2026 Scholarship Team

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 the 2026 team here and hear their ‘why’:

As in previous years, there was a huge response to this year’s Scholarship program, and so many deserving people applied. Unfortunately we can only select 6 people.

Sarah Austin
Sarah Austin

Running has been both therapy and challenge for me, especially after the loss of my father this year, and injury and illness setbacks. Trail running has always been on my bucket list, though, and the chance to take on Kunanyi feels like the perfect way to reconnect with my love of running and nature.

Kunanyi represents peace, strength, and resilience. This scholarship would help me rebuild with confidence, connect deeply with the mountain and community, and push beyond self-doubt to discover what I’m truly capable of.

Conor Humphries
Conor Humphries

I don’t fancy a sportscar or a younger husband — I’m choosing a mid-life crisis with sore knees and snacks. I want to be a better role model. I want to be a better mum. Not in a glossy, perfect way, but in a real, messy, trying-my-best kind of way. I want to show my kids—and myself—that I’m trying, and that I’m enough.

I want my kids to see that life’s for living, dreams are worth chasing, trying new things matters, and it’s always okay to ask for help.

Holly Beld
Holly Beld

After years in the film industry, I came back to Hobart to regroup after experiencing burnout and a period of depression. Returning to both home and uni has challenged my sense of identity, but I’m looking forward to this time of rebuilding and being part of the KMR community along the way.

Vivienne Lawson
Vivienne Lawson

I was broken and simply wouldn't admit that that to myself, or anyone else. Until I fell apart. I’m 53 years old and always had the attitude of give your all, be accountable, trustworthy and honest, be loyal and love with all your heart. My loyalty to my work colleges ran so much deeper than my loyalty to myself and my mental health. It was my undoing. Exercise and fitness have helped me start to get back to a place of being able to even consider myself okay again.

Running at 53 is challenging and the idea of running with Kunyani at KMR 2026 is terrifying, but super exciting all at the same time.

David Green
David Green

I’m a 50-year-old dad who runs to be a role model for my kids, by showing strength, connection to Country, and resilience through adversity. Raising money through The Long Rong and sharing my prostate journey on social media, created the opportunity for conversations with men in my community facing the same adversities.

I’m naturally shy and I’ve been working on this by engaging in the running community. Facing injury, health challenges, and mental health struggles, I don’t want to waste the rest of my life or to look back with regret.

Isabella Connelly
Isabella Connelly

In my first year of college, running has become more than just something I love. It has kept me grounded in a world of grades and numbers determining my worth. To run with a community helps me feel connected to others, not through smarts or classes, but spirit and inspiration.

I want to make running a more prominent part of my life, to ensure I don’t lose myself in school or work, or place my self-worth on grades or career success, when I know they don’t define me. I want to help represent a minority of female teenagers in the trail running field and help encourage others to try the beautiful sport that has provided so much happiness for me and kept me sane.

KMR Scholarship Team Alumni:

Meet the 2025 Team

Meet the 2024 Team

Every Step A Story Series

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

While our scholarships are open for anyone in Tasmania to apply, we ultimately want to support the Tasmanian Aboriginal community, and people whose lives could be transformed by the journey. Two places are allocated for Aboriginal community members, and we highly encourage the following people to also apply: refugee and new migrant community members, anyone struggling to make ends meet, students, and people who might be a little lost or are struggling in life for whatever reason.

Your journey from 5km to KMR can also inspire many others to step out on to the trails. We’re seeking people who will welcome sharing your KMR scholarship journey with the community via our (and our partners) cameras and social media channels.

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


  • Salomon trail running shoes

  • 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)

  • Peer support from Scholarship Team alumni

  • Complementary run entries to:

    • KMR 28 March 2026 - either Mountain Run 25km, Alpine Marathon 46km, or Ultra Solo 66km (Valued at up to $460)
    • Kunanyi Trail Series, Knockers – 1 November 2025 (Valued at up to $100)
    • KMR 2026 Training Runs (up to 3 of) 24-26 January 2026 (Valued at up to $180)
    • Gone Nuts 25km or 50km – 28 February 2026 (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)

    • 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 28 September 2026) 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)