Running for Hope: Herdy Ultra 2026

My name is Samuel Last, from Perth Australia, a doctor and member of Perth Doctors Medical Aid for Palestine.

On Friday 13 March 2026, I will be taking on the Herdy Ultra Marathon; a brutal endurance event with a simple rule:

Run one lap every hour, on the hour, until only one person is left standing.

There’s no defined finish line. No set distance. Just resilience, persistence, and purpose.

My goal is to run more than 112 km, the equivalent of the entire border length around Gaza, in solidarity with children whose access to safety, education, and healthcare has been profoundly disrupted.

Why I’m Running

I’m part of a group of doctors working with Perth Doctors Medical Aid for Palestine, raising funds to provide medical support, food assistance, and education access for families affected by ongoing conflict.

One of the key projects we are supporting is helping fund schooling for children, creating opportunities for learning, stability, and hope in circumstances where these basic rights are often out of reach.

Education is more than classrooms and books.It is protection, normalcy, and a future.

Our Mission

As healthcare workers, we see firsthand how conflict affects children, not just physically, but psychologically and socially. Through this fundraiser, we aim to contribute practical, on-the-ground support that helps communities care for their children and rebuild essential services.

We are raising funds to assist with:

Medical aid and essential healthcare resources

Food and humanitarian support

Education initiatives, including helping to fund a school

The Goal

Fundraising Target: $5,000

Every donation, no matter the size, directly contributes to humanitarian assistance and educational access for children in need.

Why an Ultra Marathon?

Because this event is about endurance. About continuing when it’s uncomfortable. About showing up, hour after hour.

That spirit reflects what so many families are doing every single day.

If you’re able to contribute, share, or simply follow the journey, thank you. Your support helps turn effort into impact.