Ever thought about running a marathon? What about an ultramarathon (distances often above 300km)?
Just running one of those events in a lifetime would be an epic achievement, right? Well, yes, of course.
But what about running six of them inside 12 months, setting a world record in the process? What about hallucinating a bear eating you mid-stride while wheezing through early-stage pneumonia? What about running the equivalent altitude of two Mount Everests in 90 hours with little sleep and the feeling of razors under your feet, how appealing does that sound?
To Cairns' Julie Sager, it's more than appealing. It's an addiction, and a reality.
Enjoy the listen.

Sarah Grainer and her family have cared for more than one hundred foster children over two decades. Some children have required just one weekend of respite, while others have stayed in the Grainers' home for years. Some children arrived with notice. At other times, Sarah has received a call a midnight from government departments seeking her help to take on a child immediately. She is among scores of kind and selfless humans in Australia caring for children who have nowhere else to turn.

Each child has their own story, their own needs and their own potential. Sarah has dedicated much of her life to respecting these stories, meeting these needs and helping these children realise their potential, using hope as her guide.

On this episode of the How Good are Humans podcast, Sarah describes what life can be like for foster carers and the children in care. She also explains some new policies and expectations that are challenging and stretching the care industry to its limits. Finally, she outlines how people can help the situation or support those already involved.

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Seventy-five per cent of Australian children in foster care will not finish school. One in three will be homeless in the first year out of care and even more will not find employment.
Children enter into care after experiencing neglect, abuse or both. This trauma often causes them to be disengaged from education and makes it difficult for them to build healthy relationships with other adults and children.
The foster carers do an enormous task, but there are many challenges. They need to prepare meals, organise medical appointments, liaise with support workers and government departments, and do the school drop-off and pick-up. They will often have multiple children under the one roof.
The Pyjama Foundation, which was founded in Queensland, ameliorates this situation by pairing affected children with volunteers who help with homework, build self-esteem, teach new skills and act as positive role models.
The Pyjama Foundation is aligned with the quote “it takes a village to raise a child”.
On this episode, I speak to Joeleen Bettini, the Far North Queensland coordinator for the Pyjama Foundation. We speak about the problems faced by children in care, how the foundation works to help the children and the growing challenge of recruiting volunteers in Australia.