Numurkah's Ben Smyth will run a marathon around his home ground to raise money for the Australian Skin Cancer Foundation.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
Numurkah’s Ben Smyth is quite accustomed to running laps at the local showgrounds, but nothing quite like this.
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
The Blues’ stalwart is trading the footy boots for the running shoes in a literal marathon effort around his club’s home ground, traversing the 42km distance on September 24 for a cause close to his heart.
Smyth’s run is in memory of mother Kim, raising money for the organisation that helped her in her final battle – the Australian Skin Cancer Foundation (ASCF).
Kim Smyth was diagnosed with Stage 4 Melanoma in July 2022, and after a brave two-year fight against the insidious disease passed away in September of 2024.
“Throughout Mum's battle ... she's the sort of person who was a big fighter, so she never really made it much about herself and just got stuck in to whatever she needed to do,” Ben said.
“If she's going through a fight or some sort of challenge, she tackled it head first – that was just what she did.”
Kim was a Numurkah Football Netball Club stalwart of more than 25 years, playing more than 200 games, a C-reserve premiership included, and served in numerous roles on the club committee.
Even while fighting the disease herself, Kim led fundraising efforts that raised $20,000 for the foundation in 2023 — a campaign that saw the Blues wear orange across the footy field and netball courts during a Murray league round.
The ASCF was founded in 2021 by cancer survivor Jay Allen, with a mission to raise awareness and funds while offering support to those navigating their own skin cancer journey.
“For Mum, it was just a good community to reach out to and speak to people who had been through similar battles, people who had come out the other side and had gotten rid of their skin cancer,” Ben said.
“Jay, the fellow who runs the organisation, was really good, just a sounding board for Mum going through it.
“Mum also organised for them to bring a skin check truck to the footy club and through the local town.”
Ben Smyth’s marathon kicks off this Thursday.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
Now, it’s Ben’s turn to do his part.
Fundraising efforts to date have already totalled nearly $5000 and, when the 164-game Blues stalwart sets off, it will have been his second attempt at a marathon distance.
“I had thought about the idea about six, 12 months ago and thought a marathon would be a good one to do,” he said.
“The Skin Cancer Foundation was something that Mum had worked back-and-forth with, raising some money with the footy club a couple years ago.
“That linked to the footy club and led to the decision to try and run around the footy oval and do the marathon around there.
“It’s just me at this stage, but a couple of mates have reached out and asked if they could join in. I think most of us are going to join in for a little bit here and there if they can.”
Smyth sets off on September 24 at the Numurkah Showgrounds and fundraising efforts are ongoing.
16°C