Running with a big heart

Barbara, Michaela and David are members of the Newcastle Samaritans Virtual Challenge team.

They are the “small team with a big heart”.

That’s how Samaritans Foundation team leader David Couri describes his group, busy tackling the daunting task of running or walking 1300 kilometres over 19 days to raise awareness of family violence.

People at the Novastrian service organisation see the devastating impact of violence first-hand — the homelessness, the child protection notifications and the health risks.

And for them, there’s a reason for all their hard work and dedication.

They want to “support our community every day”, David says.

“It’s something very close to our hearts and minds and so we wanted to participate in an awareness raising event as a team to start more conversations about family and domestic violence,” he says.

“This is the first time Samaritans has been involved in this particular challenge, but has a team of runners who have been participating in events over the past 12 months.”

For David, who usually only runs once or twice a week, the biggest challenge so far has been to make the time each day.

“We’re a small team with a big heart and I’m so proud of the effort everyone has been making,” he says.

Like other groups, the Hunter-based team have been surprised by the extent to which people have wanted to talk about family violence.

“People have surprised me by being genuinely curious and interested to learn why we’re running — that has resulted in some very powerful conversations,” he says.

David, a change manager with the Samaritans Foundation, says the direct impact of violence is seen across many areas of Samaritans service delivery. This ranges from homeless services to emergency relief and helping to provide safe and nurturing homes to vulnerable children.

He points to the impact of violence on children and young people.

“Exposure to violence causes profound harm to children, impacting on attitudes to relationships and violence, as well as social, behavioural, cognitive and emotional function.”

Right now, David is dealing with challenges like blisters.

“I actually don’t consider myself a runner at all, I’ve got a style that has been described as ‘uniquely inefficient’,” he exclaims.

But he wouldn’t change it for the world.

“Being near the beach in Newcastle, I find running by the water really good for my mental health, (despite my awkward style!).”