Alisa running for cousin in Scotland

Also named Alisa, after Ms Main, the six-year-old was diagnosed with leukaemia in December.

‘I’m doing it for he. She will be my inspiration,’ Ms Main of Kardinya said.

‘Alisa lives in Scotland and because we are all the way out here and feeling helpless, I’ve decided to do something about it. So I waited eagerly for the registrations to open and signed up straight away.’

This week’s HBF Run for a Reason will be Alisa first attempt at running 12km, and since registering, she has been training at least six times a week.

Determined to do something for others going through the same ordeal as her cousin, Alisa said her reason to run was to raise money and awareness for the Leukaemia Foundation.

So far, the 23-year-old has raised more than $1000 and has set a target of $1200. ‘I want to raise $100 for every kilometre I run,’ she said.

‘While the money won’t reach my cousin living in Scotland, it will go to helping others in a similar situation.’

‘Alisa hasn’t met me before, she knows me as ‘Big Alisa from Australia’. I have met her when she was a baby and I will be returning home six days after the run, so she will get to meet me.’