Rockhampton Grammar’s Amy Mill, Tom Offord raise funds for homelessness

Amy Mill and Tom Offord have been pounding the pavement in order to raise money for the homeless as part of a trend that has gripped the nation. Discover their courageous efforts here.

Rockhampton Grammar staff members Amy Mill and Tom Offord ran more than 160km in 10 days to raise funds for homelessness charity, We Are Mobilise.

As leading players in their respective Aussie rules competitions, Amy Mill and Tom Offord are used to doing plenty of kilometres.

But the Rockhampton Grammar staff members upped the ante over 10 days, each running more than 160km and raising thousands of dollars for a good cause along the way.

The pair accepted the challenge laid down by Australian cult hero Nedd Brockmann, who ran a world record 1600km (1000 miles) in 10 days to raise funds for homeless charity, We Are Mobilise.

Amy said she and Tom decided to do 10 percent of what Brockmann was doing, starting on October 20.

As seasoned athletes, they are always looking for ways to push themselves and both agreed this venture did that, probably more mentally than physically.

Amy Mill and Tom Offord ran a circuit from Rockhampton Grammar to the airport and the city’s touch fields and back.

Aptly named Nedd’s Uncomfortable Challenge, they said it brought into sharp focus the plight of others.

“It really does put things into perspective because while we were uncomfortable for the time that we were running, there’s a lot of people out there who are in uncomfortable situations all the time,” Tom said.

Amy added: “That was something we kept reminding ourselves of as we were running - that we’re doing what we can to make a difference.”

Amy plays Aussie rules with Panthers in the AFL Capricornia, while Tom makes the three-hour drive north during the season to suit up with Brothers Bulldogs in the AFL Wide Bay competition.

Amy Mill is co-captain of the Rockhampton Panthers, who play in the AFL Capricornia competition.

Tom said they both had a pretty good baseline fitness and, as such, they both held up pretty well physically - with some intervention.

“I’ve gone through three tubes of Voltaren,” Tom said, adding that he jumped in the ice bath twice a day to help with inflammation.

Amy’s recovery, too, included Voltaren as well as compression, rolling out and magnesium.

Amy and Tom ran 16km a day, starting their city circuit from the RGS gates at 4.50am each day bar one when they did a leg in Yeppoon.

Rockhampton Grammar staff members Amy Mill and Tom Offord ran more than 160km in 10 days to raise funds for homelessness charity, We Are Mobilise.

The pair decided to “finish with a bang” on Tuesday, with Amy doing a half marathon (21km) and Tom a marathon (42.2km).

“I’m relieved that it’s over,” Amy said, after taking the final steps of her 165km journey.

Tom, who ran 185km agreed: “I’m glad it’s done.”

Amy said they had great support, with people regularly joining them on the road.

There were a couple of runs, however, they did unaccompanied which proved challenging.

Twenty-three Grammar students ran the last 10km with them on Tuesday.

Amy said it felt amazing to see their $3000 fundraising goal climb past $4500.

Donations can still be made here.

Originally published as Rockhampton Grammar’s Amy Mill, Tom Offord raise funds for homelessness