Feet first

By Nicole Williams
MELBOURNE to Sydney in a fortnight – if former Minaret College student Mahmoud Chatila can run the distance it will be an incredible feat.
But he can rest assured he will be in the thoughts and prayers of current Minaret College students the entire way.
Mr Chatila is running more than 1000 kilometres to raise money for Australasian gastro Intestinal Trials Group after his father passed away from the disease close to a year ago.
Students from the Springvale school took the initiative to fundraise for Mr Chatila’s cause and presented him with a cheque for $4095 on Monday, with more money still coming in.
He set a fundraising target of $20,000 which was smashed following the donation from the school.
“Thanks to Minaret College, I have reached my target of $20,000… it’s been amazing,” he said.
“Being a student coming back here, to have their support it warms my heart.”
Minaret teacher Omar Marzouk said students from the senior years approached teachers with the idea and students in other years had since gotten involved.
Students ran cake stalls, a pizza day and soccer tournament to raise the money.
Mr Chatila will leave Melbourne on Sunday 6 May and hopes to run into Sydney on Saturday 19 May to coincide with the anniversary of his father death.