Motorhome Moments - 7 - Home
Written by Max Reilly (Project Manager, Run for Wishes)
June 29, 2022
[Image ID - Yuin land. The sunrise reflected off of the sand and water at Tathra beach.]
Photos taken on Yuin, Kurnai, Boonwurrung, and Woiworung land.
He did it!
4,000 kilometres in 60 days.
On June 11, Sean completed his two-month running journey from Gimuy/Cairns to Naarm/Melbourne. Reflecting on the experience, it is difficult to grasp how someone could achieve such a bold challenge.
The donations have flooded in the tail-end of the run, obliterating the $60,000 target. We have now amassed over $100,000!
[Image ID - Kurnai land. Sean running and yelling on a gravel track.]
Final leg
A highlight of this trip has been discovering Australia’s hidden gems. We were privileged to see New South Wales’ south coast. The windy roads meandered through thick forests. On the other side, we would find pristine beaches and small towns perched on cliff faces over the sea.
[Yuin land. The sunrise over Tathra beach.]
Victoria’s harsh winter weather met us at the border. Sean battled freezing cold hail and wind through most of Gippsland. Dry changes of clothes were thin with everything becoming saturated. Still, this failed to dampen the spirits with the finish line in sight.
[Image ID - Kurnai land. Jack warming up for his running stint with Sean.]
Seeking discomfort
It was difficult to gauge if Sean was on pace with his 60-day timeframe for most of the run. We worked to feel. This meant if Sean felt good, we would keep moving. It was a surprise in the last week to find out that we were three days ahead of schedule.
It would be understandable to think Sean would want to use this buffer to cruise home with some easier days. That isn’t the way Sean thinks. The running man used this as an opportunity to challenge himself further. He reset his goal to 4,000 kilometres altering his daily average home from sub-60 to over 70 kilometres a day.
[Image ID - Woiworung and Boonwurrung land. Sean refuelling at a pitstop in Yarra Bend Park.]
[Image ID - Woiworung and Boonwurrung land. A group of Sean’s friends and family posing for a photo on the MCG grass following a run around the oval.]
DJ arranged for a small group of us to run two laps on the MCG’s hallowed turf. News crews met us at the top of the players’ races. As we emerged out of the tunnel, a special video surprised us on the scoreboard. DJ created a ten-minute piece mixed with messages of himself and clips from Sean’s run. The final part of the video caused everyone to stop in their tracks. DJ included a moving audio clip from 2019 of late coach Jase Cronshaw speaking highly of Sean.
[Image ID - Woiworung and Boonwurrung land. Sean leaning on the goal post watching the final section of DJ’s video.]
Meeting a person like DJ brings out the best in you. He leads by example, motivating you to do more for the people you care about.
[Image ID - Woiworung and Boonwurrung land. Sean video calling DJ after his video and laps around the MCG.]
Homecoming
A superhuman effort calls for celebration.
We were met with two incredible homecomings in Naarm/Melbourne at the Make-A-Wish Australia office and the Vermont Football Club.
The Make-A-Wish Australia office welcomed us with balloons and donuts. All the staff made the effort to dress up in loud activewear. It was humbling to meet the people that turn the donations into life-changing experiences.
[Image ID - Woiworung and Boonwurrung land. Max, Sean, Alyssa and the Make-A-Wish Australia office at Sean’s celebration visit.]
In Vermont, the whole suburb turned up to cheer Sean home. It was amazing to see everyone that contributed to the run and all the people connected to the cause. Gatherings like this reveal how many people play a pivotal role to make these challenges happen.
[Image ID - Woiworung and Boonwurrung land. Max and Sean listening to the speeches on the homecoming night. Sean is eating a pizza.]
Passing Moments
Travelling through familiar streets on the final day felt strange. Home seemed like another town we were passing through. The habit of constantly moving made it difficult to believe that we could stop.
For two months we have been living in a bubble. The outside world barely affected us. We were in an alternate reality of seven-kilometre pitstops. Some parts felt long, others as if we were never going to reach the end. Now, it feels like it went in a flash.
[Image ID - Kurnai land. The sunset reflecting off of the motorhome.]
It is bizarre how fast life moves. You grind to build up to something you want to do, it happens, and then you move on to the next thing. This impermanence can feel scary. Experiences like this allow you to find the beauty inside.
[Image ID - Kurnai Land. Rien posing for a photo after a post-run swim at sunset at Mallacoota beach.]
The time we have here is so precious. Let this project steer you to believe that anything is possible. Trust me, I just watched a guy run across the country. The Run for Wishes may be over for now, but the legacy will live on.
[Image ID - Kurnai land. The sun reflecting off of the sea at Mallacoota Wharf.]
Thank you to everyone that made this run what it was. Without you, we wouldn’t have achieved the impossible.
[Image ID - Woiworung and Boonwurrung land. Sean showing off his muscles for his Herald Sun photo at the MCG.]
Some more photos from the last few weeks:
Yuin land
[Image ID - three images. 1 and 2: the sunrise reflecting off of the water at Tathra beach. 3: A windy A1 turn at first light in the morning.]
Woiworung and Boonwurrung land
[Image ID - three images from the Make-A-Wish Australia office. 1: Dublin the Dachshund. 2: Sean speaking to the Make-A-Wish Australia office in a Q&A with Megan and Guido on stage with him. 3: Sean standing in front of the thank you signage and balloons created by the Make-A-Wish Australia team.
