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
"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
"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 1800RESPECT.org.au. In an emergency, call 000.
