Fran Hurndall will never forget the day her sister told her “she thought she was going to die”.
The Australian-based Brit’s younger sister spent years suffering in silence while raising a child before she opened up about the domestic abuse she faced.
“I grew up in such a loving family home, my family is really close,” Hurndall said.
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“It was a shock none of us saw coming.”
A year on, it still breaks her heart to think about.
“After seeing the bruises and the tears and the words … that’s enough to change you as a person,” Hurndall said.
Wanting to make a change, Hurndall has taken on the challenge of becoming the fastest person to run from Perth to Sydney this month in hopes of raising awareness about domestic violence.
Cult hero runner Nedd Brockmann completed the nearly 4,000km journey in 47 days in 2022, raising $2.5 million for homelessness charity Mobilise.
Last year, Australian adventurer Chris Turnbull shaved the record down to 39 days.
Hurndall hopes to do it in 34.
That’s about 110km a day, more than two marathons, for almost five weeks.
“The project is called Reach Out, Speak Up and I’m just so glad that my sister was able to reach out and speak up, even though it was a couple of years later,” she said.
“There are so many horrible things going on at the moment, especially against women in domestic violence.”
Fifty-nine women have been killed by violence in Australia this year, according to The RED Heart Campaign’s Australian Femicide Watch.
Hurndall says Australia is facing a domestic violence crisis, and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese agrees.
The prime minister last week announced a $4.7 billion package to fund frontline and legal services supporting women and children experiencing domestic violence.
“We know that a nationally co-ordinated approach is required to address this national crisis,” he said.
“We must act to ensure women are safe.
“These horrific and disturbing deaths and vile violence must be prevented.
“Achieving this demands action and change at every level of government but, more than that, it also requires action from every part of our society.”
Hurndall hopes her initiative Reach Out Speak Up will raise $1 million for charities RizeUp Australia, which helps victim-survivors set up new homes, and Share the Dignity, which helps people in need of period products.
A ‘beacon of hope’
Hurndall is no stranger to a challenge.
The professional athlete and formal footballer dribbled a soccer ball 1,000km from the Gold Coast to Sydney in 32 days last year to raise awareness and $15,000 for Women Sport Australia.
She knows her upcoming challenge is a “pretty crazy” feat, but she hopes that is what gets people’s attention.
“I know it’s going to be hard, but I’m just really excited to be able to give it a crack,” she said.
“A lot of people think it’s impossible but, by doing these impossible things, you allow others to dream as well.”
Hurndall’s journey will kick off in Perth on September 20, with people able to follow her progress online.
“I’m open to people sharing the journey with me and running with me,” she said.
“I think this is going to resonate deeply with the Australian public.”
Hurndall hopes she can be a “beacon of hope” for others and encourage people to break down barriers and speak about domestic violence in the community.
“Once we start to have the conversations a little bit more, it makes it a lot easier for people to come forward and get help,” she said.
If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault, domestic or family violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit 1800RESPECT.org.au.
In an emergency, call triple-0.
Advice and counselling for men concerned about their use of family violence: Men’s Referral Service, 1300 766 491.
