Uplifting moment Aussie who’s running from Perth to Sydney for the homeless breaks down in tears as UFC champ Israel Adesanya sends him a heartfelt message
- Nedd Brockmann is running from Perth to Sydney to raise $1million for charity
- He left on September 1 and plans to cover 100km a day for the next six weeks
- Brockmann received a heartfelt message from UFC star Israel Adesanya
- Adesanya encouraged Brockmann to continue his astonishing quest
- Brockmann is running to raise funds for homeless charity We Are Mobilise
An Australian running from Perth to Sydney to raise funds for a homeless charity was left in tears after receiving a heartfelt message of support from UFC champion Israel Adesanya.
Nedd Brockmann left Perth’s Cottlesloe Beach for Sydney on September 1 and aims to run an astonishing 100 kilometres a day for the next six weeks to cover the 4,000 kilometres separating him from Bondi Beach.
He plans to complete the incredible challenge in 43 days and hopes to raise $1million for homelessness charity We Are Mobilise.
Nedd Brockmann is running from Perth to Sydney to raise $1million for charity
By Monday, Brockmann had covered 1,150kilometres and his spirits were given a timely lift when he received a video message from Adesanya, the reigning UFC middleweight champion.
‘My team have informed me that you’re planning to run from Perth to Bondi Beach,’ Adesanya said in the clip.
‘Now, I don’t know how far that is because even flying from Sydney to Perth is a long time so for you to run from Perth to Bondi Beach it’s f***ing crazy.
‘That’s insane and I respect what you’re doing it for, which is to raise awareness for homelessness and that’s an epidemic that people don’t even talk about.’
Brockmann was surprised by a video message from UFC star Israel Adesanya
Engage, the UFC star’s fight gear brand, released a clip of a visibly emotional Brockmann watching the message on his phone..
In the clip, the ultra-runner struggles to fight back the tears as Adesanya speaks of being taken aback by the number of homeless people in Australia and praises him for putting his body through ‘gruelling pain’ for a great cause.
‘My last time in Adelaide I remember seeing a lot of native people of the land just homeless and it was crazy to me. It was insane,’ he said.
‘You doing this, putting your body through gruelling, excruciating pain and pressure commands my respect. And I respect you for that, I appreciate you. Keep going brother, let’s go.’
The message left the ultra-runner visibly emotional and struggling to hold back the tears
The Aussie was overwhelmed by emotions as he watched Adesanya’s clip
As the clip ends, a tearful Brockmann is overwhelmed by emotions and is comforted by members of his team.
On Monday, the 23-year-old revealed he was temporarily forced to scale back down his plans to cover 100 kilometres a day but remained on track to reach Sydney as planned.
‘I could have pushed today and got the hundred out no problem, but tomorrow would have been a long shot,’ he wrote on Instagram.
‘So today, my crew and I made the hard decision to call it at 42.2km and get a good afternoons/nights rest and hit the ground running/walking tomorrow.
By Monday, Brockmann had covered 1,150kilometres in his gruelling quest
But revealed he had to temporarily scale back down his plans to cover 100 kilometres a day
‘The record for the this run is 43 days, and 39/40 is still the plan. All this means is the final day will be 100km, not 50 anymore.’
Brockmann, from Forbes in New South Wales, isn’t new to embark on seemingly impossible quests. Two years ago, he ran 50 marathons in 50 days to raise funds for the Red Cross.
Speaking to the ABC in July, he revealed he had decided to raise money for homelessness after being shocked by the number of people sleeping rough in Sydney.
