Local Running Champ Embarks on a Dawn to Dawn Dash

Being a marathon champion at face value and a warrior for great cause at heart, Nicole Jukes is truly a local legend in the making. This September, she alone will take on the task of a 24-hour ultramarathon up and down Sandgate’s Foreshore in order to raise vital awareness for local foundation, Small Steps 4 Hannah.

As the first Australian female to win a backyard ultra across the world, Nicole has plenty an achievement tucked under her belt. For those unfamiliar with the competition, backyard ultra is comprised of 6.7km laps every hour, on the hour, until only one person is left standing. Nicole is the first Australian woman to fight her way to the finish line, earning unwavering respect from the running community.

In order to accomplish her goals in regard to a 24-hour ultra-marathon she is set to embark on next month, Nicole will need a strong foundation of inner-fight and outward support. She will ride out this run solo, carrying her hopes of shining a light on violence and abuse in all of its forms. The activist for change shares with Echo News, “I want people, and particularly women, to know that they have a voice… that they need not be silenced and that they have a whole community behind them.”

Nicole’s run will commence at 7:30am, Friday 1 September, 2023, on the foreshore side of Sandgate Swimming Pool. Her finish line will be drawn within Sandgate Parkrun, which begins at 7:00am, Saturday 2 September. It is there and then that Nicole would love to see fellow runners and supporters come and say hi, offer support, and join her for the last half hour of her journey. Not only would those people be encouraging Nicole to keep her game face on, but they would also be helping fight for the same cause that Nicole will be running for—the Small Steps 4 Hannah foundation, which too advocates for the halt of violence and abuse.

Fighting her way through hardship is one thing Nicole has grown to best. After losing her son in 2010 to Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome, she discovered how to use running as her fuel to keep going, keep fighting. For if the one thing— loss of a loved one—hadn’t broken her, then the mental battle against the physical exertion of running sure wouldn’t. Nicole believes in there being a strength to long distance running, in that once one is to discipline their mind to endure the pain of running, they will find beauty in their own brawn.

As a victim herself of coercive control and abuse throughout life, Nicole was shattered by the heartbreaking, too-close-tohome story of Hannah and her children’s deaths at the hands of domestic violence. Rife in homes, workplaces and even community groups, abuse is everywhere around us, hidden only by silence. Though, as Nicole says, “I have a voice and I will use it as loud as I possibly can for those who can’t.” Her passion for speaking up against violence is one of the many reasons Nicole joined a local club, Run with Rob, which is a safe haven for female runners and runners in general. The friendly community of like-minded people Rob has brought together is very special—even more so as its current main charity is Small Steps 4 Hannah.

While Nicole’s 24-hour ultra-marathon is an individual feat, she would love her community’s support. Businesses will be able to donate $1 to SS4H to match every kilometre she covers in the 24 hours, as well as the general public being invited to provide a one-off donation to SS4H. Businesses can also donate prizes for raffles throughout the event, and runners can purchase time slots to run a lap of the foreshore with Nicole (Runners to purchase a time slot to run a lap of the foreshore with me (either 5km, 6.5km or 11.5km laps) by way of a donation of their choice to SS4H). Most importantly, everyone and anyone are encouraged to come along at any time and show your support and cheer.

If businesses or individuals are interested in supporting, they can contact Nicole via her Instagram (@nicolejukes) or by email at byuaustralia@gmail.com or Robert Hopkinson at runwithrob4037@ gmail.com. Alternatively, visit the Go Fund Me Page at https://gofund. me/40d96d02 or scan the QR code to the right.

Echo News congratulates Nicole on her noble efforts and wishes her the best of luck!