Perth runner Jesse Chambers has raised more than $73,000 for brain cancer research — over double his original $31,000 target - after completing 31 marathons in 31 consecutive days while also having a full-time job.
25-year-old Jesse Chambers completed his 31st and final 42.2km run at Hyde Park on Sunday, August 30, bringing his total distance run to 1302 kilometres.
WATCH JESSE COMPLETE HIS MAMMOTH CHALLENEGE IN THE VIDEO PLAYER ABOVE
Jesse initially set himself a fundraising target of $31,000, representing each day of the 31 marathons he planned to run, but as the challenge went on donations flooded in and pushed the total well beyond his original goal.
As of Monday morning, his fundraising total had reached more than $73,000, with donations supporting Cure Brain Cancer Foundation research.
The challenge was inspired by Jesse’s mum Karen, who died from stage four glioblastoma in September 2016, aged 48.
Karen was diagnosed when Jesse was just 12 years old and fought the disease for three years.
“Mum was one of the most vibrant people you could ever meet. She was very fit, very active and loving,” Jesse said.
“In those last few years, if we could get her to walk around the island in the kitchen, that was a good day.”
Watching his mum lose her mobility had a lasting impact on Jesse and changed the way he viewed his own ability to run and move.
“As I got older, I realised how lucky you are to be able to move your body or push yourself physically,” he said.
Jesse said his mum remained the motivation behind every kilometre.
“The whole challenge for me is about her,” he said.
“She’ll forever be the reason I want to push myself further or harder or challenge myself in any sort of way.”
For Jesse, finally reaching the finish line was a milestone, but the reason behind the challenge remained the same.
“The whole challenge for me is about her,” he said.
“She’ll forever be the reason I want to push myself further or harder or challenge myself in any sort of way.
“This challenge has meant everything to me. The amount of people who have reached out to me saying they knew mum or have a similar story is so humbling.
“I’m not going to be the one who cures brain cancer.
“But if I can help raise money towards it, then I think I’ve done my job.”
Jesse told PerthNow at the beginning of August that every day when he finished a run he thought to himself “I don’t know how I’m going to do this”.
“Somehow I recover and start the next day,” he said.
The Perth community rallied behind the challenge, with people joining Jesse for runs and businesses helping raise money and awareness.
His former workplace Miller + Baker created a special ‘Jessemite’ scroll, donating $3 from every one sold to the fundraiser, while Parkside Coffee created a special ‘31 and 31’ coffee blend and donated all profits before it sold out.
Jesse said the response had left him overwhelmed.
“It’s honestly ridiculous,” he said.
“I’m very fortunate to have such a generous circle of people around me.
“So many people who I’ve never met have donated. There’s definitely no backing out now.”
Jesse previously raised almost $10,000 through the Melbourne Marathon, but wanted his latest challenge to capture people’s attention and inspire others to push themselves.
“I wanted to really push myself this time,” he said.
“I wanted to do something that if a random person came across it would stop and make them think.
“If it was enough to inspire someone to start running or push themselves to do something physical, then great.
“Even more so, if it made them want to donate.”
Cure Brain Cancer Foundation chief executive Andrew Giles praised Jesse for turning his personal experience of loss into a campaign for research.
“What Jesse has achieved is extraordinary. He set himself an ambitious challenge in memory of his mum and has pushed himself through 31 marathons in 31 days, while raising a staggering amount of money for brain cancer research,” Mr Giles said.
“That generosity will help support research that we hope will lead to better treatments and better outcomes for people diagnosed with brain cancer.”
Mr Giles said Jesse’s challenge highlighted the need for continued research into glioblastoma.
“Jesse’s story is a powerful reminder of what’s at stake for families facing glioblastoma,” he said.
“While we’ve seen remarkable advances in many cancers, progress for glioblastoma has been far too slow.
“Community fundraising challenges like this help accelerate the research that gives future patients and families more hope.”
Jesse’s fundraising page remains open and can be made online.
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