Broken Hill to Sydney Ultra Marathon 2017

Giving a voice to children who live with family violence.

 

In September 2017 I became one of a handful of humans ever to run across the full width of New South Wales.  I covered more than 1300km (32 marathons) in 19 consecutive days with a total running time of 207.5 hours.  Over 2000 runners raced me online, crossing the course as part of a virtual challenge.  

This run was in support of Run Against Violence.  Our aim was to give a voice to the often-silent victims of family violence - the children.

Family and domestic violence is increasingly being recognised as the social challenge of our time. Public conversation around the issue is building, however, we often overlook the children - those who hear and see the violence, or are directly targeted. Too often, these children don’t have the chance to tell their own story.  In 2017 we asked the nation to stop and listen to these young people.

 
 

StepsTogether Ultra Marathon Documentary

 

The Steps Together Ultra Marathon is a documentary that follows the journey of the Broken Hill to Sydney Ultra Marathon and shows how one person's determination to take steps can make life better for others. Screenings of the documentary can be arranged through Run Against Violence or contact me directly.

 
 
 

Selected Media Coverage

 
 
Featured
Broken Hill to Sydney on foot: Kirrily Dear's remarkable 'Run Against Violence'

Kirrily Dear is on a remarkable journey. Over the past 15 years she's created success in business as the leader of a Sydney-based marketing consultancy and also found her stride as a long distance runner and figurehead of the charitable association, Run Against Violence.

Kirrily Dear runs 1300 kilometres from Broken Hill to Sydney for domestic violence victims

Lying at the base of a tree in a small country town, her legs swollen and painful as the sun starts to set, Kirrily Dear knows she still has 35 kilometres to travel by foot that day.  Anyone could be forgiven for throwing in the towel under similar circumstances – but the ultramarathon runner set herself a goal and got to work. 

Rough road from Broken Hill: Kirrily on track in 1300-kilometre effort | Video

Ultra marathon runner Kirrily Dear is running 1300 kilometres from Broken Hill to Sydney to raise awareness of family violence.  Ms Dear arrived in Orange on Monday, her run having crawled to a walk as nearly two weeks of running takes its toll on her body.

#027 Kirrily Dear on the Run Against Violence [Podcast]

This week, ultra marathon runner Kirrily Dear, sets out on a mammoth challenge - to run 1,300km / 807 miles in 19 days through remote and regional Australia with the goal to raise awareness and start conversations about family violence.

Join Kirrily to take steps against family violence

A lot has happened in the three years since Dear ran her first ultramarathon, which finished in Forbes, raising awareness of family and domestic violence.

She is returning to Forbes this run, arriving at Forbes Show between midday and 1pm to do a lap of the racetrack with her support runners.

Taking StepsTogether for the children

Inspirational ultra-marathon runner Kirrily Dear is preparing to step out for children who have been the victims of family violence. Kirrily will set out on a 19 day journey from Broken Hill to Sydney in September, passing through Forbes on the way. In November 2014 she ran from Walgett to Forbes in support of White Ribbon Day to raise awareness and help put an end to violence against women.