Provincial completes Peace Marathon in Dili

Fr Denis completes gruelling 42k marathon in Dili, East Timor

Fr Denis Andrew, Prior Provincial of Australia and East Timor, and his nephew Michael Zammit successfully completed the gruelling 42km Peace Marathon held in Dili on 18 June.

 President Ramos Horta fired the starting gun at 6.30am. Hundreds joined in for a half-marathon and the seven kilometre fun run. Only forty-one runners undertook the full marathon. The marathon was two laps of a 21.1km course.

 “The first lap was rather exciting as we were surrounded by the half-marathon and 7km Fun Run participants. The local Timorese were fantastic in their support from the sidelines, as were our own Carmelite students”, Fr Denis said. “Then the heat started to kick in. This was accentuated by the smog of the dry season and the smoke from the cooking fires of the locals along the course. There were obstacles such as the river crossing (fortunately it was the dry season and the water was low) and the odd dog and pig straying across the path. As well there were a lot of motorbikes and cars on the course in the second lap. And that’s saying nothing about our aching legs. Still the locals were highly excited, especially the children. They constantly ran with us wanting to do ‘high fives’. And one group brought my nephew Michael into their soccer game as he passed.

 “At long last the harbour approached. A left turn and another kilometre along the waterfront and the finishing line was the most pleasing of sights. It was a slow race as we finished in over four hours. But the experience of a marathon and the sense of achievement at the finish line is worth the effort.

 “We spent the next couple of days recovering in our novitiate and student community at Hera.

Michael is an optometrist by profession and he brought his equipment with him. He set about testing the eyes of around fifty of our Carmelite priests, brothers and students along with the cooks, drivers and all the workers associated with us.

 “We both feel the trip was a great success as we were able to share in an important national event and show our solidarity with the East Timor people. We would like to thank all who supported us both financially and in spirit. The whole venture has raised some $10,000 in support of the Carmelite mission in Timor-Leste.”

 To make a donation in support of our run go to: www.everydayhero.com.au/carmelite_dili_marathon.

This page will remain active until the end of August.

You can also make a donation by phoning 03 9690 8822 or posting your donation to:

Carmelite Fundraising Development Office
PO Box 5292,Middle Park, Vic 3206.

Please mark your donation ‘Dili Marathon’.

 Thank you.

Denis Andrew, Prior Provincial The Carmelites - Australia and East Timor