LONG distance runner Lachie Butler has close ties to Moree, and will next month run 250 kilometres across five consecutive days to support the Sydney Breast Cancer Foundation, with funds flowing directly back to Moree District Hospital.
Funds raised will support the donation of specialised breast cancer equipment to Moree Hospital, where his maternal grandmother, Sue Salier, received treatment.
“My grandmother lives on our family farm, about 30 minutes from Bingara, with my uncle Jason,” Lachie said.
“She was diagnosed with breast cancer but sadly it has metastasised and now is in Stage 4. She has opted to not have any more treatment and enjoy what time she has left.
“She is a loving grandma, and very close to all of us grandchildren, including my two brothers and three cousins, and my mum’s aunty and uncle,” he said.
Lachie, 22, lives in Sydney’s eastern suburbs with his parents, Andrew and Pip, and younger brothers, 18-year-old Tommy and 20-year-old Archie brothers.
“My mum was also diagnosed with breast cancer in 2021, but has made a full recovery,” he said.
Lachie is currently studying at University of Technology Sydney.
“I also work at Mirvac, a property development company two days a week as well as my old school, the Scots College, where I tutor boarders, some that come from Moree,” Lachie smiled.
“Everyone in my dad’s side of the family was born at Moree Hospital, so there’s a lot of history there.”
The community is encouraged to follow Lachie’s journey, show support, and contribute to his fundraising efforts HERE.
From June 2 to June 6, Lachie will run 250 kilometres across five consecutive days.
Lachie is not a professional athlete, but a young man with a passion for running, and an even bigger passion for giving back – and his motivation is deeply personal.
Lachie’s grandmother received treatment at Moree Hospital, and funds raised from his run will go directly back to the facility.
For Lachie, this isn’t just a fundraiser – it’s a tribute to his grandmother and a thank-you for the care she received in Moree.
This also isn’t the first time Lachie has run for charity.
Last year, he raised $44,000 for breast cancer support through sheer community spirit and determination. This year, he’s set his sights on beating that record.
Running for his mother and grandmother, Lachie’s 250 kilometre challenge is not only a test of endurance, but a tribute to their strength and the resilience of families across Australia facing breast cancer every day.
“Watching the people closest to me face this disease has changed how I see it, and the importance of doing something about it,” Lachie said.
Over five consecutive days, Lachie will run 50 kilometres each day – the equivalent of nearly six marathons – and push his physical and mental limits in support of a deeply personal cause.
Day one will be a nine kilometre loop for 50 kilometres at Narrabeen lagoon followed by a seven kilometre loop for 50 kilometres bay run at Pyrmont.
On the third day, Lachie will take in the city foreshore in a nine kilometre loop for 50 kilometres.
Day four will be a four kilometre loop for 50 kilometres at Centennial Park and on the last day, Lachie will run a six kilometre loop for 50 kilometres at Rosebay Golf Course.
“My coach currently has me running six days a week, with every run 15 kilometres,” Lachie said.
“I also do three lower body gym sessions and my weekends look a lot like simulations of what I’ll be doing – a lot of backing up my runs and practicing running on tired, or dead, legs.”
Breast cancer remains the most diagnosed cancer among Australian women, with one in seven and one in 555 men diagnosed in their lifetime.
Funds raised through Lachie’s challenge will directly support the donation of specialised breast care equipment to Moree Hospital, where his grandmother received treatment. The level and type of equipment provided will depend on the support raised through community donations.
Beyond fundraising, the initiative also shines a light on the realities faced by many regional Australians, where accessing breast cancer treatment and support can often require travelling long distances for care.
The community is encouraged to follow Lachie’s journey, show support, and contribute to his fundraising efforts HERE.
