General News
21 May, 2025
Seven mines in 700km over nine massive days ...
James Coghlan is gearing up for the challenge of a lifetime.
Honouring his late wife Fiona and creating a legacy in her name is the inspiration for James Coghlan, who has set himself the challenge of running between seven North West mines, starting in a fortnight.
The Mount Isa councillor will start his 7 in 700 challenge – marking the 700km he’ll have to cover – at Dugald River Mine on June 5.
He plans on finishing the final leg on the anniversary of Fiona’s passing in Mount Isa on June 13.
“It was going to be 10 days but there’s a haul road we’re not allowed on,” he said.
“The reason we are covering the seven mines is because they’re in the Mount Isa, Cloncurry and McKinlay area, and people from those areas use the cancer care unit here in Mount Isa and it enables them to stay at home.
“As you know, my wife passed away last year and if the cancer care unit wasn’t here, we would have had to relocate to Townsville or Brisbane and be away from family.
“Being here enabled us to stay at home and allow the family and friends in the community to spend time with her before she passed away.
“Fiona was the rock of our family.”
James said his 7 in 700 run/walk was being done to raise money for the Mount Isa Cancer Care Unit, so it could continue to support North West families.
“I want to help anybody who has to go through the same thing,” he said.
“I did a few marathons 20-odd years ago and I said to Fiona in between cancer battles that I’d like to do another marathon before I turn 60 because I reckon I’ll be a shot duck then. And then she got sick again.”
James, who turns 60 later this year, said he turned to an old friend before taking on the challenge.
“I was away on holidays in January and I met up with my best friend ... I’d lost a lot of confidence in myself with Fiona’s passing and was in a real hole,” James explained.
“After I spent time with him, I regained myself and that’s when the idea started.
“I rang Billy Krause, because I knew Billy wouldn’t lie, and I said, ‘mate, can a fat, unfit 59-year-old do 700km in 10 days?’ And he just said, ‘yes, if the motivation is there’.
“So, from that day, we put in place the training.”
James said the support he had received from the Mount Isa and surrounding communities had been overwhelming since he made his 7 in 700 challenge public.
“All of the mines have come on board with accommodation, which has been fantastic. A couple of them have donated $5000. Glencore is going to buy a piece of equipment worth more than $10,000 to support the Mount Isa Cancer Care Unit,” he said.
“I’ve asked Melissa Wishart to help – she’s the best organiser I’ve ever known.
“It was becoming too much for me and she’s taken on the support role ... she’s thought of things that I wouldn’t have even dreamed of.
“It’s really eased things for me because I can just concentrate on getting to the start line and then getting through each day.”
Those wanting to make a donation to James’ 7 in 700 challenge can do so via GoFundMe at https://gofund.me/52538b3a
JAMES COGHLAN’S 7 IN 700
June 5 – Dugald River to Ernest Henry
June 6 – Ernest Henry to Cloncurry
June 7 – Cloncurry to Eloise Copper
June 8 – Eloise Mine to McKinlay
June 9 – McKinlay to Cannington Mine
June 10 – Cannington to Osborne Mine
June 11 – Osborne to Phosphate Hill
June 12 – Phosphate Hill to Duchess
June 13 – Duchess to Mount Isa Mines