Affectionately known as Uppy Junior, Mark runs for the second year in Bravehearts 777 with his father Brian, known as Uppy Senior, from the Gold Coast. Photos: Supplied.
Two Illawarra runners were integral to raising funds and awareness for children at risk through Bravehearts 777 Marathon, but would now love to see the event have a greater impact in the Illawarra.
Lake Illawarra Police District’s Detective Senior Constable Jason Quigley from Shellharbour and Wollongong Wolves Football Club general manager Mark Upton from Wollongong were among 26 runners who ran seven marathons, across seven states, in seven consecutive days, to raise funds for Bravehearts from 1-7 July.
Bravehearts is a not-for-profit organisation helping prevent child sexual harm or abuse and this July hosted its 10th Bravehearts 777 Marathon.
While it was Mark’s second year taking part with his Queensland-based father, it was Jason’s first and the event has seen the pair become friends.
“It’s an amazing event, purely because you’ve got 26 strangers on day one and by day seven there’s a close friendship that’s been built up over those seven days,” Mark said.
“A lot of the guys this year have already locked in for next year, including myself and Jason.
“I think one of the big things is a lot of the people that have done it for the first time, they go into it thinking it’s an amazing cause and a big challenge, physically and mentally, but they come away with so much more.
“It’s being able to spread awareness of what Bravehearts is and the sickening crime that is still going.”
Mark said he would love to see the event impacting more lives in the Illawarra.
“It would be fantastic to have an event down in Wollongong and to have the Wollongong Council get behind it, and even Illawarra schools,” he said.
He said while the current leg for NSW was staged in Sydney, he was keen to see it moved to Wollongong.
“Even with or without it being in Wollongong, we want to be able to engage Bravehearts and Illawarra schools to bring the Bravehearts’ Ditto school program down to the Illawarra,” he said.
“The program is phenomenal at what it does in schools, educating kids around that space.”
He said Jason was able to get the Ditto’s Keep Safe Adventure program into some Shellharbour schools but would love to see it spread throughout the whole region.
“For me, if we could get the program down in the Illawarra, that running event is just the cream on top.”
For the event, the pair ran 42.2 km in Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Launceston, Sydney, Canberra and the Gold Coast, with Jason clocking his fastest time at just over three hours and 30 mins on the Gold Coast, during the final marathon.
Incredibly, Jason only took up running seriously two years ago.
“I wanted to run a marathon before I turned 42 and I started really seriously running in 2022 and I became addicted to it and I haven’t stopped,” Jason said.
“Unfortunately, I came down with a virus in the lead up to the first race, so that added an extra challenge as my energy levels were depleted but I pushed through and completed all seven marathons, with the support of an amazing group of runners, support crew and my family.”
Jason raised more than $24,000 for Bravehearts, while Mark raised $27,500, contributing to the $750,000 raised from the entire event.
“It was certainly tough, but it is nothing compared to the horrible situations some children face, who are subjected to sexual abuse or harm,” Jason said.
“I see it firsthand as a detective, so that was front of mind when I was battling the tougher races.
“Knowing I was raising money for the incredible work Bravehearts does and knowing the amazing support from local businesses and the community, all of that combined is what kept me going.”
Mark said the pair had started planning joint fundraising events, including wanting to raise enough to cover their own $11,000 minimum each needed to qualify to participate and a further $11,000 to donate an entry to someone connected to Bravehearts’ cause.
“We know the biggest challenge is the fundraising, so if we can raise enough that we can get our amount over – which we know we can – we can raise together enough to donate an entry,” he said.
You can still donate to Mark’s and Jason’s pages.
If this story has raised any concerns for you, 1800RESPECT, the national 24-hour sexual assault, family and domestic violence counselling line, can be contacted on 1800 737 732, or call Lifeline: 13 11 14. In an emergency call triple zero.
Loading ...
