Rising to the Challenge

A few weeks back, I had the privilege of chatting with a dear friend of One Heart, Marco. Marco is an entrepreneur who owns two gyms in Melbournes inner suburbs where Dean, our Founder, and Cain a long time supporter and Director, both go. A man with a huge heart, Marco decided to use what is in his hands to amplify the impact that he could make. The week following Gala, Marco, along with 17 others completed the Challenge for Change which consisted of a 30 or 15km run, 80 or 40km on a stationary bike and 500 or 1000 push-ups! It was nuts! Here’s what Marco had to say when we asked him why…???

Tell us what is the ‘Challenge for Change’?

Challenge for Change is a fitness event that is run every 18 months where Marco Monteiro from M3 Enterprise and One heart foundation come together with the goal of spreading awareness, raising funds and trying to make a difference in East Africa to help empower some of the world’s most vulnerable children and give them a chance at breaking the poverty cycle.

We do the above by creating a challenging fitness challenge (the latest one was a 30km run, 80km bike and 1000 pushups which took participants 7-8.5 hours) choosing extraordinary humans who agree and volunteer to get involved to train, spread the message and help raise necessary funds.

Having run this challenge twice now we will continue to ensure the movement grows with more ‘challenging’ events’ more participants and more money raised.

How did you come up with this idea?

The idea for ‘Challenge for Change’ came about when Dean Landy started attending Listen To Your Body Williamstown (fitness studio owned by Marco Monteiro) upon finding out about one heart and the amazing work they were doing Marco felt empowered to get involved, soon after a coffee catch up was arranged to brainstorm about what could be done.

Dean began to explain the ‘Run for Change’ and the amazing differences they were making over in East Africa, whilst the idea of heading to East Africa and running marathon to make a huge difference to the lives of this vulnerable children was something that appealed to Marco it simply wasn’t plausible due his upcoming wedding.

Due to the above Dean and Marco began to further brainstorm about what could be perhaps done in Melbourne, Australia that would still go a long way and make a difference whilst being a little more accessible for those that perhaps could not make the bigger commitment of heading over for the ‘run for change’ and thus ‘challenge for change’ was born.

Why did you run the challenge?

Growing up in the very western suburbs of Melbourne with a very low income single parent plus an extremely unstable and unsafe household Marco learnt very young the struggles of lack of opportunity, feeling constantly unsafe and the sadness of having to ‘grow up’ whilst still a child.

Whilst the above cycle can still be an extremely challenging cycle to break fortunately Australia is a country that does offer you opportunities to break the cycle which was exactly what Marco did through self-growth, therapy, some education and determination and grit Marco was able to have some success in business and create a better life for himself.

Whilst life is different now Marco still remembers the pains of going without and is extremely grateful he was given the opportunities to break out of that cycle, knowing that there are children out there that will not get that opportunity without external aid is what truly breaks the heart and lights the fire to help at any capacity possible.

To have an idea of the pain and not help or get involved at any capacity simply does not sit right.

How does it benefit people involved?

When participating in these challenges you are growing physically, mentally and emotionally whilst also reaping the feelings of giving back (there isn’t a feeling that is better) you become part of a community who will always have something so special that they share in common whilst knowing you have made a difference to someone else’s life.

What we have encountered with the first two challenges is people being surprised just how truly special it feels getting involved in an event like this, Marco whilst expecting a whirlwind of emotions was also quite taken aback and just how much it struck after the first challenge, having hit the target goal and knowing the funds were going to a training center for children in Uganda it was a week full of tears, joy and overwhelming emotion.

What is your encouragement to others wanting to do something for change in their context?

‘Just do it’

Whilst it can be tough making time to get involved outside of life, family and work commitments it is quite the small price to pay to make an extraordinary difference.

Having attended the gala just a month or so ago a quote really stood out ‘When you have enough on your table for everyone, invest in a longer table rather than a higher fence.’

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We are so thankful for people like Marco who jump in and get it done! Check out this reel of the the day.