Former footballer Fran Hurndall is running 3800km for Domestic Violence Prevention Month

She held the Guinness World Record for dribbling a football from the Gold Coast to Sydney, now she’s taking on 3800km in under 40 days to fight domestic violence.

Fran Hurndall is running over 3,000km to raise money to support survivors of domestic violence. Photo: Contributed

An Airlie Beach athlete who dribbled a football from the Gold Coast to Sydney, setting a Guinness World Record, will push her body beyond its limits once more for a very personal cause.

This May former England soccer player Fran Hurndall will run 3800km from Western Australia’s Cottesloe Beach to Sydney in just 34 days to raise awareness and funds for domestic and family violence support in Australia as part of her Reach Out Speak Up Challenge for Domestic Violence Prevention Month.

Ms Hurndall’s goal was to raise $1m for RizeUp Australia, a charity providing support for families impacted by domestic violence by taking people out of refuge into transitional housing and giving them a safe haven to start again.

Domestic and family violence is a personal cause to Ms Hurndall, having touched her family directly.

“In 2024 I found out that my sister had been suffering in a domestic violence relationship,” she said.

“It just really took the family by surprise and really just impacted us all.

“It’s been such a transition, supporting my sister coming out of that and putting her into a safer environment for her journey.”

Given the vast numbers of people killed in DV situations, she wanted to advocate firstly for her sister but also for all the other people out there who have suffered from domestic violence.

Beyond raising money for those who need it, the run will secure Hurndall’s place in history as the first woman to run 3800km in under 40 days.

Ms Hurndall is now training at home in Airlie Beach to be able to run for 34 days straight, 12 to 14 hours a day, covering 110km.

Fran Hurndall has been training in the Whitsundays for the challenging run. Photo: Contributed

“You can’t physically and mentally train for something like this, because obviously I would burn out before I even got to the start line,” she said.

“Me running 110km a day is nothing compared to what someone’s going through in domestic violence so there’s a massive drive and purpose for me because it’s for my sister.”

She explained there were a lot of logistics and strategy involved in the run but ultimately it would come down to mental strength.

“I’ve got an amazing team behind me, professionals, sports dietitians, running coach, strength and conditioning, my physios, I’ve got a good team of 20 people behind me, something like this takes an absolute village to orchestrate,” she said.

“I’m an ex football player so I’m used to being in that environment where you put yourself in uncomfortable situations.

“I used to be a striker, so being able to stand up and take penalties in front of large crowds, I’m just going to use that strategy when I’m running.

“When the body is fatigued and it’s tired, just to keep going, just keep putting one foot in front of the other and just to remember why I’m doing this and just the amount of lives I’m going to be able to change.

“Pushing myself to new limits has always been part of who I am and I’m so glad that I can use that determination to help people who really need it.”

For more information and to make a donation, visit www.reachoutspeakupchallenge.com.au.

Originally published as Former footballer Fran Hurndall is running 3800km for Domestic Violence Prevention Month