Canberra university student Grace Danielson will run the length of more than three marathons over 24 hours to raise money for UNICEF Australia’s Gaza Crisis Appeal.

Grace will tackle Canberra’s 140-kilometre Centenary Trail on Saturday 2 December, supporting a good cause through her love of running.

The Centenary Trail can be explored as a 7-day walk, averaging 20 kilometres per day, and takes the walker through urban and rural iconic sites of Canberra, including Ngunnawal Country and native forests in Mount Ainslie and Black Mountain.

Earlier this year, the 21-year-old completed 70 kilometres at Inward Bound, an annual endurance running event for students at the Australian National University, and said the Centenary Trail is her next big milestone.

“For the past three years I’ve been training for Inward Bound but couldn’t run it before this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic and injuries. After completing the 70 kilometres, I was so pumped on adrenaline I thought I could run another 70 kilometres,” Grace said.

“My university is on the doorstep of Black Mountain, which is home to what I think are some of Australia’s most beautiful running trails. From time to time I have run sections of the Centenary Trail, but this will be my first time running all 140 kilometres in one go.”

This is also Grace’s first time fundraising, raising more than $1,300 so far, and the idea for a fundraiser run came after a moving phone call from her grandmother.

“I received an out of the blue call from my Nan, who said she just wanted to hear my voice and know I was alright, having just watched the nightly news on the Israel and Gaza conflict,” she said.

“She was shocked and upset by seeing families without water and shared her prayers for them with me. I love my Nan dearly and this call inspired me to fundraise for UNICEF Australia’s Gaza Appeal.”

In the Gaza Strip, more than 400 children are killed or injured every day. The situation for children and families is catastrophic, with relentless attacks, widespread destruction and displacement, and severe shortages of essential necessities, including food and water. Gaza is facing a devastating water crisis with more than 2.2 million people without access to safe and adequate supply of water and sanitation.

CEO of UNICEF Australia, Tony Stuart said, “When an emergency strikes, it is sometimes difficult to know how to help. That is why it is so inspiring to see fundraising efforts from people who want to find a way to support children in desperate need, especially when they have never fundraised before.

To support Grace on her fundraiser run please visit https://gazacrisis.unicef.org.au/gracie-danielson.

You can find out more about UNICEF Australia’s Gaza Crisis Appeal at unicef.org.au/gaza.