Latest news with #WomenSportAustralia
SBS Australia
02-07-2025
- Sport
- SBS Australia
'I've given her a voice': Why Fran ran 3,800km across Australia in 60 days
This article contains references to domestic violence. When Fran Hurndall faced gruelling challenges on her 3,800-kilometre journey across Australia, she would think about her cause — and her sister. Last year, the 33-year-old former footballer turned long-distance runner found out her sister had been suffering in a domestic violence relationship. "Given the crisis that's happening in Australia at the moment, I really just wanted to go out and advocate against domestic violence, carry the stories across the country, advocate for my sister," she told SBS News. "I think the most beautiful thing is that I've given her a voice and allowed her journey to start." 'Breaking the silence' Hurndall has lived in Australia for 10 years, arriving from the United Kingdom, where she represented England and Arsenal at an academy level during her teenage years. During the FIFA Women's World Cup in 2023, she decided to take on her first challenge: dribbling a football almost 1,000km from the Gold Coast to Sydney over 34 days. Hurndall raised money for not-for-profit organisation Women Sport Australia. "That was a journey, and I suppose the start of these challenges, pushing myself outside my comfort zone," she said. In May, she started on her biggest journey yet: taking on the Reach Out Speak Up Challenge by running 3,800km from Perth to Sydney — attempting to complete it in a record time of 34 days. "A woman had never attempted to do Perth to Sydney before, in under 40 days," Hurndall said. "I'm a massive advocate for women in sport, and being able to hold the female flag high and just be like, 'We're capable of doing anything that we put our minds to'. "But most importantly was running for my sister. I always say it's about running distance and breaking the silence. It was such a beautiful opportunity to carry stories across the country, and to make women feel seen and heard, too." 'We didn't know how to talk about it' Hurndall said hearing about her sister's experience of domestic violence "shocked us all as a family". "We didn't really know how to talk about it," she said. "I really wanted to start encouraging people to reach out, and speak up about it. It's not easy for people to come forward, but we can start asking those questions — instead of saying, 'Why don't you leave?' it's 'Are you okay, and do you have somewhere to go?'" Hurndall spoke with her sister about sharing her story publicly, saying she is now safe. 'There was no way I could give up' Hurndall's journey, which started at Cottesloe Beach in Perth, took 60 days. From day one, she experienced setbacks — from an Achilles injury on day three to a blister "the size of [her] heel". "Everything that could have gone wrong, went wrong," she said. "The demons came out on day one … I'm so imperfect, and I stumbled my way through this, but the cause was so much more personal to me, and that's what kept me going through." Hurndall completed an average of 65 to 70 km each day. Source: Supplied On average, Hurndall ran around 65 to 70km each day, with her biggest day stretching to 90km. "I trained for this for 10 months, and it was a challenge since day one, right up until day 60. But again, the cause meant so much to me. There was just no way I could give up." Hurndall crossed the finish line in Sydney on Sunday, setting a new women's speed record for running across Australia. 'So many beautiful moments' Throughout her journey, Hurndall says she encountered "so many beautiful moments" as other women shared their own stories. "I can't put into words the amount of people that stopped, pulled over in their cars," she said. "I had a lady who pulled over on the side of the road to ask me what I was doing running on the gravel road, and I told her what I was doing. Then she drove away, came back an hour later … with some cash to donate. "It brought me to tears every time." Fran Hurndall had supporters rallying behind her throughout her journey. Source: Supplied At time of writing, Hurndall has raised almost $60,000 for RizeUp Australia — a community-driven organisation that supports families affected by domestic and family violence. "I feel so fortunate to be able to go out there and carry these stories … just to give back is probably the most rewarding thing." Speaking to her mother and sister in the UK following the run, she said there were "a lot of tears". "My sister, especially, was so proud of me," she said. "She's grown as a person, and she's been able to speak more about what she's gone through, which has allowed her to heal. "It has definitely bonded us more, and we've gotten stronger as a family." If you or someone you know is impacted by family and domestic violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732, text 0458 737 732, or visit . In an emergency, call 000.
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.
