Man runs 220km from mother's birthplace to burial site for cancer charity
Ryan Downs runs 220km to raise $22,000 for the cancer charity that helped his family after his mother died.
Ryan Downs will run from Wagga Base Hospital, where his mother Tereze was born, to Gungahlin Cemetery where she is buried, describing it as a physical line drawn between beginning and farewell. Tereze died in 2015 after battling Hodgkin's lymphoma and epilepsy, but before her death the family received vital support from what is now Rise Above, a local charity providing food vouchers, fuel support and help with medical costs.
Ryan aims to raise $100 for every kilometre he covers, with the money directly supporting 11 patients and their families over the next year. The run will take him over rough terrain in the Brindabella Range and through rural NSW, starting October 9 and reaching her grave on October 11.
Rise Above chief executive Renee Watson said cancer diagnoses now cost families an estimated $10,000 to $15,000 in out-of-pocket expenses.
- 220 kilometres
- Distance
- $22,000
- Target amount
- 2015
- Mother's death
- 4000 metres
- Elevation gain
Why it mattersThe fundraising will provide practical support to families who cannot afford groceries or transport to cancer appointments, reducing financial stress during their treatment.
AustraliaThe run directly supports cancer patients and families in the Canberra region, one of Australia's most vulnerable populations dealing with treatment costs.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 40 min ago
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