds for the charity.
“I am over the moon and blown away,” she said.
“You know you have done something right for them to want to do that for you.
“I couldn’t be prouder and they haven’t even started running yet.”
Stacie described some of the impact MS can have on people’s lives.
“It effects everyone differently,” she said.
“For me, I consider myself quite lucky, because I live very well with it, but there is a lot of people who can’t do simple day-to-day things because of the disease.
“It is a bit of a silent disease, because you can look healthy and well, but there are lots of things going on that can make it difficult for people to understand what it is like to live with MS.”
To donate, visit https://www.teammssant.org.au/fundraisers/joshuamason/marathon-a-day-to-kiss-ms-away