Help Support the Fight Against Necrotizing Fasciitis: A Marathon for Tony.

Trigger warning- Photos may be hard to see.

On April 19th, I'll be running the Newcastle Marathon to raise funds and awareness for Necrotizing Fasciitis (NF), a rare and deadly infection that nearly took the life of my stepdad, Tony. I was originally signed up to run the Taree Marathon on April 12th, but unfortunately, the event was canceled 5 weeks out due to not enough entries. So now, I’ve entered the Newcastle Marathon but my cause remains the same.

Tony was diagnosed with NF on November 30th at Taree Hospital after a routine procedure to remove a melanoma. What followed was a fight for his life—he was flown to Prince of Wales Hospital in Randwick, NSW, where he received extensive care, including hyperbaric treatments and powerful antibiotics to combat the infection.

The road to recovery has been long, and while Tony is lucky to be on the mend, he's still in rehab and facing significant challenges. Tony has lost much of his side abdomen and has undergone skin grafts from his leg to help close the wound, but we are grateful every day that he is still here. The road ahead is tough, and Tony and my mum Zoe, are also struggling to manage their 150-acre farm in Brimbin, Taree, while caring for their animals and land.

Unfortunately, many people don’t survive NF, and there is still a lack of research and awareness surrounding this devastating disease. This is why I’ve decided to run the Newcastle Marathon: to raise money for research and help others fighting this infection. Every dollar raised will go towards supporting vital research into Necrotizing Fasciitis, a disease that has torn lives apart—just like it did for Tony and our family.

The page I am fundraising for is a USA-based foundation that is dedicated to researching this rare and deadly infection. Since NF is so rare, there are only a few organizations around the world supporting this cause, and this foundation is one of the few leading the charge for research. While the donation page may show USD, please know that any contribution, big or small, will be greatly appreciated. I’ve witnessed firsthand the horror of this disease, and every donation helps make a difference in the fight.

Thank you for your support, and together, we can help make a change. 💙