Two Girls and a Grandad

🏅 THERE IT IS. Our Sydney Marathon medal. 💙

For months, the finish line has been something we've talked about, trained for and imagined.

Now we know what will be waiting for us on the other side. 🥹

We're officially on the home stretch to Sydney. 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️

And when this medal is finally hanging around our necks, it won't just represent 42.2km.

It'll represent the early mornings. The long runs. The tired legs. The setbacks. The ridiculous amount of food consumed. 😂 The moments we've doubted ourselves and the moments we've realised just how far we've come.

But most importantly, it'll represent all of you.

Every donation. Every message. Every person who has joined us for a run, ride or walk. Every business and organisation that's backed us. Every share of our story. Every word of encouragement. Every person near and far who has helped three ordinary people believe we can do something pretty extraordinary.

You've been part of this journey from the beginning.

So when Two Girls & a Grandad cross that Sydney Marathon finish line, these medals won't belong to just the three of us.

They'll be the reward for an incredible community that got behind us, supported our slightly crazy idea and helped us raise money for the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research. 💙

The training is almost done.

The kilometres are almost banked.

Sydney is waiting.

One final push. 42.2km. And we're bringing every single one of you with us. 💙🏅

🚨 WEEKS 16 & 17 UPDATE 🚨

THREE. WEEKS. TO. GO. 😳🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️
And apparently nobody is slowing down!

Over the past fortnight, you absolute legends clocked another 🥁 1,332.9KM 🥁

🏃 Two Girls & a Grandad — 317.8km
💛 Our community — 1,015.1km
Which takes this completely out-of-control challenge to… 🌏 11,559.1KM TOTAL! 🤯

Remember when we thought 3,300km from Perth to Sydney was an ambitious target? 😂

We've now travelled the equivalent of that THREE AND A HALF TIMES, with almost 85% of every kilometre coming from YOU.

Last update we were at Timber Creek in the Northern Territory, tantalisingly close to the WA border. Well… WE'RE HOME! 🥳🖤💛

Another 1,332.9km has carried us well and truly back into Western Australia, continuing our ridiculous virtual lap towards Perth.

And yes… before anyone comes for us in the comments, AI has once again taken some creative liberties with the shape of Australia on our map. 😂 Apparently 11,559km wasn't enough of a challenge, so we're also attempting to teach ChatGPT Australian geography. 🤦‍♀️🇦🇺

Meanwhile, the real journey is getting VERY real.
21 DAYS UNTIL THE SYDNEY MARATHON. 😬

The biggest training weeks are behind us, taper has begun, and we're entering that wonderful stage where we simultaneously question whether we've trained enough and panic about every tiny ache. 😂

We started this hoping you'd help three ordinary people get 3,300km from Perth to Sydney.

Instead, you've turned it into an 11,559km community adventure around Australia.

And we're not finished yet.

Three weeks. Let's bring this thing home. 💛🔥🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️

29 days until the Sydney Marathon! 🏃‍♂️🏅

Since 1 June, Doug has made one very important commitment... no haircut and no shave until marathon weekend.

What started as a motivational challenge has gone from Forrest Gump... to somewhere between Cast Away and "has anyone seen Wilson?" 🏐😂

He's not quite living in a cave yet, but Tom Hanks would be proud.

The good news? Our accommodation in Sydney is directly opposite Westfield, so we'll be escorting him straight to a barber for an emergency transformation back into a respectable member of society right after the finish line. 💈✂️

Tomorrow is the biggest training day of the entire block – 34km, the longest run before the taper begins. One more huge effort, then it's time to trust the training, freshen up the legs... and hopefully freshen up Doug's face too.

Sydney, we're almost ready... even if the beard isn't. 😆

🚨 WEEKS 14 & 15 UPDATE 🚨

Over the past fortnight, this incredible community clocked a massive 🥁 1,226.4km 🥁

Rain, wind, freezing mornings... Perth has thrown everything at us, but you've continued to lace up your shoes and get it done. 💪🌧️

Our virtual lap of Australia rolls on, and we've now travelled from:
📍 Perth
➡️ Sydney
➡️ Brisbane
➡️ Whitsundays
➡️ Cairns
➡️ Cape York
➡️ Across the Gulf of Carpentaria
➡️ Through the Top End
➡️ Past Darwin and into Timber Creek, with Western Australia almost in sight! 🌴☀️

The countdown is getting very real...

Five weeks today, the Sydney Marathon will be behind us.

If all goes to plan, we'll probably be sitting somewhere with a well-earned drink, wondering how we're ever going to walk down a flight of stairs again! 😂🍻

This weekend we tackled the 16km WA Coastal Running Festival at Burns Beach, specifically chasing hills before Sydney. Wet, windy and challenging—but we handled it far better than we ever expected.

Next weekend marks one of the biggest milestones of this entire journey...

Our final long run before we begin the taper. 😳

Before we finish, here's the statistic that absolutely blew us away...

🏃 Two Girls and a Grandad 1,429.3km
💛 Our incredible community 8,796.9km
🌏 Total logged 10,226.2km

That means 86% of every kilometre travelled has come from YOU.

And to think... when we kicked this challenge off, we were simply hoping to make it 3,300km across Australia from Perth to Sydney.

Instead, you've helped us log an incredible 10,226.2km... and we're not even finished yet.

We completely underestimated this community, your generosity, and your willingness to get involved.

This stopped being our challenge a long time ago.

It's become a community adventure around Australia, and we couldn't be more grateful to have every one of you along for the ride.

Now... let's get ourselves back into Western Australia. 🇦🇺💛🚀

🚨 WEEK 13 UPDATE 🚨

Who let this happen?! 🤯

Just when we thought you couldn't possibly top last week... You went and logged a whopping
🥁 783.5km 🥁

Perth has continued serving up winter, but this community clearly didn't get the memo. Rain, wind, icy mornings… none of it has stopped you from getting out there. 💪🌧️

Last week we were making our way across the Top End.

This week you've powered us all the way to Kakadu National Park, with Darwin now firmly in our sights! 🌴🐊

Think waterfalls, wetlands, crocodiles and some of Australia's most spectacular scenery... not a bad place to spend our virtual adventure!

Our journey so far:
📍 Perth
➡️ Sydney
➡️ Brisbane
➡️ Whitsundays
➡️ Cairns
➡️ Cape York
➡️ Gulf of Carpentaria
➡️ Northern Territory
➡️ Kakadu (Current Location)

And the best part?
There are now only 49 days until the Sydney Marathon! 😳

Every walk. Every run. Every hike. Every treadmill session.

You're proving that a community working together can achieve something pretty incredible.

Darwin... we're almost knocking on your door! 🚀💛

🚨 WEEK 12 UPDATE 🚨

Now that was a week! 🔥

This incredible community clocked a massive:
🥁 682.7km 🥁

Just when we thought winter might slow everyone down... you went and proved us wrong. Rain, wind, freezing mornings—it doesn't seem to matter. You just keep showing up. 💪🌧️

Last week we officially crossed into the Northern Territory.

This week we've continued west along the northern coastline, pushing deeper into the Top End and edging ever closer to Darwin. 🌴☀️🐊

Twelve weeks ago we set off from Perth with a goal of reaching Sydney.

Since then we've:
✅ Reached Sydney
✅ Powered through Brisbane
✅ Visited the Whitsundays
✅ Relaxed in Cairns
✅ Rounded Cape York
✅ Crossed the Gulf of Carpentaria
✅ Entered the Northern Territory
➡️ And now we're charging towards Darwin!

The countdown is well and truly on, with 56 days until the Sydney Marathon. 😳

Every walk. Every run. Every hike. Every treadmill session.

It all adds up, and every kilometre is helping us raise awareness and funds for the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research. 💛

Let's keep this momentum rolling... Darwin, we're coming! 🚀

We’re incredibly proud and humbled to be featured in the Peel Community Foundations June 2026 newsletter 💙

What started as Two Girls and a Grandad taking on the TCS Sydney Marathon to raise funds for the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research has become something so much bigger than just us.

This journey has shown us the true power of the Mandurah community.

From local businesses donating prizes, vouchers, products and services…
To volunteers giving their time…
To families, friends and strangers showing up, donating, walking, running and cheering us on…

You’ve reminded us that community is something special.

Mandurah continues to show that when people come together with generosity and heart, incredible things happen.

Every kilometre logged.
Every raffle ticket bought.
Every donation made.
Every share, message and word of encouragement.

It all matters.

Thank you for backing us, believing in our cause, and helping us make a difference.
We’re proud to represent this amazing community ❤️

June-2026-Newsletter.pdf https://share.google/Vf1lNmVeD19Zl9nSZ

🚨 WEEK 11 UPDATE 🚨

Well… we’ve officially left Queensland behind 😳

This week the club logged 🥁 536.3km 🥁

Despite Perth continuing to serve us rain, wind and enough cold mornings to question all life choices, you legends keep showing up 💪🌧️

Last week we were cruising around Karumba / the Gulf of Carpentaria.

This week?

We’ve pushed west and officially crossed into the Northern Territory 🔥🐊

We’re now somewhere around Borroloola country, hugging the northern coastline and continuing our lap around Australia.

In just 11 weeks we’ve gone from:
📍 Perth
➡️ Sydney
➡️ Brisbane
➡️ Whitsundays
➡️ Cairns
➡️ Cape York
➡️ Gulf of Carpentaria
➡️ And now… the NT

Wild... Even crazier? There are now only 63 days until the Sydney Marathon 😳

At this rate, I’ve stopped asking if we’ll make it back to Perth… I’m more interested in seeing how much further you legends drag us 😂

Every walk.
Every run.
Every hike.
Every treadmill session.

It all counts.

Keep logging those kilometres 💛

P.S. ChatGPT remains under investigation for crimes against Australian geography 🗺️😂That “63 days to go” line hits nicely now — the countdown is getting very real. 🔥

🚨 WEEK 10 UPDATE 🚨

Right… before we begin, a public apology.
We've retired from map-making via ChatGPT after absolutely butchering the shape of Australia and somehow relocating half of Queensland into the Northern Territory 😂

So from here on out, we’re relying less on my geography skills and more on vibes.

What we do know is this…
There are now only 70 DAYS until the Sydney Marathon 😳

Not 10 weeks.
Not “heaps of time.”
SEVENTY DAYS.

And despite Perth throwing everything at us — sideways rain, freezing mornings, wind that feels personal — this incredible community keeps showing up 💪🌧️

This week we logged 🥁 691.4km 🥁
Absolutely wild.

Here’s where we’ve been so far:
📍 Perth
➡️ Sydney
➡️ Brisbane
➡️ Whitsundays
➡️ Cairns
➡️ Cape York
And right now? We’re cruising somewhere around Karumba / the Gulf of Carpentaria in far north-west Queensland 🌴☀️🐊

Think tropical sunshine, warm breezes and postcard sunsets… while we’re over here layering up like we’re training for Antarctica 😂

So where to next?

We keep pushing west along the top of Australia with our sights set on the Northern Territory coastline 🔥 NT… we’re coming.

At this rate, the question isn’t whether we’ll get back to Perth before race day… It’s how far past Perth this insane community will take us 🤯

Every walk.
Every run.
Every hike.
Every treadmill session.
It all counts.

Keep logging those kilometres, legends. Bad weather? No excuses. Just results 💛🚀

And for everyone hanging out for the visual update… hopefully ChatGPT decides to get back on board next week because they are absolutely not playing today. Check. Out. The. Scrap 😅🗺️

🚨 WEEK 9 UPDATE 🚨

Honestly... what weather? 😂🌧️💨

Perth has spent the last week trying to convince us all to stay indoors. Between the rain, wind and freezing mornings, it would've been very easy to skip a session.

Instead, you legends responded with 🥁 685.6km 🥁

Absolutely incredible. 💪

Just when we thought we'd reached peak tropical paradise in Cairns, you've gone and pushed us even further north.

We're now cruising through Cape York Country 🌴☀️🐊

Think tropical beaches, warm ocean breezes, palm trees and sunshine... while we're all back here wringing out our socks and wondering if our morning run qualifies as a swim session 😅

Nine weeks ago we started in Perth.

Since then we've:
✅ Reached Sydney
✅ Smashed through Brisbane
✅ Holidayed in the Whitsundays
✅ Relaxed in Cairns
✅ And now we're exploring Cape York

The craziest part? Only 10 weeks until the Sydney Marathon.

At this rate, the question isn't whether we'll make it... It's whether we can get all the way from Cape York back to Perth before race day! 🤯

Every walk.
Every run.
Every hike.
Every treadmill session.

You continue to prove that bad weather is no match for a community with a goal 💛

Keep logging those kilometres legends. Let's bring this thing home! 🚀