The Melrose High School student will run in the Canberra Times Fun Run 10-kilometre race on Sunday and plans to finish it in less than 32 minutes.

''One day I hope to travel the world with my running and maybe make it to the Olympic Games,'' he said.

Before a race he maintains a diet of little food and the hard rock sounds of AC/DC to mentally prepare himself.

''I also picture myself doing well,'' he said.

The regimen has worked well so far. He came ninth in the same 10km race last year with a time of 33 minutes, 29 seconds and came in at 55th overall in the City2Surf last month.

He also won the Australian Running Festival's 5km race in Canberra this year.

''My aim is to take part in more of these fun runs to get noticed,'' he said.

His father Paul started the Australian Junior Running Academy, which offers scholarships to talented local young runners between the ages of seven and 23, a number of whom will be taking part on Sunday. The event includes a 14km run, a 10km fun run and the adidas 5km fun run and walk.

The Couples For Christ community in Canberra is embracing a new approach of helping underprivileged children from the Philippines and as of late this past week had raised the most money with a total of $12,000 under the team name ANCOP Canberra. Also raising money for ANCOP is the second highest fund-raiser, Team Canberra Philippine Embassy, who have raised just under $2500.

Now in its 37th year, the fun run is a long-standing event in the Canberra community.

As of Friday, $88,000 had been raised for charities.

■ The Fun Run is raising money

for more than 195 charities. For

more information see canberratimesfunrun.com.au.