mcnamara desperate to make a difference

Sandringham Dragons NAB League Girls midfielder Eliza McNamara has her sights set on an achievement that reaches far beyond the sporting field next month.

McNamara and 24 of her Melbourne Girls Grammar schoolmates are training to complete a half marathon in Cambodia on December 8 to raise money for HAGAR, an organisation who hope to end the cycle of trafficking, slavery and abuse that exploits women and children in the region. 

The 10-day volunteer trip will involve assisting local communities before taking on the 21km run, starting around 4am to avoid the intense heat.

The collective fundraising goal is $50,000, all going to HAGAR, some of which McNamara has already raised through bake sales and candle selling for a cause she’s passionate about.

“It’s definitely a deserving cause,” McNamara said.

“They (HAGAR) openly take in heaps of women and their kids and restore their lives through shelter, food, and counselling, but also putting them into social programs to help them build skills for the workforce so they can leave and end up with jobs.

“Kids will go in when they’re five and come out at 18 and go straight into the workforce which is really good.”

The talented Dragon also has her eyes on a successful 2020 NAB League season, and isn’t worried about juggling pre-season duties with her fundraising efforts.

“I don’t mind my running anyway … plus there’s always time for a kick with my brothers and the Dragons girls, so it should work well,” she said.

“The strength and conditioning coaches at the Dragons are so good and they’re really supportive of the trip.”

Eliza and her schoolmates leave for Cambodia on December 1.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO DONATE AND SUPPORT ELIZA’S FUNDRAISING EFFORTS PLEASE CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW:

https://2019runforfreedom.raisely.com/elizamcnamara

FOR INFORMATION ON THE WORK OF HAGAR, CLICK HERE