Runner Jai is a Top Bloke

Jai Menser of Wamberal is set to take on two huge running challenges this year to raise funds and awareness for the Top Blokes charity.

As well as holding down a job at Davistown RSL, the 21-year-old coaches the Reserve Grade Squad and the Women’s 18s for Terrigal United Football Club, coaches football at Central Coast Grammar School, has a small role with the U16s Boys at Central Coast Mariners Academy and also runs a personal football coaching business.

In what spare time he has, he likes to run.

“I started running back in May of 2021 (and decided I wanted) something huge to challenge myself,” he said.

“I decided that challenge was a 100km race through the Blue Mountains which I completed last October.

“This has now turned into my passion, my meditation and a huge opportunity to be able to help myself and serve others in the best of ways.”

Over the past two years, Menser has also completed: 21 half marathons in 21 days (21 in 21); six marathons; and 135 laps up and down Terrigal Skillion.

He has now decided to turn his efforts to raising funds and awareness for the Top Blokes Foundation, a mental health charity which offers help to young men aged from 10-24.

“These Top Blokes educate young men to guide them in the best possible way to be their best selves and lead (them) into a healthy and safe life,” he said.

“Boys won’t just be boys; boys will be what we teach them to be.

“I want to help create much more effective education for numerous areas of life skills for young boys and this aligns perfectly with what Top Blokes stands for and specialises in.”

Menser will compete in the 50 in 50 from July 15 to September 2.

This challenge sees participants complete 50 X 42.2km marathons in a 50-day period.

Menser plans to do one marathon every day, culminating in a 100km run around a loop at Terrigal on Saturday, September 2, where he hopes to be joined by as many people as possible.

The extra kilometres added onto his final run will take his total number of kilometres run to just over 2,168km.

He will then do a 24-hour run up and down Terrigal Skillion on October 28-29, once again completing 135 laps.

Menser is asking Coasties to support his fundraising efforts by donating and spreading the word.

Donations can be made at https://fundraise.topblokes.org.au/j-menser?fbclid=PAAab79mb294NKeqzqv4zFg9UcO4d6O5-T1JWTvJ8fktcdM-n33YT-uMaoINs.

Source:
Jai Menser