While most young sportspeople in the Central West will be looking forward to another weekend of sporting action on Friday night, 16-year-old Gooloogong athlete Riley Whatman, will have something else to consider.
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He'll be doing it in Africa.
The Red Bend student has been invited to a fundraising run for the Love Mercy Foundation, joining former politician and ultra-marathon runner Pat Farmer, and a group of other experienced runners, in a run that will stretch across Uganda over five days from November 17.
He received the opportunity after raising $2000 for Love Mercy, an organisation that aims to help Northern Ugandan communities "overcome poverty caused by war," according to a press release.
Also joining him on the trip will be former Ugandan Olympian Julius Achon, founding director of the foundation, alongside Australian Olympian Eloise Wellings.
Whatman, a keen road walker and middle-distance runner, who will join the adults during the first five kilometres and last five kilometres of the run, said he was looking forward to the trip and was also looking forward to the Julius Achon Cross Country run.
"The Nike team from the US come over and help run it, and we'll also help run it," Whatman explained, admitting it would be a different experience to running around the paddock and driveway of his family property or the track at Orange's Waratah Sportsgrounds.
While grateful for the community and business support from across Forbes, Canowindra, Cowra and Orange, Whatman admitted it wasn't difficult convincing them to get on board for his community raffle, which helped generate a significant proportion of the funds required to make the trip.
"I just told them about the trip, and they were happy to get on board and support it," he said.
"Most of them I rang up and they were happy to sort something out even if it was something little."
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