Riley Whatman is slowly getting used to a slightly lower activity load after returning from a 500km run stretching across Uganda.
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The Gooloogong-based athlete visited Uganda with the Love Mercy Foundation, where he joined former politician and ultra-marathon runner Pat Farmer, and a group of other experienced runners in a five-day long run across the country.
Whatman, a keen road walker and middle-distance runner, received the offer to join the fundraising run after raising $2000 for charity organisation Love Mercy.
Whatman said he became interested in taking part in the 500km event after Little Athletics put out information about it (and Love Mercy).
Joining them on the cross country run was former Ugandan Olympian Julius Achon, founding director of the foundation, alongside Australian Olympian Eloise Wellings.
Whatman was set to join the adults on the first five kilometres and last five kilometres of the run each day, on their 500km run, which took them from Entebbe to Lira.
However, the keen runner estimated he ran about 70km in total over the five days, including running with the group for 14km on the first day.
While on the five-day run, they passed through several communities where Love Mercy had supported with their initiatives.
Some of Love Mercy's projects include drilling for wells, helping to provide primary medical care and their cents for seeds program.
The Cents for Seeds program provides families with a 30kg loan of seeds such as beans or sesame, as well as a hand held gardening tool, educational workshops, and access to savings groups.
After the harvest, the families then give back their loan of seeds so it can be passed on to another family.
According to Love Mercy's website, a 30kg loan can harvest a yield of approximately 150kgs.
Whatman said seeing the differences between the communities in Uganda and Australia helped him realise how fortunate he is living here.
After returning on November 27, Whatman is already looking to return to Uganda again in the future, saying he hopes he will return with Love Mercy.
He would like people to have a look at what Love Mercy does and to support the foundation if they get the chance.
Whatman said he was grateful for the community support and that he wanted to thank everyone who donated to his cause and make the trip worthwhile.
Love Mercy began in 2010 and aims to empower communities in Northern Uganda to overcome poverty caused by decades of war. Their projects increase access to education, health care, and income generation and are funded entirely by donations from the public.
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