Geelong five-year-old tackling Nedd Brockman-inspired fundraising challenge nabs sponsorships, message from hero

National hero Nedd Brockman has sent a heartwarming message to a Geelong five-year-old tackling a similar fundraiser, with donations and sponsorships flooding in

GEELONG’S answer to Nedd Brockman is a little smaller, but has just as much heart.

And she’s building up new friends, sponsorships and donations just as fast as her blonde-mulleted hero.

Five-year-old Charlotte O’Brien is running 1km every day for 30 days, in a bid to raise funds for Geelong homelessness charity The Outpost – the city’s only nightly non-referral after-hours service providing warm meals and access to clothing and personal hygiene items to people in need.

Little legend Charlotte O'Brien, 5, is running 1km a day for 30 days to raise money for homelessness service The Outpost, after seeing Nedd Brockman's cross-country feat

And has already raised almost $2000

The little legend started her journey on Sunday at Landy Field with an aim to raise a few hundred dollars for the group, reaching her target by Monday and now tallying more than $3000 in her first week.

And, Charlotte also has a new friend and sponsors, with Nedd Brockman sending a personal video to his fan after hearing about her inspirational challenge.

“Hello charlotte, I just wanted to say you are the most incredible little girl,” Nedd says in the video. “1km a day for 30 days is unbelievable, and to have raised the money you have already raised is just unbelievable for the homeless, and it will go so far in helping them.”

“You are incredible, I’m inspired by you and I’m so grateful that I’ve been able to inspire you to get out, get uncomfortable and help people. You are incredible.

“We’ve had a chat with Puma and I believe they’re going to help you out and get on board.

“You’re incredible Charlotte, thank you for inspiring me. Go get it. Let’s go!”

To go along with the new gear expected to arrive from Puma, Geelong sports apparel brand Steigen this week also announced they would sponsor the little legend with more running gear and an expected donation.

Charlotte this week said she decided to undertake the fundraising challenge after watching Sydney sparky Nedd Brockman tackle a 46-day, 3800km run from Perth to Sydney while raising $2.5m for homelessness charity Mobilise.

“I was inspired to do it from Nedd Brockman because he was running to raise money for homeless people, and I wanted to copy him because I wanted to raise money for homeless people so the people who look after them can keep doing their job,” Charlotte said.

“It’s very important because I thought I could raise money, because I really want the people who look after the homeless people to keep doing their job, because I read homeless people don’t have a place to eat, drink or sleep.”

Four days down, 26 to go!

Charlotte’s Mum Thalia said the family was proud of Charlotte’s determination and kindness, and had been blown away by the amount of donations already pouring in.

“We thought it would be a couple of hundred bucks from our family donating,” Ms O’Brien said with a laugh. “It just seems like perfect timing for what The Outpost is going through, so it’s fantastic.”

“She saw what [Nedd] was doing - and she’s a nurturer by nature – and she said ‘I can do what he did, let’s do that’.

“The only thing was she said ‘I don’t want my toenails to fall off like his did.”

The fundraiser comes as The Outpost launches its own crowdfunding campaign to help it find a new home, as the city prepares to sell off the Gheringhap St Busport location it has called home for the past 22 years.

See Charlotte’s fundraising page here: gofundme.com/f/1km-a-day-for-30days-for-the-homeless

Originally published as Geelong five-year-old tackling Nedd Brockman-inspired fundraising challenge nabs sponsorships, message from hero