Mount Perry police officer running 215km to raise funds for epilepsy

What was the most emotionally and mentally challenging task a Mount Perry police officer has had to do on the job has inspired him to run 215km over three days.

Senior Constable Tom Mort will be swapping blue for purple to raise funds for Epilepsy Queensland.

One of Bundaberg’s finest men in blue will be donning purple for a challenging 215km charity run starting on Friday, March 24.

Senior Constable Tom Mort will be running from 215km from Mount Perry to Bundaberg and back in a bid to raise awareness of the little-known condition of Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy.

Mr Mort is aiming to raise $20,000 for Epilepsy Queensland, with the run coinciding with the international Make March Purple event driving awareness of epilepsy in 130 countries.

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Mr Mort was inspired to take on the run due to personal tragedy.

In 2020, in his role as police officer in Mount Perry, Mr Mort delivered sad news to close friends of the death of their daughter, Maddie, from SUDEP.

Senior Constable Tom Mort has put in many hours of training for the big event.

“I am inspired to challenge myself in tribute to my good friends, with the loss of their daughter to SUDEP,” he said.

“As the police officer in Mount Perry I unfortunately had the task of delivering that death message to Maddie’s parents, who are also my good friends, about their daughter.

“I‘ve never had to deliver a death message to someone that I’m close to - it was emotionally and mentally the toughest thing I have done in this job.

“Prior to this, I knew little about (SUDEP) - now I‘m on a mission to reach out and let Maddie’s legacy live on.”

Mr Mort will start at the Mount Perry Federal Inn at 8.30pm on Friday, March 24.

His route will take him through Gin Gin and South Kolan, with the first leg ending at the East End Hotel on Bourbong St.

After a short 10 - 15 minute break, he will return to the Mount Perry Grand Hotel via Sharon and Gin Gin.

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Mr Mort expects to complete the run around 8am on Sunday, March 26 - National Epilepsy Day.

He welcomes the public to come along to give him support, and even to join him on the run.

Senior Constable Tom Mort encourages the public to join him on the run, or to give him a wave as he passes by.

“If they see me running along in my purple shirt anywhere between Mount Perry and Bundaberg and back - even if they’re not big runners and they want to run 100 metres with me and just show me the support, that’s great,” he said.

“If they see me running along, give me a shout out or a wave.”

Donations can be made via Mr Mort’s fundraising page on the Epilepsy Qld website.

According to Australian Institute of Health and Welfare data, epilepsy contributes to around 1,100 deaths every year.