This event is an ultra-endurance footrace done relay-style. Two international co-ed teams, TEAM USA and TEAM AUSTRALIA, will come together in the name of hope, resiliency, and unity. Each team will run 1,000 total miles, from the red dirt outback to the clear blue ocean, in just ten days. Runners take turns running all day until they reach 100 miles per day, then eat and sleep with The Australian Army, only to rise at dawn and start all over again. If a runner drops out, their teammates will need to make up their miles and stay on track for the 10 day limit 1,000 mile finish line.


1000 Miles to Light is both physical and symbolic. In 2020 our world changed forever, and the mental challenges of social distancing, self-isolation, and safety lockdowns were tough for all. Endurance runners are united in their drive to build both physical and mental health through their sport, especially when life gets dark. Eight unique runners will come together to challenge themselves, each other, and the world to use running as a tool to heal.


The 1,000-mile finish culmination at the Byron Bay Lighthouse – the most western point in Australia – represents our two nations emerging together from the darkness created by the global pandemic. Our hope is to be a beacon of light for others who are struggling still, knowing that we each hold an inner light of possibility.


Others can join them virtually, follow or donate to Reach Out Australia, a mental health service providing support for individuals under 25 experiencing mental health.