RSL Capricornia Sub-branch member Ian Power is on his way to Turkey to wear the national number one runner’s bib for the Lest We Forget Run.

The 76-year-old will participate in the eight kilometre run right where the Anzac legend began at Gallipoli, Turkey.

Mr Power helped launch Rockhampton’s inaugural Lest We Forget Run last month. He believed it gave people the opportunity to reflect and respect our fallen heroes, while also supporting our current service people. The fun run is a national initiative of Athletics Australia and the RSL which raises funds for RSL charities.

Joining a contingent of 30 people, Mr Power will tour the Dardanelles and various WWI sites by land and sea leading up to and after Anzac Day. The tour has been coordinated by the Australian War Memorial Foundation, which Mr Power is a member of.

As a war veteran, Mr Power said he was “really wrapped” with the idea of going to Gallipoli to celebrate Anzac Day, while also supporting the RSL fun run initiative.

“I always wanted to attend an Anzac Day service at Gallipoli”, and what better way to commemorate Anzac Day than to walk the eight kilometres just as the soldiers did in WWI, and raise money for the many needy RSL charities.

While overseas Mr Power will also be representing the Capricornia RSL Sub-branch and the Mt Charmers School, where he will pay tribute to past students who died during the war.

Central Queensland University’s Human Movement Science students are coordinating Rockhampton’s inaugural Lest We Forget Run. They hope to make it into a highlight of the community event calendar for years to come.

The run will be held in Rockhampton on Sunday 27 April, at 8.55am at Anzac House. The 8km route will start at Anzac House and head alongside the riverside park.

Mr Power expressed his gratitude to the students and staff organising the event and said it was a “run for remembrance”.

“Think about the widows, wives, mothers and children who have to wear the worry while their men are overseas,” he said.

The Lest We Forget Run will be held simultaneously throughout Australia with all participants observing a one-minute silence before commencement of the race. Over 2000 registrations have been submitted to date nationally.

Director for the Rockhampton event, Geoff Dickson said he had a five-year vision for the event and looked forward to watching it grow each year.

For registration forms or for more information contact Geoff Dickson on 4930 9141 or visit the website www.lestweforget.com.au.

Photo: 76-year-old Ian Power prepares for the eight-kilometre ‘tour of duty’.