Jonesy is off to Cradle Mountain…for an 82km ultra-marathon I'll be running the Overland Track raising funds for the 40K Home Foundation "Golden Granite Challenge" 
“Oh so Justin what are you doing this Saturday ?”
“Who me??…Well…I’ve decided to go run the Overland track in Tasmania…”
On Saturday 6th Feb, I’ll be lining up with 59 other competitors to take place in the annual Cradle mountain run. This run is a one day traverse of Tasmania's famous Cradle Mt to Lake St Clair Overland track. The hills are steep, the mud can suck your shoes off and roots and stones make the going slow for the less nimble footed. The run is all the more daunting as all competitors have to sign a waiver to absolve the organisers of any responsibility if you happen to die.
And to make things worse, James’ brother Clary had the audacity to ask me if I’d like to carry a rock along the entire way...happily I said “yes”!
Ok, ok I realize that this sounds like a really stupid idea…but it’s for a bloody good reason. The rock that I’ll be carrying comes all the way from a granite quarry in India and will one day become the most traveled rock in the world!
Still confused? Let me explain… Clary set up the 40K Home Foundation which is currently building a school for severely underprivileged kids coming from the granite quarries around Bangalore, in India’s south. The building kicked off in February last year, and is set to open in early October this year. These granite quarries are like something out of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, with people using dangerous and labourious techniques to crack up stone 12hrs/day for a measly $1.80. It’ll certainly be on my mind when I’m lugging the bit of granite up Cradle Mountain on Saturday!
The 40k Home Foundation 
40K runs joint venture projects within developing communities to alleviate extreme poverty. Their maiden project is the building of a bridging school to benefit the children of the exploited quarry workers based in the rural slums around Bangalore. Check out the pictures of the progress in India so far!! For more info check out: www.40khome.org. The “Golden Granite Challenge” invites people from all walks of life to carry this rock on their challenges regardless of what it is, and raise funds for 40K - I’m honoured to be the first carrier of what I’m sure is going to be a lasting legacy (…or maybe it is just a rock) and raising some funds along the way. If you’re keen to carry the rock, get in touch with them at www.40khome.org
So on Saturday when you guys are tucking into a juicy steak, meat pie, whatever…spare a thought for poor old Jonesy who’ll be battling up a steep muddy hill (snowing, knowing his luck), wishing that he trained at least a little for this stupid run...
or if that just makes you chuckle maybe just think about the kids in India that you’ll be helping if you donate to my fundraising page.
I’m struggling so that you don’t have to… Thanks heaps for your support - wish me luck! Jonesy
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