'On My Feet' are taking a different approach to helping Australia’s homeless find their place again.

The charity uses running to help motivate those dealing with, or at risk of succumbing to, homelessness to regain self-confidence and self-worth.  Essentially, helping them to ‘find their feet’. 

In his spare time away from the Club, Coach John Worsfold has a heavy involvement with ‘On My Feet’, sitting as a director on the board. 

Worsfold began his work with the charity while still living in Perth after he was invited by a friend to join. 

For Worsfold, the running aspect is a simple way of breaking the harsh cycle of homelessness and the impact it has on the mental state of those who live through it.

“I love running myself, and I know how good it makes me feel,” Worsfold said.

“I could see the benefit for people who are feeling a bit down and out and that if they were committed to starting to run they would feel better about themselves getting fitter and hopefully that would encourage them to start the cycle to get themselves back on their feet.” 

The charity is very much about empowerment and commitment, requiring those involved to run three times a week in order to continue to be a part of the program. 

It is not a handout, it’s a hand up.

If they commit, the participants become part of a two-stage program aimed firstly at increasing their self-worth and then helping them become independent through education and pathway planning.

“A lot of homeless people end up that way through no fault of their own and just don’t know what to do,” Worsfold said. 

“They lose self-confidence and feelings of self-worth.

“If they show the commitment to turn up and run three times a week, we’ve got programs in place to help them find work. 

"We want to get them off the street and back having that sense of self-worth and self-sufficiency. 

“It’s a hand-up for them so that they’re in charge of their own lives.”

On My Feet apply this same belief to their own fundraising efforts.

They raise money to supply the participants with basic running equipment through the sale of their bright orange socks.

The charity is quickly expanding in response to Australia’s growing homeless population and needs your help to continue the good work.

You can support the charity by purchasing a pair of their runnings socks at www.forthelongrun.org, or visit their webpage www.onymyfeet.org.au to find out how else you can become involved.

Quick facts:

• Australia’s homeless population can fill the MCG.
• Each homeless person costs Australia $45,000p.a.
• Homelessness is not a life choice, it’s a circumstance they find themselves in. It can happen so quickly, so easily and so tragically.
• The average Australian is only 6weeks away from homelessness at any one time.
• The life expectancy of a long term homeless person is 45.