Sport
19 May, 2025
Youngsters running for cancer fundraiser
FOR former Olympian Jill Boltz seeing the kids she trains win races is secondary to the real goal – watching them develop into responsible adults.
That might be why her current ‘Pace Project’ cohort of 10 to 25 year olds has already signed up for this year’s COUCH charity fun run as part of Ironman.
“They’re all very disciplined and you can see the kids that will follow through in life,” Ms Boltz said. “They’re going to turn up on time and work hard. Running is just a byproduct.”
Ms Boltz has been in Cairns for 20 years but hails from England where she represented Great Britain in the 1988 Seoul and 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games and was a Commonwealth Games silver medallist at Auckland in 1990.
She runs the Pace Project coaching kids with the goal of competing at state and national championships with five of her athletes currently on scholarships in America.
“Exercise is very important in kids’ lives. It makes them feel great and it can keep them out of trouble,” Ms Boltz said. “Mentally it’s important, particularly around exams when there’s lots of stress,” she said.
About 25 Pace Project athletes will join hundreds of competitors in the 5km fun run at Cairns Esplanade on Friday, June 13, at 7.35am.
“There will be some who will want to line up at the front and some will have a bit of fun and enjoy a later start to school,” Ms Boltz said.
She praised the work COUCH does in supporting those affected by cancer, providing care to enhance the quality of life for clients and their family and friends.
“The work COUCH does is amazing and to be involved in Ironman is a massive thing for cancer awareness.”
Ms Boltz said this year’s event was a bit more personal with one of the athlete’s mums dying after fighting her own cancer battle.
“That will inspire a few more of them this year,” she said.
You can run, walk or skip with check-in from 6am-7.15am. Register now via
For more information phone (07) 4032 0820 or email:
fundraising@couch.org.au
