Wollongong local Jack Buckley is just days away from completing his extraordinary "58 For You" challenge - running 58 half marathons in 58 days to honour his late mum, Keryn, and raise vital awareness and funds for stroke.
Jack, 29, set out on August 10 to cover more than 1,200km - one half marathon (21.1km) for every year of his mum's life. Keryn tragically died from a sudden stroke in February this year at just 58.
With fewer than 10 runs to go, Jack says the reality of finishing is beginning to sink in.
"I'm feeling a lot of mixed emotions. All the hard work has paid off and it's coming to an end - but I'm already planning my next challenge," Jack said.
"Mum would probably still think I'm mad, but I know she'd be so proud. She'd probably laugh and ask me, 'what's next?'"
Jack's journey has been anything but easy. He has pushed through pouring rain, almost-freezing mornings, and even a bout of food poisoning, but nothing has stopped his determination. Each run has been powered by his love for his mum and his commitment to make a difference for others impacted by stroke.
Jack has already smashed his fundraising target of $20,000 for Stroke Foundation and has been overwhelmed by the incredible support of the Illawarra community.
"The Wollongong community has been amazing - from my local gym raising $2,000 by running their own half marathon challenge, to little kids being inspired to run big distances. People have pushed their limits alongside me, and that's been really heart-warming," he said.
"I've had so many stroke survivors reach out with kind words of support. Knowing I'm making a difference and raising awareness has given me so much motivation."
Jack's final run will take place on Monday 6 October, starting from Bulli Tourist Park car park at 9:30am and returning at around 11:30am. He is inviting the community to cheer him across the line - and join him afterwards to celebrate.
"There will be a lot of emotions at the finish line. I just want people to remember that we're all capable of so much more than we know. Life's too short to hold back - get out there and do the hard things."
Stroke Foundation CEO, Dr Lisa Murphy, said Jack's efforts have been nothing short of truly inspirational.
"Jack has turned unimaginable heartbreak into powerful action. His efforts will not only help raise funds for stroke prevention and recovery programs, but they've also sparked important conversations about stroke in younger Australians." Dr Murphy said.
Jack has pledged this will not be the end of his mission. He plans to continue his "58 For You" challenge each year and work closely with Stroke Foundation to build greater awareness of stroke.
