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Perth Now
30-04-2025
- Perth Now
Former footballer to run across Australia in support for DV
Fourteen-hour days, twelve pairs of shoes, and 3800 kilometres — that's what it takes to run across Australia. But as Fran Hurndall sets off on her cross-country run, she has another set of numbers in mind. Under the cover of darkness Thursday morning, the former footballer turned long-distance runner set off on an ultimate challenge: running from Perth to Sydney aiming for a record cross-country crossing of just 34 days. She is putting herself through it to make a difference to the lives of women and children impacted by domestic and family violence — including a family member. Your local paper, whenever you want it. 'In 2024 I found out they had been suffering in a domestic violence relationship in the UK all while trying to raise a child,' Ms Hurndall said. 'It completely sort of rocked the family, and it's something that we've never really been exposed to before. It's one of those things that just takes you by surprise. 'It was then that I decided to do something to help.' Ms Hurndall is running for the entirety of Domestic Violence Prevention Month, starting from Cottesloe Beach on May 1. Her goal is to raise $1 million for RizeUp Australia, an organisation providing life-saving support for families impacted by domestic violence. Ms Hurndall will run for 12 to 14 hours and cover 110km each day, burning about 8000 calories daily. But those hefty numbers aren't the ones she is most concerned about. 'I'm not naive to think that I'm going to get out of this scot-free — it's going to hurt, things are going to break,' she said. 'But I've always said it's nothing compared to being in a domestic violence relationship. And that's just the sort of mindset that I've taken into this.' Last year Prime Minister Anthony Albanese declared Australia was facing a 'national crisis' of violence against women, with one killed every four days. According to The Australian Femicide Watch, 24 women and five children have been killed in acts of domestic violence so far this year. 'It's really hard not to hear the noise over here at the moment, with everything that's going on, the amount of women that are dying,' Ms Hurndall said. 'I don't like to say stats, because it's people's lives, but 24 women have already died this year. 103 last year. How many more? 'I've called the campaign, Reach Out Speak Up, because I want people to be able to start reaching out and speaking up about family domestic violence and having the conversations.' It's not the first time Ms Hurndall has embarked on a extreme challenge. In 2023 she set a world record for dribbling a football 1000km from the Gold Coast to Sydney to help raise funds for Women Sport Australia during the FIFA Women's World Cup. A world record is also on the table this time around. 'No woman has ever attempted to do this run, from Perth to Sydney, in under 40 days,' she said. 'So to be the first woman ever to attempt doing it ... that also helped me sort of decide that that would be my next challenge.' Ms Hurndall has been joined by her partner, two sports chiropractors and a video producer to capture 'the good, bad and ugly' parts of the journey. 'We're taking two big RV motor homes, compression boots, ice baths for recovery ... and coffee of course,' she said. 'It's been quite a rigorous training schedule, but it's going to be nothing compared to what I'll be doing on the road. 'But again, I've just been taking it one day at a time, and then going from there.' To donate, visit
West Australian
30-04-2025
- Sport
- West Australian
Fran Hurndall to attempt world record by running from Perth to Sydney and raise money for DV victims
When Fran Hurndall starts running from Cottesloe Beach on Thursday, her sights set on Sydney as she covers the equivalent of three marathons a day, she knows that intense mental and physical pain awaits. But propelling her forward as she covers 110km for a gruelling 12 to 14 hours each day is the strength of survivors of domestic violence, such as her sister. Ms Hurndall is attempting to break a world record as the first woman to run the 3800km from Perth to Sydney in under 40 days — but raising awareness and funds for domestic violence support in Australia is the target that means the most to her. Her goal is to make $1 million for RizeUp Australia, which provides life-saving support for families impacted by domestic abuse. By doing so, she is also giving a voice to her sister. 'In 2024, I found out my sister in the UK had been suffering in a domestic violence relationship, we had no idea and she was trying to raise a child under five,' Ms Hurndall said. 'She escaped in the middle of the night and luckily she had somewhere safe to go, but so many people don't get that opportunity. 'The most beautiful thing is that by doing this run I've given my sister a voice to start her healing journey and that's what I hope others will be able to do.' Ms Hurndall is a former professional soccer player, who was scouted by Arsenal Ladies at 13 and represented England at 15. Now based in Australia, in 2023 she set a Guinness World Record by dribbling a soccer ball 1000km from the Gold Coast to Sydney, while raising funds for Women Sport Australia. Before taking off from Cottesloe on Thursday, she said this latest feat would be her most challenging. The journey will take her through the Nullarbor Plain and the Great Victoria desert in south-central Australia, burning an average of 8000 calories a day and going through more than 10 pairs of shoes as she runs for up to 14 hours a day. 'There is going to be a lot of pain but 70 per cent of this is a mental game,' she said. 'Running 110km a day is nothing compared to being in a domestic violence relationship, so that's the mindset that I've taken. 'I think in a weird way, part of me is going do die on this trip and I'm going to be a completely different person at the end, but that person is going to be stronger on the other side.' Ms Hurndall will be supported by a logistics team in two vans providing food and water, and a trailer for sleeping. She will also have the support of partner Natalie Gidas, who works in police forensics and has investigated numerous domestic violence and homicide cases, including the murder of Hannah Clarke and her children in Queensland in 2020. Besides raising money, Ms Hurndall hopes to bring widespread attention to the issue of domestic violence. 'I just want to ... make it easier for people to talk about these things and for people to get help when when they need it,' she said.
