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Meet our Gold Coast Marathon favourites

20 June 2014

PNG runners

Captain Kila (7th from the left) and Captain Kemo (far right) (Credit: Photo by Shairon Paterson).


Eight keen Papua New Guinean runners, along with two Salvation Army officers, are getting set to compete in July’s Gold Coast Marathon.

The resilient runners are being mentored by personnel from the Australia Eastern Territory, including Commissioner James Condon, Lt Colonel David Godkin and Aged Care Plus CEO Sharon Callister. All of the mentors will be competing in the marathon also.

Over the next few weeks, we’ll meet the runners from Papua New Guinea and hear their stories.

Captain Kila and Kemo Apa – believe the most unlikely ones find victory

Captain Kila Apa and his wife Captain Kemo Apa, are the Territorial Youth Secretaries for the Papua New Guinea Territory. They’ll be accompanying the eight runners to Australia.

For Captain Kila, running this 42km marathon will be a lifetime highlight. He also sees it as an opportunity to keep fit and healthy.

“One of the exciting things I see for myself is running together with other runners around the world. I never thought I would run in a marathon, so this is a whole new experience for me,” says Captain Kila.

Captain Kemo is learning her own strengths and weaknesses – and how to work on her weaknesses until they become strengths.

“One of the things I enjoy in running on my own is pace – to run with purpose in every step I am taking,” says Captain Kemo.

“To run in a marathon is hard. It needs a lot of hard work. It requires all of our focus and commitment to be able to truly succeed.

For both Captain Kila and Kemo, there is a Bible verse that has got them through this training. They’ll be holding on to this when they run the marathon.

“I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus is calling us,” states Phillipians 3:14 (NLT).

“Only outstanding sportspeople take part in top events. But from the beginning, God has always intended even the most unlikely people to enjoy victory,” says Captain Kila. 

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