"This disease is taking some of the greatest humans."
Sarah Maul
"Honestly, I ended up running the Sydney Marathon because I got confused during a conversation with a friend."
After completing the City to Bay race in Adelaide, Sarah said to her friend that they should do Sydney next. Her friend thought she meant the City2Surf; Sarah was talking about the Sydney Marathon.
"In the end, I applied for the Sydney Marathon ballot, and she applied for City to Surf. I called her once I received my ballot result and said, "How did you go with the ballot", she said, "There is no ballot it's just a ticket!""
They then realised they had signed up for different events.
"I came up with every reason not to do it, but my reason why was bigger. I can run, and more importantly, I get to run."
When Sarah set off from the start line in August, she was running for Brain Cancer Australia in honour of her cousin Phillip.
Phillip died in 2022, after a very brief battle with glioblastoma. The year after, his four children and other members of the family ran the London Marathon in his memory and raised more than £18,000 for brain cancer research in the UK.
"Their incredible effort and drive was what first inspired me to one day run a marathon," Sarah says. "Between having a baby and then COVID, joining them in solidarity in some way wasn't possible at the time. But when this opportunity presented itself, it was a no-brainer."
What Sarah wants people to know is what Phillip was like.
"Phillip was one of those rare people who gave his love, time and attention freely to everyone around him. He created space for genuine connection and treated all with kindness, grace and generosity. He never wanted for anything himself but was always giving to others. He was someone our whole family adored."
She was not only running for him.
"The more I talk about it, the more I realise how many families carry this cancer along with them. I see it in my clients' families, my friends and in my local community. It's growing."
Sarah trained for the marathon on farming land in regional South Australia. The early starts and long distances gave her an unexpected perspective.
"Every time I laced up, I told myself: I get to run. I get to wake up and swing my legs out of bed, even when I don't feel like it. I get to chase sunrises in the red dirt, across the valley, along the coastline. I get to hear my boy ask if I'm running today. I get to run."
She says that fundraising in a regional community was uniquely challenging because times are often tough for farming communities. But her friends got behind her and it spread from there. Her workplace hosted a soup fundraiser at a leadership forum. Five close friends trained alongside her. She asked anyone who donated to leave a song suggestion in the message, so she would have their support in her ears on the day.
Sarah set out to raise $1,500. She and everyone behind her raised $2,488 for brain cancer research and patient care.
"Every dollar raised brings families closer to more time, more hope, and maybe one day, the chance for someone else to say, after they haven't been able to, I get to run."
Sarah's goal was simply to finish the marathon. She didn't imagine she'd enjoy it.
"I had the best time. I came straight off the course and said to my friend, I want to sign up for the London Marathon."
We're so grateful to Sarah and to everyone who got behind her. If you'd like to add your support, you can make a donation here.
Interested in organising a fundraiser for Brain Cancer Australia? Email info@braincanceraustralia.org.au for information and ideas.
After completing the City to Bay race in Adelaide, Sarah said to her friend that they should do Sydney next. Her friend thought she meant the City2Surf; Sarah was talking about the Sydney Marathon.
"In the end, I applied for the Sydney Marathon ballot, and she applied for City to Surf. I called her once I received my ballot result and said, "How did you go with the ballot", she said, "There is no ballot it's just a ticket!""
They then realised they had signed up for different events.
"I came up with every reason not to do it, but my reason why was bigger. I can run, and more importantly, I get to run."
When Sarah set off from the start line in August, she was running for Brain Cancer Australia in honour of her cousin Phillip.
Phillip died in 2022, after a very brief battle with glioblastoma. The year after, his four children and other members of the family ran the London Marathon in his memory and raised more than £18,000 for brain cancer research in the UK.
"Their incredible effort and drive was what first inspired me to one day run a marathon," Sarah says. "Between having a baby and then COVID, joining them in solidarity in some way wasn't possible at the time. But when this opportunity presented itself, it was a no-brainer."
What Sarah wants people to know is what Phillip was like.
"Phillip was one of those rare people who gave his love, time and attention freely to everyone around him. He created space for genuine connection and treated all with kindness, grace and generosity. He never wanted for anything himself but was always giving to others. He was someone our whole family adored."
She was not only running for him.
"The more I talk about it, the more I realise how many families carry this cancer along with them. I see it in my clients' families, my friends and in my local community. It's growing."
Sarah trained for the marathon on farming land in regional South Australia. The early starts and long distances gave her an unexpected perspective.
"Every time I laced up, I told myself: I get to run. I get to wake up and swing my legs out of bed, even when I don't feel like it. I get to chase sunrises in the red dirt, across the valley, along the coastline. I get to hear my boy ask if I'm running today. I get to run."
She says that fundraising in a regional community was uniquely challenging because times are often tough for farming communities. But her friends got behind her and it spread from there. Her workplace hosted a soup fundraiser at a leadership forum. Five close friends trained alongside her. She asked anyone who donated to leave a song suggestion in the message, so she would have their support in her ears on the day.
Sarah set out to raise $1,500. She and everyone behind her raised $2,488 for brain cancer research and patient care.
"Every dollar raised brings families closer to more time, more hope, and maybe one day, the chance for someone else to say, after they haven't been able to, I get to run."
Sarah's goal was simply to finish the marathon. She didn't imagine she'd enjoy it.
"I had the best time. I came straight off the course and said to my friend, I want to sign up for the London Marathon."
We're so grateful to Sarah and to everyone who got behind her. If you'd like to add your support, you can make a donation here.
Interested in organising a fundraiser for Brain Cancer Australia? Email info@braincanceraustralia.org.au for information and ideas.
Sarah before the start of the Sydney Marathon.
Crossing the Sydney Harbour Bridge on the way to the finish.
Done, complete and now to set sights onto the next one.
