John on marathon odyssey to honour 14-year pledge
“Ulysses” was a 19th century epic poem by Alfred Tennyson in which the Greek hero of the Trojan War heads off on one final adventure with his now-elderly mariner colleagues.
Local John Moss and a group of his friends, all in their seventies, are this week heading off on an odyssey of their own — attempting a marathon at the Orange Running Festival to remember a long-lost friend.
John has already raised more than $12,000 to fund prostate cancer research as part of the “Dick Potts Memorial Marathon” being held in conjunction with the Orange Runners Club event this Sunday, March 6.
Dick was a mining engineer colleague for many years, upon whose premature death in 2008, John vowed to run a marathon for, once he passed his 70th birthday.
“Dick was a true champion whose life very much revolved around family and friends, his passion for sport, especially rugby, and his international career as an eminent mining engineer,” John said.
“I’m going to attempt a full marathon, I’ve run some marathons and half-marathons as a member of the Orange Runners Club. I targetted a marathon once I turned 70, that was my motivation to stay fit and remain a member.”
This event is something for which he has been in serious training for, but which is now catching up with him, he added.
“It has been around eight years since I last completed a marathon, and while I have maintained a reasonable level of fitness, and completed several half-marathons and lots of park runs, the training has been tough. Age is starting to leave its mark.
“The thing is, I’ve now got a sore knee, I’ve never had a problem with my knees or legs before, but I’ll give it a red-hot go,” he said.
John’s friendship with Dick started in the mid-1970s and took them all around the world with their work.
“I met Dick Potts in Zambia in 1974, I was a mining engineer and so was Dick, his daughter Lindsay lives locally,” he said.
Like Ulysses though, John is not heading off on this particular adventure alone, with a group of friends joining him on the journey. “There are five other senior members of Orange Runners Club joining me, with an average age of 74,” he said.
“They’re going to run it as a relay. What is fortunate, is that the course goes to Spring Terrace, with a number of branches to Orchard Road, Forest Reefs Road, back to Spring Terrace.
“This will provide opportunities to touch base with the relay team,” John added.
His run is raising money for the disease which claimed his friend Dick 14-years ago. “I vowed when he died, ‘I’ll run a marathon after my 70th birthday’, all the marathons and runs I’ve done since, have been in preparation for this run,” John explained.
“Dick was my great friend, inspiration, and mentor. Since the time of Dick’s premature loss, my goal has been to honour Dick through this fund-raising marathon timed soon after my 70th birthday.
“We are after as much help as we can get; I’ve raised $12,000 already, and my target was only $10,000,” John added proudly of the fundraiser for the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia (PCFA).
The PCFA is Australia’s leading community-based organisation for prostate cancer research, awareness, and support. “We want to support PCFA’s research into early diagnosis, treatments, and care options to help other men impacted by the disease,” John said.
PCFA chief, Anne Savage also commended John and Orange Runners Club for their commitment to help locals impacted by prostate cancer.
“We are tremendously grateful to have John’s support, which helps us to fund new research, new support services, and new awareness activities that benefit men and families in the local area,” Ms Savage said.
Support for the event, is also coming from the Orange Prostate Cancer Support Group who will be hosting an information stand at the Running Club’s Gosling Creek home.
To support John and his fellow runners, go to: www.fundraise.pcfa.org.au/fundraisers/johnmoss