Why I’m Running 1,200km Across Australia

My name is Paraic O’Neill. I’m a 27-year-old Irish ultra-endurance runner currently living in Australia. Over the past year, this country has given me incredible opportunities, unforgettable experiences, and a sense of home far from home. Now, I want to give something back.

Cystic fibrosis is a cause that is deeply personal to me. Almost six years ago, I lost a lifelong friend to this disease. Watching someone you love fight for every breath changes you forever. It’s the reason I use endurance challenges as a platform for awareness and fundraising—and why I refuse to sit still when there’s an opportunity to help.

To date, I’ve raised over €100,000 for a combination of the Irish Cancer Society and Cystic Fibrosis Ireland through long-distance endurance events. Those experiences showed me what’s possible when people come together behind a meaningful cause.

My next challenge is to run 1,200 kilometres from Melbourne to Sydney in aid of Cystic Fibrosis Australia.

This run will take place over multiple consecutive days, averaging ultra-marathon distances each day. It will be physically and mentally demanding—but that challenge is nothing compared to what people living with cystic fibrosis face every single day.

Why Your Support Matters

Every donation—no matter the size—will go directly toward supporting Cystic Fibrosis Australia in their mission to fund research, improve treatments, and support individuals and families living with CF.

My Promise

I promise to give everything I have to this challenge. I will share the journey openly—every high, every low, and every kilometre—to honour those we’ve lost, support those still fighting, and remind people what the human body and spirit are capable of when driven by purpose.

If you can donate, share, or support in any way, I would be incredibly grateful.

Thank you for being part of this journey.

— Paraic