For Sarah, running a marathon was firmly in the category of things other people did.
She was a seasoned half-marathoner, had completed plenty of triathlons alongside her husband, and loved being active. But the idea of running 42.2km? That was a challenge for someone else…
Until her 23-year-old daughter, Tilly, changed her mind.
After just a couple of years of running, Tilly decided to take on the 2026 TCS Sydney Marathon. Watching her daughter set such a big goal, and believe that Sarah could do it too, gave Sarah the confidence to finally step outside her comfort zone. She wanted to challenge herself and prove that it’s never too late to try something that feels intimidating. And with CanToo’s charity mission giving her the extra push she needed to commit, Sarah signed up for her first-ever marathon.
Now, like her daughter, she’s preparing to tackle the 2026 TCS Sydney Marathon this Sunday, while raising vital funds for cancer research with CanToo.
A challenge with a bigger purpose
“I wanted to do something meaningful. Training for a marathon is a huge commitment, and I knew that having a purpose beyond my own finish line would help me stay motivated,” Sarah shares.
That purpose is cancer research.
Cancer has touched Sarah’s family in a deeply personal way. Her dad died from cancer at just 60 years old, and more recently, her mum has been undergoing cancer treatment.
“Supporting cancer research is very personal for me. I’ve seen the impact cancer has on families, and I wanted my training to contribute in some small way to helping others. CanToo has made that possible.”
Sarah’s father was a marathon runner too, and as she prepares to run her first marathon, she has found herself drawing inspiration from him.
“Running Sydney Marathon is, in many ways, a tribute to my dad and a way of honouring my mum’s strength. If the money I raise can contribute to research that helps even one family in the future, that feels worthwhile,” she says.
"I'm more capable than I thought I was"
Training for a marathon is rarely a smooth, perfectly paced journey. There are long runs, tired legs, early mornings and plenty of moments when staying in bed sounds considerably more appealing than heading out the door.
Sarah admits there have been mornings when she hasn’t felt like running. Her secret weapon? Perspective.
“I remind myself that I’m lucky to be able to train,” she shares. “And when training gets hard, I think about the people who are facing much bigger challenges than a marathon.”
Fundraising has also been a powerful source of motivation. For Sarah, every donation feels like someone is joining her on the journey. She’s embraced the personal side of fundraising - sharing her story, asking for support and connecting with the people around her. While the idea of asking for donations initially felt daunting, she’s been overwhelmed by the generosity and encouragement she’s received along the way.
“I’ve learnt that I’m more capable than I thought I was. I’ve also learnt that I don’t have to do everything alone. The support from my family, friends and the running community has made a huge difference.”
Because of CanToo
Sarah is new to the CanToo community, but she’s already getting a taste of what makes it so special.
After joining Team CanToo, she found herself surrounded by other runners who were navigating the same questions, training challenges and pre-marathon nerves.
It’s been a reminder that while running can be a very individual sport, a big challenge doesn’t have to be faced alone. “I think having that sense of connection and shared experience is one of the things that makes a challenge like this feel much less daunting.”
Her best advice for anyone considering joining and fundraising for CanToo: “Just say yes. You don’t have to be an elite runner or an experienced fundraiser. Taking on a challenge like this is about much more than running a marathon,” Sarah says. “You’ll probably surprise yourself with what you’re capable of and knowing that your effort is contributing to cancer research makes the journey even more meaningful.”
What started as something she thought other people did has become a personal challenge, a tribute to her dad, a celebration of her mum’s strength, and a shared experience with her daughter.
Like Sarah, you too can find a challenge that pushes you beyond your comfort zone, connects you with an incredible community, and helps fund life-saving cancer research. Discover a program that suits your goals here or donate to Sarah’s marathon fundraising page to support our early and emerging cancer researchers.
