After losing his dad, Bryan, to liver cancer, Jason decided to honour his memory by taking on a challenge he had always wanted to attempt: running 100 miles.

“The run was a way for me to honour Dad’s memory, work through the grief of losing him, and turn a personal challenge into something positive. It gave me the opportunity to raise awareness of liver cancer, encourage important conversations about the disease, and raise much-needed funds for the Liver Foundation,” Jason said.

For Jason, Bryan was the heart of their family.

“He was the one who kept everyone connected, always picking up the phone to check in, share news, and make sure no one ever felt forgotten or left out.”

He was also Jason’s best friend, biggest supporter and someone who always encouraged him to keep going.

“Whenever I doubted myself or thought I wasn’t capable of something, he always seemed to know exactly what to say. He believed in me, even during the times when I struggled to believe in myself, and that belief gave me the confidence to keep going.”

It was this belief Jason would draw on throughout the challenge ahead.

A cancer survivor himself, Jason knew the challenge of the 100-mile run would test him both physically and mentally.

Getting to the start line took months of preparation. After a long period without consistent training, Jason began with a 12-week program to rebuild his fitness before moving straight into a 16-week training program for the 100-mile race.

There were days when motivation was hard to find, but Jason kept his focus on the bigger goal and the reason he had chosen to run.

Then came the 100 miles. Jason set out on the Delirious West 100 miler along Western Australia’s Bibbulmun Track.

Along the way, Jason faced blisters, shoulder pain and problems with his right glute. His heart rate monitor stopped working, disrupting the pacing strategy he had carefully planned, and at several points he found himself off course.

During the toughest moments, he thought about his dad.

“During an event like this, you inevitably go through some dark patches, and whenever those moments came, I found myself thinking about Dad. I would often ask him to help me through, reminding myself that I was doing this in his honour.”

There was even room for a little humour. When his heart rate monitor stopped working, Jason remembers jokingly yelling at his dad to “stop playing games with me and get it working again.”

What kept him moving forward was knowing the run was about something far greater than himself. Every kilometre was in support of Liver Foundation and in honour of his dad’s memory.

“His memory gave me strength when my body was hurting and my mind was beginning to doubt. There were several moments that became quite emotional, and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t have a tear in my eye more than once.”

Jason kept putting one foot in front of the other until, after 100 miles, he crossed the finish line! An incredible achievement that Liver Foundation is so proud to celebrate!

For Jason, “it was never just about the distance. It was about honouring my dad, supporting a cause that’s close to my heart, and hopefully making a difference for others affected by liver cancer.”

“I wanted to do him proud, and I hope that through the challenge, the fundraising, and simply refusing to give up when things got tough, I was able to honour his memory in a way that would have made him proud too.”

A huge thank you to Jason and everyone who supported his challenge. Together, you raised $9,418 in Bryan’s memory, helping to support research, advocacy, and families affected by liver disease and liver cancer.

After taking several months off to recover and reset, Jason is now back in training and preparing for a 50km race at the end of the year. “The finish line wasn’t really the end,” he said, “it was simply the beginning of the next challenge… The lessons, memories, and motivation it gave me continue to drive me forward every day.”

You have the power to make a real difference

If Jason’s story has inspired you to take on your own challenge or fundraise in memory of someone you love, find out more about how you can get involved here.