scholarships

Supported by:
SALOMON   Kieser   Find Your Feet
Bulk Nutrients   Hammer Nutrition   Tasmanian Multisport Adventures (TMA)

We believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to get amongst the trails at kMR. That’s why provide a fully supported trail running journey for 6 runners – taking you from 5km to kMR in 5 months!

Meet our #kMR2025 Scholarships Team! We had such a huge response, with so many deserving people applying. We want to pass on a huge thanks to everyone who took to the time and who wants to #runwithkunanyi.

Meet the 2025 team here and hear their ‘why’:

Stephen
Stephen

Trail running has a profound connection to my roots and the landscapes that have shaped me. As a child, I frequented kunanyi, and now I share that joy with my family, creating lasting memories in the embrace of nature. After 14 years as a social worker, running serves as a vital outlet, helping me manage the emotional toll of my profession and preventing vicarious trauma. Recently diagnosed with Crohn's, I'm learning to embrace and accept this challenge without letting it define me. Each run, each trail, each step, each breath; offers a fresh perspective, new and achievable goals, and the chance to push my body beyond its perceived limits, reminding me of my resilience and the beauty of the journey.

Jack
Jack

The lutruwita bush is extraordinary, and trail running combines the extraordinary with the perseverance required to tackle the physical challenge. The kMR scholarship, and the values of the kMR community, provides the opportunity to take on this challenge and embrace the extraordinary as part of my journey through chronic illness and complex trauma.

Jennifer
Jennifer

Trail running has changed my life dramatically since my stroke and personal heart-breaks. It has healed me. I run to enjoy the outdoors, to tune into nature and to reflect on what's going on in my life: I run for health and well-being - nothing beats it! And I’m so keen to learn more, to master the craft and improve my ability out on the trails. I love to motivate and inspire others to hit the trails.

Hannah
Hannah

I am excited for this journey of personal growth and learning to love both my body and mind after years of self-doubt. This will be the greatest achievement that will reshape my life, and I hope it inspires others who face similar challenges. Depression has often felt like a heavy burden, convincing me that I won't ever look like or perform like other runners. But now, I'm determined to break free from that mindset. Most importantly, I will do this for my Mum, whose strength and love inspires me to keep pushing forward and truly live.

Emily
Emily

This running scholarship would be so meaningful to me as trail-running is intertwined with my healing process. As I mentioned, I began trail running after the profoundly devastating experience of losing our son, Ned, to cancer, which has reshaped my perspective on life. Tackling the rugged and formidable kunanyi, which our son so loved, symbolises resilience and spiritual renewal, and through this scholarship, I yearn to deepen my connection with God's earth, this magnificent mountain and the running community. By sharing my love for running in nature and its benefits, both physical and psychological, and how it's helped me overcome one of our toughest challenges, I hope to also encourage those who are struggling to grieve or heal from great trauma to search for solace, strength and healing amidst nature, as I have.

Tasha
Tasha

I arrived in Hobart 18 years ago, pregnant and ready for a new adventure! It certainly has been but it hasn’t been easy. In recent years it has felt more like an unravelling, with menopause and a late diagnosis of ADHD hitting me hard. At times, life’s complexities have felt insurmountable and I have wanted to give up. This opportunity felt like a reset and a chance to redefine my physical capacity as an older woman with a rapidly changing body. I don’t want to grieve the past anymore but be excited about what is ahead and more importantly, enjoy the present. I want to rethink my perspective and how I face challenges. I want to feel like a long distance runner. I want to feel like I have a community. I want to get to know the glimmers hidden on the mountain. I want to feel joy and I want my body to ache! I would really like to run the 66km Ultra Solo but would be very satisfied if I could achieve the Mountain Run 25km.

What does the scholarship include? Total value of over $7,000!


  • SALOMON  trail running gear

  • Training Programs

    • 5-month individually catered and trail specific run training program and personal coaching by Run Coach, Dave Bailey (valued at $1,100)
    • Kieser strength and conditioning program including pre and post strength and VO2 peak testing to measure the impact of training on participants health and fitness (valued at $1,850)
    • Adventure skills and mindset sessions on kunanyi (3 of) with Adventure Coach, Lincoln Quilliam (Valued at $600)
  • Complementary run entries to:

    • kMR 29 March 2025 - either Mountain Run 25km, Alpine Marathon 46km, or Ultra Solo 66km (Valued at up to $450)
    • kunanyi Trail Series, Knockers – 19 October 2024 (Valued at up to $100)
    • Triple Top Mountain Run – 10 November 2024 (Valued at $95)*
    • kMR 2025 Training Runs (up to 3 of) 8-10 February 2025 (Valued at up to $180)
    • Gone Nuts 25km or 50km – 2 March 2025 (Valued at up to $240)*
      *Thanks to Tasmanian Multisport Adventures
  • Find Your Feet gear - $100 voucher

  • Bulk Nutrients recovery products - $100 voucher

  • Hammer gels - $100 voucher

  • kMR merch pack (subject to sizing in stock)

    • hoody (Valued at $85)
    • palawa tech tee (Valued at $50)
    • cotton tee (Valued at $50)
    • run cap or trucker cap (Valued at up to $50)
    • beanie (Valued at $50)
    • race belt (Valued at $18)
    • reusable cups (Valued at $10)
    • buff (Valued at $15)
    • patch (Valued at $10)

Eligibility

  • Be a resident of Tasmania and have capacity to travel to kunanyi for the sessions, and events
  • Be at least 16 years old (as of 29 September 2024) and have parent/guardian consent if under 18
  • Be able to jog 5km
  • Be comfortable to share your story on your channels, and as captured by kMR and our partners and shared via kMR channels (eg, social media, email newsletter, and mainstream media)

Process and timeline

  • 15 September: Applications open
  • 29 September 7pm: Applications close
  • 1 October: Shortlist invited for interview and trial run
  • 5 October 8-11am: In-person interviews, and trial run with kunanyi around Cascade
  • 9 October: 2025 Scholarship Team announced

We had 6 incredible people make up our 2024 Scholarships team. Their journey features in the short film, Every Step A Story, which will premiere at the Run Nation Film Festival.

Past years scholarships:

Meet the 2024 Team