Mitchell Markham is going places fast.
The 13 year-old Tea Gardens runner jets off to the USA in September to take part in a series of cross country races, which not only pits the best young runners in Australia against one another, but also the best the world has to offer.
For Mitchell, the trip is a chance of a lifetime, with the year eight student at Bulahdelah Central School already well on the way towards securing the funds he needs to travel to the US.
Mitchell's exciting journey began when he finished in the top 40 in the State at the NSW School Cross Country Championships in 2006.
For runners under 15 years of age the State Championships are the pinnacle of the competitive level, but officials noticed something special about Mitchell and offered him a lucrative overseas opportunity.
While Mitchell had always enjoyed running, the opportunity to race overseas spurred him to greater heights.
He now trains at least three days a week under the guidance of Charles Ringuet.
On average Mitchell covers around five kilometres a day through all sorts of terrain, from sand dunes to asphalt and long grass.
"When we race in the US the surfaces are all different," Mitchell said.
"Some of them are grass, some are dirt and some are mud."
Mitchell has not yet conquered the dizzying heights of a marathon, but he has gradually increased the distances he has run.
Earlier this year he finished a very respectable third overall in the 10-kilometre Wallaroo Fun Run.
"He loves it and just keeps going and going," Mitchell's mum Karen said.
"Only a few weeks ago he did an eight kilometre run with my husband Brad and I following him in the car and he was ready to turn around and run back."
To travel to the US, Mitchell needs to raise at least $4,700, while organisers cover the remaining expenses.
Since he first voiced a desire to go, Mitchell and his family have been hard at work fundraising and the support from the wider Tea Gardens Hawks Nest community has been overwhelming.
"It's been fantastic," Karen said.
"The Lions Ladies, Rotary, Chamber of Commerce, Masons and RSL sub-branch have all jumped on board and I can't list all the businesses and individuals that have helped him out."
Mitchell is still about $1000 short of his goal but with a little hard work, expects to secure the remaining funds in time for the trip in September.
Karen will travel with Mitchell as will his grandmother Narelle Murray.
It is the first time Mitchell has been overseas and he can't wait to get airborne.
"I've never even been out of NSW before," he said.
"We spend 15 days over there and I'll do about seven or eight races in places across the country from Las Vegas to Los Angeles.
"We also get days off where we can travel to Disneyland, Universal Studios and the Grand Canyon."
While mum is equally keen to get there, she does have some trepidation.
"It's the plane flight that worries me, but that's all," she said.
Anyone wishing to help Mitchell can do so through his fundraising account at Tea Gardens Holiday Coast Credit Union.
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