On Sunday 29th June Fran Hurndall became the fastest woman to run 3,800km from Perth to Sydney, raising critical funds and awareness for domestic violence survivors.
Former footballer turned endurance athlete Fran Hurndall has etched her name into the record books, becoming the fastest woman to run from Perth to Sydney after completing the gruelling 3,800-kilometre trans-continental journey in just 60 days.
The extraordinary feat, which saw Hurndall average more than 63 kilometres per day across some of Australia’s most challenging terrain, was driven by a deeply personal mission to raise awareness and funds for domestic violence survivors
“Through every kilometre of this challenge, she’s running for those who’ve been silenced by fear and abuse,” organisers said of Hurndall’s motivation, which stems from her own family’s experience with domestic violence.
The 60-day odyssey was undertaken in honour of Hurndall’s sister, who suffered domestic violence in the UK. The cause has become central to Hurndall’s advocacy work, with support from her partner Natalie, who brings intimate knowledge of the issue through her 17-year career in forensic policing.
“We need to have serious conversations about domestic and family violence – the time is now,” Hurndall said, highlighting the urgency of addressing what she describes as a national crisis.
The statistics that drove her cross-country campaign paint a sobering picture of domestic violence in Australia. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, approximately 120 people are hospitalised due to domestic and family violence every week. More alarmingly, one woman is killed on average every nine days by a current or former partner.
A History of Pushing Limits
This latest achievement adds to Hurndall’s growing reputation as an endurance athlete with purpose. In 2023, she captured international attention during the FIFA Women’s World Cup by dribbling a soccer ball from the Gold Coast to Sydney over 34 days, covering approximately 1,000 kilometres. The journey, dubbed “Chick with a Ball,” set a Guinness World Record while raising funds for Women Sport Australia.
The transition from football to long-distance running has proven remarkable for Hurndall, who has channelled her competitive spirit into advocacy-driven athletic challenges that capture public attention for important social causes.
Her Perth to Sydney record-breaking run represents not just a personal triumph, but a powerful statement about using sport as a platform for social change. By combining elite athletic performance with grassroots advocacy, Hurndall has demonstrated how individual determination can amplify critical conversations about domestic violence.
The successful completion of the 60-day journey positions Hurndall as one of Australia’s most prominent athlete-advocates, using her platform to shine a light on issues that affect thousands of Australian families.
As she crossed the finish line in Sydney, Hurndall’s achievement demonstrated that extraordinary athletic feats can serve as powerful catalysts for confronting Australia’s domestic violence crisis.
Follow Fran Hurndall instagram HERE
Fran joined us live on stage at the Randwick Ritz Gutsy Girls screening in 2024
