Running Home is a 170km ultra-endurance fundriasing challenge from Sydney to Newcastle to raise awareness and funds for people experiencing homelessness. It starts on 25 October 2025 - and is connected to Nedd's Uncomfortable Challenge. This is more than a run - it’s Natalia’s way of giving back to the community that gave her hope and a home when she had nothing, experiencing homelessness herself as a child. Every donation helps break the cycle of homelessness, supporting the work of Samaritans in Newcastle.

I am a 24-year-old runner and final-year Physiotherapy student. Running changed my life. My journey hasn’t been easy. I spent much of my childhood in foster care, youth refuges, and unstable housing. At 15, the Samaritans gave me a stable home for nearly four years, and that safety changed everything. Since my first marathon in 2023, I’ve fallen in love with running - not just for the physical challenge, but for the community, the resilience it’s built in me, and the purpose it’s given me. Now, I’m using that passion to help others who are walking the path I once did.

Starting at Observatory Hill Park in Sydney on Saturday 25 October, Natalia will run throughout the night, finishing in Newcastle on Sunday 26 October - covering a distance of 170 kilometres in 24 hours. This isn’t just a physical challenge - Running Home is symbolic of the journey from uncertainty to hope. The target is $122,000 representing the 122,000 people experiencing homelessness on any night - based data from the 2021 Census.

Samaritans Student Accommodation provides safe, stable housing to those 16-25 years of age who are at risk of or experiencing homelessness. Samaritans service offers supported accommodation, education and employment opportunities. The accommodation is for up to four years, and young people are engaged with a support provider for the duration. All donations on this webpage will be be provided to Samaritans through We Are Mobilise's Kickstarter Program.