Meriem follows in the spirit of great
WHILE Hobart-based star Meriem Daoui is often recognised for her feats in athletics, it is away from competitive sport that the Moroccan-born runner truly makes her mark.
The 22-year-old oncology nurse was honoured for her philanthropic work with the 2021 Peter Norman Humanitarian Award on Saturday.
The award is presented on October 9 each year to honour the legacy of the famed Australian sprinter Peter Norman.
It is awarded to a member of the Australian athletics community who exemplifies the spirit of Norman through their work in human rights,
equality or humanitarian causes.
Daoui led a number of initiatives to raise vital funds and awareness for cancer causes as well as her work with the Muslim Women in Sport Network.
After moving to Tasmania from Sydney with her family when she was 10 years old, Daoui admits she was bullied at school for proudly displaying her Muslim faith and developed anxiety depression and an eating disorder.
However, displaying her remarkable fighting spirit, Daoui has since used her experiences and her love of running as a platform to help others and raise thousands of dollars for various charities.
Daoui ran her first marathon at the age of just 16 and raised more than $5000 for displaced Syrians affected by the civil war.
Among many other initiatives and philanthropic work, Daoui has twice run the Cadbury
Marathon to raise funds for Cancer Council Tasmania and oncology outpatients at her hospital.
Earlier this year she completed the gruelling 42km Point to Pinnacle course every day for seven straight days to raise more than $12,000 for childhood cancer.
“It is a great honour to be awarded the Peter Norman Humanitarian Award,” Daoui said.
“Not only was Peter one of Australia’s greatest sprinters, he was also an advocate for human rights who spoke out against racism which I believe is one of the greatest attributes a person can have,” she said.
“His legacy in athletics and
advocacy is truly inspiring and I hope that as a community we can use his legacy to make a stand in creating an inclusive environment in both sports and society.
“Much of my work comes from wanting to give back to society and to help causes close to my heart.
“I believe we can all contribute in making the world a better place.”
In supporting Daoui’s charitable efforts, Athletics Australia will make a donation to her nominated cause – the Tim Blair Run for Kids Foundation, a Tasmanian organisation that financially supports families experiencing childhood illnesses.