Tough run lies ahead

Pushing limits and smashing goals are two ways to describe Busselton man Nathanael Bakker who will run more than 100km in April to raise money for cleaner water systems in Pakistan.

Set to take place in the Stirling Ranges, the enormous feat will see Mr Bakker summit and run between six well-known mountains – Bluff Knoll, Toolbrunup, Mount Hassell, Mount Magog, Mount Trio, and Talyuberlup – to help those less fortunate.

Mr Bakker is a personal trainer at Anytime Fitness Busselton and said after visiting Pakistan in 2017 and witnessing the need for clean water, he was motivated to help out.

“I grew up in Albany and I thought if I’m going to do 100km, I want it to be as hard as possible and to do something no one had done before. Which is why I chose to do all six mountains,” he said.

The 25-year-old, whose parents also live in Pakistan, said he had never run 100km before but was looking forward to pushing his limits.

“I want to prove this to myself. I aim to complete it in 24 hours” he said.

“I’ve only been trail running on and off for two years, but over the past year my training has slowly become much more serious,” he said.

Elevation on the run will amount to more than 5.4 thousand metres and Mr Bakker said his biggest supporter on the day will be his brother Nick.

“He recently did a 120km run on the Cape to Cape, so he knows what I’m in for,” he said.

A donation goal of $5000 has been set and people willing to donate can visit www.waterworks.org.au/nat-bakker