John’s ultra-marathon may be over, but his $10,000 fundraising target for Royal North Shore’s aged care services is still on track.
When John Barnard-Richardson set out to run the Ultra Trail Jervis Bay to raise funds for acute aged care services at Royal North Shore Hospital, he didn’t expect the challenge to grow by four extra kilometres before he’d even begun.
At the pre-race briefing, runners were told of a last-minute course change, extending the already gruelling 106km ultramarathon to a daunting 110km. “It doesn’t sound like much, but when you’re about to run all day and into the night, it was a curveball,” says John. “I barely slept that night wondering if I’d planned enough to go the extra distance.”
With a solid start and smooth first half, John was feeling strong—until kilometre 69, when a nasty fall left him face down, bruised, scraped and shaken. “I tripped on a tree root and hit the ground hard. My emergency alert nearly contacted my wife before I stopped it,” he said. “But with the help of a fellow runner and my amazing support team, I pulled myself together. Only 41km to go, right?”
As night fell, John pushed on. He crossed the finish line 13 hours, 48 minutes, and 56 seconds after starting, well ahead of his goal time, and with his mission accomplished.
The NORTH Foundation is continuing to support John’s campaign, with funds going directly to initiatives that provide comfort, connection and dignity for older patients at Royal North Shore Hospital. And John isn’t done yet—he’s already lacing up for his next fundraising challenges to keep aged care in the spotlight.
First up is the City2Surf on 10 August 2025—the world’s largest fun run. Covering 14km from Sydney’s CBD to Bondi Beach, John will be running alongside 80,000+ participants. “Loneliness won’t be an issue on this one,” he says. “My goal is to reach the finish line on the hour—or less!”
Then in on 15 November, John takes on the Queenstown Marathon in New Zealand—a 42.2km course through lakes, rivers, gardens and mountains. With a mix of trail and road, it’s a new kind of challenge. “I’m drawn to the natural beauty and the variety of terrain,” he says. “These runs will keep me fit—physically and mentally—and give me time to shape the next phase of my fundraising campaign for aged care in 2026.”
To contribute to John’s efforts, visit: north-foundation.raisely.com/john-barnard-richardson
