On Sunday, 42 people ran 42km across Sydney’s CBD for the TCS Sydney Marathon, raising over $135,000 for the RFDSSE. With a record-breaking 41,000 people taking part in the marathon, spotting runners in RFDS red and blue made cheering them on even more special.
For the first time ever, the Royal Flying Doctor Service is an official Gold Charity Partner of the TCS Sydney Marathon, giving 35 people the chance to run for the RFDS.
Quickly becoming one of the world’s fastest-growing races, the Sydney Marathon has attracted tens of thousands of runners and even larger crowds. In 2026, more than 123,000 people applied for a spot on the start line.
Stretching from North Sydney to the iconic Opera House the course sits alongside some of the biggest marathons in the world.
The marathon elevates the RFDS to an international audience, reminding people of the essential healthcare services that are provided, connecting Australians when distance provides a huge challenge.
The people behind the stories
In the South Eastern Section, about half of our funding comes from donations, gifts, bequests and other RFDS initiatives, such as merchandise sales. Every donation has a deep and profound impact, allowing healthcare to go wherever it’s needed most.
What made the event all the more important was the personal connection so many RFDS runners had to the cause. Many worked across healthcare, aviation, or related fields, while others grew up in regional and remote Australia and have personally benefitted from our services. Each understood firsthand just how vital access to healthcare can be.
For one of our VIP runners Chris Fyvie, RFDS provided access to care to him in a sudden moment of need when he experienced a tight chest and breathlessness. “The service was there to get me closer to family, friends, and medical assistance - I felt really relieved.” Now fitted with a defibrillator and back in strong health, Chris was given the ok to participate in the marathon through consultation with his doctors. We are delighted to share that Chris set the Guiness World Record for the fastest marathon by a man with a subcutaneous defibrillator (S-ICD) with a time of 3 hours, 36 minutes and 27 seconds.
Another VIP runner, John McKillop, has spent much of his career in rural and regional Australia as the CEO of Stanbroke Pastoral Company, S Kidman & Co and Hancock Agriculture. He’s seen firsthand situations in which the unpredictability of livestock on stations can create the need for urgent first responder treatment. “I’d emphasise the remoteness. You might be out at Bourke, and you’re 300 kilometres from Dubbo. Time is so critical when someone’s bleeding or may have a life-threatening injury, so having the ability to get there quickly is so important.” Raising money and running the TCS Sydney Marathon for the third time on Sunday felt all the more important to him given the critical work we deliver across NSW.
The big day
Making the day run smoothly was all thanks to the volunteers. Sunday started incredibly early, for some even before the sun was up. More than 60 volunteers showed up for us on the day, with staff, families and supporters all turning out to cheer, hydrate, guide and encourage runners throughout the event.
A huge thank you to everyone who gave their time and energy on the day to keep participants safe, hydrated and motivated as they pushed on towards the finish line. As well as being brilliant cheerleaders, our volunteers were hard at working mixing bin-sized amounts of Powerade and water to hand out to passing runners, helping sweep rubbish from the streets post-marathon, and filling in wherever they were needed – doing it all with big smiles on their faces.
Some marathon stats
The fastest of our runners was Craig Gear who finished in 3 hours, 3 minutes and 11 seconds, followed very closely by Tom Parish 3 minutes and one second later.
Special mention goes to Chris Fyvie who set the Guinness World Record for the fastest marathon by a man with a subcutaneous defibrillator in 3 hours, 36 minutes and 27 seconds.
Other stand outs included strong performances from our female runners, with the fastest being Sarah Coleman finishing in 3 hours, 36 minutes and 37 seconds – a fantastic achievement on such a challenging and busy course.
Across the entire day, six Guinness World Records were set on the Sydney course. These included the fastest marathon by a man with multiple myeloma, the fastest women’s marathon time while dressed as a scout, and several memorable records for runners completing the course in unusual costumes, including a can, a reptile and traditional Bhutanese dress.
A massive congratulations to everyone who participated, fundraised, volunteered and cheered on the day. Your enthusiasm, generosity and connection to RFDS helped make the marathon a memorable and meaningful event.
