OUR SAY: Jamie inspires awe in epic fundraiser

The test Warana gym trainer and ultra-athlete Jamie Milne has set for himself starting this weekend borders on the edge of comprehension.

Jamie Milne in training. Picture: Warren Lynam

THE test Warana gym trainer and ultra-athlete Jamie Milne has set for himself starting this weekend borders on the edge of comprehension.

For at least the next 18 days after he leaves Melbourne on Saturday Milne will set a brutal pace as he attempts to run back to the Sunshine Coast, a distance of almost 2000km.

To achieve his goal, which will raise money through his Many Miles for Mary charity for dementia research, he will be required to run at least the equivalent of two marathons a day.

It will require a level of endurance and resilience beyond the reach of most of us but, given his past accomplishments, can't be dismissed as unachievable. Milne deserves all the support this community can give him as he gets into stride and heads for home.

Jamie has agreed to join the Sunshine Coast Daily's Kick The Kilos challenge, in the process providing inspiration to those who have also signed up with the far simpler goal of losing some weight and building fitness.

A community that lives in such an ideal location with a climate as perfect as ours really has little excuse for obesity. Yet it is a growing problem in Queensland and one that carries both a health cost for the individual and a financial one for the health system.

Few of us could aspire to reach the goals Jamie Milne sets himself but we are all capable of kicking a few kilos in the cause of better health.

The Kick the Kilos challenge doesn't require participants to run 2000km. Just a few kilometres around the block though may just save your life.