Community
Community is where this work leaves the page.
Running is a Gift began as a personal way of making sense of movement, illness, and change.
Over time, it has grown into something shared.
This page exists to acknowledge the people, organisations, and moments that have helped shape this work, and to reflect the belief that small, consistent actions can create real community impact.
Why This Matters
Community impact, to me, is not about scale.
It is about depth.
It looks like:
• Creating spaces that feel accessible and human
• Sharing stories that reduce isolation
• Supporting causes and initiatives quietly and consistently
• Leaving things better than you found them
Any profits from the book are used to donate copies to local street libraries, this is a small, practical way to extend access and conversation beyond this website.
Looking Ahead
This page will continue to grow.
Future updates will include:
• Community spotlights
• Partnerships and collaborations
• Speaking engagements and shared conversations
• Ongoing ways this project gives back
If you are an organisation, partner, or community group interested in supporting work grounded in inclusion, resilience, and lived experience, I welcome conversation.
Citizen of the Year – City of Unley (2026)
In 2026, I was honoured to be named Citizen of the Year by the City of Unley for community fundraising, advocacy, and inclusion through Running is a Gift.
I share this here not as an achievement to elevate myself, but as recognition of what becomes possible when purpose, consistency, and community intersect.
Living with a degenerative neurological condition has reshaped how I move through the world.
This recognition affirmed that contribution doesn’t require perfection, visibility, or volume, just showing up, repeatedly, in ways that matter.
the Speech
What follows is the speech I shared on the day.
It reflects the values behind Running is a Gift and the reality of navigating invisible disability in public spaces.
You can watch the full speech or read the transcript below
Mayor Michael Hewitson, Councillors, ladies and gentlemen.
Thank you.
And before I say anything else… as I was walking up here, I had two things on my mind.
One was, please don’t trip.
And the other was, please don’t mis step and stack it in front of the Mayor.
That’s not me being dramatic… that’s just one of the day to day realities of living with Spinocerebellar Ataxia. It’s a neurological condition that affects my balance, energy levels and coordination, and the tricky part is that it’s not always visible. So sometimes it looks like I’m fine… until I’m not.
To be standing here today, receiving this award, is something I honestly never expected, and I’m incredibly grateful for.
I want to start by saying a huge thank you to Luke Doyle for nominating me. Luke, thank you for believing in me and for taking the time to put my name forward. It means more than I can put into words.
I also want to thank my Mum. Mum, thank you for your support, not just recently, but always. In a very real way, without you, I would never have met Luke, and I don’t think opportunities like this would have happened if it was just me doing life on my own. You’ve opened doors, you’ve helped me keep showing up, and you’ve reminded me that I’m never doing this alone. And Mum, I know we’ve been through hard times, especially with Dad, but it has really put things into perspective for me. It’s reminded me how much I value family, and how important health and wellbeing truly are. So thank you.
And I also want to thank my dog Angus. He keeps me moving, he keeps me grounded, and he connects me to people in this community every single day. Anyone who owns a dog knows they somehow turn you into a regular at the same parks and the same streets, and you end up meeting people you never would have met otherwise. Angus is a big reason why I care so strongly about animal welfare, and why supporting the Animal Welfare League means a lot to me.
My early childhood was spent here in the City of Unley, and Mum always said when we came back to Parkside to live, it felt like coming home.
And in a strange way, that’s how this moment feels too.
When I found out I had Spinocerebellar Ataxia, I remember realising pretty quickly that there wasn’t going to be medication or a treatment that would just fix it. There isn’t a cure. So you have a choice. You can either let it shrink your world… or you can find ways to build your world back up again.
For me, movement became that way.
I was a naturally sporty person growing up, and being diagnosed with Ataxia meant participating in team sport became extremely difficult. So running was a natural pivot for me. It has become my passion, even though I am by no means an elite athlete, and it has helped me keep going.
What I’ve come to learn is that it’s not just running. Movement in general is a gift.
It’s a way I shift my perspective. It’s how I reset my mind. It’s how I stay connected to routine, structure, and purpose. And it’s also how I stay grateful for what I can do, rather than constantly focusing on what I can’t.
When I was first diagnosed, I went looking for support and information, and I’ll be honest… a lot of what I found around Ataxia was very negative. It was doom and gloom. And I understand why, because living with something like this can feel like there’s a cloud over you all the time. It’s easy to fall into that “woe is me” mindset.
But I wanted to find another way.
Not to pretend it’s easy. Not to glorify disability. And definitely not to act like I’ve got everything figured out. I don’t. I’m just trying to find my place in this world, like everyone else.
But I do want people to know there’s another option. That even if nothing magically gets fixed, you can still improve the quality of your life. You can still build something meaningful. You can still have good days.
That’s why I created Running is a Gift.
It started as a way to raise awareness for Ataxia, because it’s rare and it doesn’t have much profile. And I realised that if I could keep showing up and doing hard things, maybe it would help someone else feel less alone.
But it also became something bigger.
It became about legacy. It became my way of leaving a footprint on the world, and trying to make sure that whatever challenges I face, they don’t just stop with me, that they turn into something that gives back.
And I’ve learned that none of that happens without community.
I’m so grateful for UBX Unley and the community around it. I’m grateful for the coaches, the members, and the people who encourage each other to show up even when life is busy, messy, or hard. We even hosted a fundraising night at Jacks on Unley, and the support was incredible. The local businesses who donated prizes, the people who turned up, the people who gave what they could, it honestly reminded me that it really does take a village.
And I’m grateful for my running family at Run As One. It’s not just training, it’s belonging. It’s the small conversations, the early mornings, the support, and the reminder that you don’t have to do everything alone.
I’m proud of the fundraising I’ve been able to do. Running is a sport with minimal barriers to entry, and the ability to give back and dedicate your effort to something bigger than yourself is part of the reason I love it.
And Bailey Minchington… there are so many people out there living with something every day, battling something we might never see. Bailey lived with bipolar, and before his sudden passing, his mantra inspired me deeply.
Running is a gift.
And I think that message goes beyond running. It’s about what we choose to do with what we’ve been given. It’s about showing up. It’s about community. It’s about taking one small step forward, even when life makes it hard.
So thank you again for this honour. I’m truly grateful. And I accept this not just for me, but for everyone out there quietly doing it tough, trying to keep moving, trying to find hope, and trying to create something meaningful.
And if you would like to follow the journey, my website is runningisagift.com.au. I have just released a book centred around habits that help me, and a set of postcards that match the themes in the book.
Thank you once again. This means more than you know.