By CAM LUCADOU-WELLS
LONG-distance running has become a recently discovered pleasure – if you can call it that – for Lyndhurst MP Martin Pakula.
The shadow attorney-general has been dropping kilos and clocking up kilometres on training runs ahead of a 21-kilometre half-marathon Run Melbourne on 27 July.
He is in the midst of training three times a week in up to 18-kilometre stints.
“It’s not bad for an old bloke especially for someone who didn’t run until well into my forties. I’ve not only lost a few kilos but I’m probably feeling fitter at 45 than I did in my twenties.
”It’s not everyone’s cup of tea. I didn’t believe it was mine before I started.”
He took the plunge while on holiday last year, trundling a kilometre along an Italian beach.
Since then he has been slowly increasing his distance, taking part in the 14-kilometre City2Sea charity run in November and raising $1000 for Springvale Special Developmental School.
In March, he completed the 15 kilometre-Run for the Kids event.
The other beneficiary is Cambodian Children’s Fund Australia, which is Mr Pakula’s nominated charity for this month’s half-marathon.
Mr Pakula has raised $1300-plus in pledged donations for the charity – which cares for more than 1800 vulnerable children in Cambodia. It is equivalent to sponsoring a child for more than a year.
Having visited Cambodia in March, Mr Pakula said a lot of children survived in poverty despite the country “starting to motor along”.
“You’re constantly approached by impoverished children for a dollar. Life is still very, very hard for lots of children there.
“This is just a small contribution but it’s something I can do.”
Mr Pakula’s donation website is full of encouragement, including from former Lyndhurst MP and keen endurance runner Tim Holding: “A great cause – should help when the pain kicks in. Good luck buddy!”
To donate go to runmelbourne2014.everydayhero.com/au/martin-pakula
