Albury parish priest tackles Uganda International Marathon to help kids

On Saturday Father Joel Wallace will compete in the Uganda International Marathon, which raises money for worthy causes in the African country’s Masaka district.

The St Patrick’s parish priest joins a group of runners representing Uganda Kids, a charity started by Brisbane couple Paul and Sue Fyfe. 

With a vision for children to finish school, Uganda Kids provides aid like school lunches, fees and improved primary school facilities and aims to build a secondary school as well.

“A lot of the families can’t afford the 50 cents a week school fees,” Fr Wallace said.

“Even though the kids can go to school, they don’t get food, so they go to school hungry and come home hungry.”

Although the Albury priest runs regularly, Saturday’s event will be his first marathon, and a tough debut at that, given the altitude and mountainous terrain.

Mr Fyfe said Fr Wallace could expect a challenge.

“I hope he likes running on dirt roads and through the bush,” Mr Fyfe said.

“I look forward to keeping track of him and our other participants from the support vehicle.”

Fr Wallace is believed to be the first non-Ugandan clergyman to compete in the Ugandan marathon.

The St Patrick’s school students, teachers and parents had shown their support for his project.

“The teachers have been collecting black shoe laces and school equipment, pencils and all the things that the kids will need, I’ll take a whole suitcase of that stuff over,” he said.

Fr Wallace flew out on Tuesday for Uganda.

“I’ve tapered off and rested up so I’m feeling good, feeling ready to go and looking forward to it,” he said.

“There’s thousands of Ugandan runners that get involved and there’s lots of kids who run along the way with you, it should be a great atmosphere.”

And there is no time target in mind.

“It’s a really difficult marathon to do in the first place, so if I can just finish this one I’ll be happy,” he said.