‘Never thought I’d make 250’: Former Aussie of the Year refuses to let brutal cancer stop passion

Despite being given just months left to live, Richard Scolyer is not letting anything – not even the most aggressive brain cancer – get in the way of his 250th parkrun.

On March 10, former Australian of the Year and renowned cancer researcher Professor Richard Scolyer revealed his doctors had told him he likely had just three months left to live after his aggressive brain cancer returned. 

Three months and four days later, he will today complete his 250th parkrun, a 5km free fun-run that Mr Scolyer has used as his reprieve from life lately where his days are filled with painful and exhausting treatment. 

The Melanoma Institute co-director set himself the goal of getting to 250 runs around the track in Haberfield. 

At times, he didn’t think he would make it but the former endurance athlete has defied the odds to meet that goal – and he’s not stopping anytime soon.

“Initially when I did it, it was to exercise with our kids and have fun when they were young,” he said.

Professor Richard Scolyer during a parkrun. He will today complete his 250th parkrun. Picture: Instagram

“When I got sick … I started going regularly because I couldn’t exercise in the same way as I could before.

“I didn’t think I’d ever get to 250 but thought it was worth a crack … I never gave up hope,” the celebrated pathologist told the Saturday Telegraph.

Professor Richard Scolyer amid his brain cancer battle. Picture: Instagram

He has not missed a single event since a family holiday in January, not even stopping after the return of the worst forms of brain cancer.

Mr Scolyer was diagnosed with an aggressive glioblastoma in 2023 and was given just eight months to live at the time. 

Through an experimental immunotherapy treatment, he kept the cancer away for almost two years before it returned.

In March, he revealed the cancer had returned a “larger volume” on his left brain and the “prognosis is poor”.

Richard Scolyer‘s journey to 250 runs has included friends and family. Picture: Instagram

The 58-year-old’s journey to 250 runs has included friends and family from interstate and other parts of Sydney travelling to Sydey’s Inner West to jog along with him.

Many of them will be there today to cheer him on as he runs his goal lap.

“I don’t run like I used to, I’m way way slower than that,” he concedes, but adds that speed is not the point any more.

Instead, it’s about community.

“I have always known a few people there but there are so many now, on average about 400 people. It feels like half or more wish me good luck,” he said.

“A lot of things have changed in my life … but I am still getting happiness.”

Professor Richard Scolyer with his wife Katie and their children. Picture: Facebook

Speaking to the Telegraph on the eve of hitting his goal, Mr Scolyer said he hadn’t set a new definitive goal but would be continuing the run for as long as he could.

Mr Scolyer has also been supported by his children, who he says have defied the usual pattern of tuning out of their parents’ lives after moving out and going to university – a silver lining of his cancer.

“If I’m honest, when I was going through that same period and left home and my parents, I neglected them compared to what (my kids) are doing,” he said with a laugh.

His wife Katie, who has been joining her husband on his runs, revealed Mr Scolyer has also entered the City to Surf with hopes of participating if his health allows. 

“Even if Richard hasn’t been up to much during the week, or he has been having a treatment or infusion or something, some week’s parkrun has been the highlight of the whole week,” she said.

“We have good friends, we get out together and look at the trees and the grass … to have that contact and connection, whether it’s family or friends or people we don’t know that well.

“It’s been really lovely for that hour or two to feel life is good.”

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Originally published as ‘Never thought I’d make 250’: Former Aussie of the Year refuses to let brutal cancer stop passion