IMF RUNNING AND WALKING
ABOUT IMF RAW
IMF RAW is a grass roots, community led impact program.
Established in 2011 by the IMF as the Deadly Fun Runs and driven by IMP Graduates and Community Members, IMF RAW addresses chronic disease by normalising Running & Walking within Indigenous Communities and provides a free, inclusive and safe environment for individuals to flourish and feel supported in.
IMF RAW is currently operational in 40+ Communities across Australia.
There are over 60 IMF RAW Leaders across these communities. IMF RAW Leaders are accredited Running Coaches and local leaders within their community. They provide their groups with leadership in running and walking training, nutritional advice and social support.
Each year, the IMF coordinates the IMF RAW National Championships Event. This event is the ‘Flag on the hill’ for the IMF RAW network and each year sees 200+ community members come together in a celebration health, fitness, wellbeing and culture.
In collaboration with the IMF, there are regular national events that are celebrated right across the IMF RAW network including International Women’s Day, NAIDOC Week & Father’s Day. Events are conducted in a satellite style however with an understanding that these events are connected across the network.
IMF also coordinates an annual IMF RAW Leaders symposium where selected Run Leaders from each community are brought together to share their learnings, exchange information, discuss best practice group management and of course… participate in a major running event. Together with the IMF, these RAW Leaders drive the outputs of the IMF RAW program and shape its very existence.
IMF is limited in funding to specific service areas to support this growing network of Communities and Individuals. It is incredible to see the speed at which communities are embracing the IMF RAW model and there are constantly new IMF RAW groups emerging who attempt to self-fund to become part of this movement. We would value your support in ensuring all of our existing communities remain supported and that emerging communities can be on-boarded in a sustainable and meaningful manner.
Click on IMF RAW Groups to view a list of groups and communities around Australia.
Click on IMF I-RAW Programs to find out more about these initiatives, or contact via email info @ imf.org.au or phone (02) 6162 4750.
Important Information
IMF currently has minimal funding to support eight communities across Australia, focusing on Indigenous participation; however any community is welcome to establish a self-funded IMF RAW program, and also be eligible to self-fund an Indigenous team of runners to attend Uluru and join us in the only National Indigenous Running and Walking event.
Click on IMF I-RAW Programs to find out more about these initiatives, or contact our head office – info @ imf.org.au or (02) 6162 4750.
IMF RAW NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
Each year, the IMF brings together over 100 people from up to 40 communities across Australia to participate in the IMF Running and Walking (RAW) Championships.
Runners and walkers are selected by their respective Run Leaders to attend the IMF RAW Championships, based on their commitment to physical activity, growth, consistency, and to embrace a new opportunity – with groups made up of men and women of all ages and abilities including children.
Depending on the location of the Championships, IMF works with Council and local Indigenous groups to meaningfully connect with the community and Traditional Owners and provide opportunities for Championship Groups to learn more about the Country they are running on.
Groups are tasked with creating, designing, and bringing in a baton from their community, that represents their locality and tells a story of connection, culture, and the power of running.
Groups compete and participate in a 3km relay championship event where they proudly pass the baton to the next runner, symbolising connection, and the powerful ripple effect of running, and the legacy of passing strength onto the next person. Each baton is unique and tells its own special story, holding the power of the community they represent.
In addition to participating in the relay and following on from the success in 2022, groups will again this year take part in the Mackay Marina Run.
The IMF RAW was established in 2011 when the first Indigenous Fun Run Series were launched in Weipa/Napranum (QLD) and Mossman (QLD). Both of these series were coordinated by IMF Graduates. These Fun Runs were initially part of the Practical Elements of a Certificate IV that Indigenous Marathon Project Squad members were tasked with coordinating however, these quickly turned into regular events with IMF RAW Groups beginning to establish themselves in line with this activity.
As the series evolved, IMF was able to obtain funding from the Federal Government to establish the first ever all Indigenous Running Festival at Uluru in 2012, which at the time was called the National Deadly Fun Run Championships (now the IMF RAW National Championships).
Across the course of the year, individuals from IMF RAW Groups are selected to represent their community at the Championships.
