Local athlete, 17-year-old Evan Grass is preparing for a monumental challenge: running 100 miles (160 km) around the IYU Athletics Track in Pakenham to raise money and awareness for people experiencing homelessness.
The run starts at 6pm on Thursday, October 23, and is expected to finish around 6pm the following day. It’s part of Nedd’s Uncomfortable Challenge supporting We Are Mobilise.
Evan was inspired by endurance runner Nedd Brockmann, who a few years ago ran across Australia and also completed 1,000 miles around a track to raise money for homelessness
“Seeing what he achieved made me ask myself, if he can do it, why can’t I?” he said.
While he hasn’t experienced homelessness himself, Evan says the issue feels personal.
“I was brought up to understand that everyone is human, yet we treat people experiencing homelessness as if they don’t exist,” Evan said.
“No one should or deserves to be homeless. For the country we live in, it’s really disheartening that there are still around 122,00 thousand people who don’t know where they will be sleeping that night.”
Preparing for the run has demanded both physical endurance and mental resilience.
Evan trains six to seven days a week, running 60–70km and completing four hours of strength training.
He says the hardest part has been balancing training with his VCE studies, though he feels he has managed both well.
He hopes his run inspires others, particularly young people to recognise their own potential and take action.
“We are the future, we are so innovative but are often disregarded due to our age,” Evan said.
“If more young people were more active in creating change, the change we want, and need would actually happen.”
“We all should try and pursue something that truly fills us with love and joy whether that be through fitness, activism or literally anything.”
Evan’s support network has been essential. His parents are crewing him throughout the run, and his friends will join him on laps to provide motivation.
Through this process, Evan has discovered his own resilience. “I’ve learnt a lot about what I’m capable of,” he said. “I honestly never thought I could do this, but here I am.”
Looking ahead, he is keeping his options open.
“This definitely won’t be the last activism and endurance challenge I do.”
Supporters can follow Evan’s journey and donate via https://www.neddsuncomfortablechallenge.com/fundraisers/EvanGrass/challenge-2025
