In a remarkable display of camaraderie and resilience, nine boys from Avondale University, set out on their own 10 day Nedd’s Uncomfortable Challenge. Nedd Brockman, a 24 year old electrician from Sydney, Australia, became a household name when he ran from Perth to Bondi in just 46 days in 2022. The purpose of the run? To inspire people to do more for themselves and for the homeless. Always pushing his limits, his latest feat #NeddsUncomfortableChallenge saw Nedd raise almost $5M for Homelessness.
Known as Tired & Inspired for this challenge, the Avondale boys set out to run 12.8km every day to raise money for those experiencing homelessness. Initially aiming to raise a few hundred, their ambitions rose to $1,610—one dollar for every kilometer Nedd ran. Remarkably, they reached this goal by the third day and ultimately almost tripled it, raising a total of $4,663 (as of November 5th).
“On ABS Census night in 2021, more than 122,000 people were estimated to be experiencing homelessness in Australia.”
– Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, Australian Government
One of the participants Harry Callaghan said “I was inspired by Nedd himself as he was just such a relatable guy who was a sparkie from the country, yet he was able to make such a difference. Everyone always thinks about or says they would love to make a difference but very rarely act upon those thoughts, but Nedd did so it just gave me inspiration to make a challenge for myself.” After sharing with his friends 5 boys travelled to Sydney eager to witness Nedd’s Uncomfortable Challenge. This experience ignited their enthusiasm, and as they returned a few days later and their team grew from five to nine. The group also made a memorable impression with a “fat lady ain’t singing” sign referencing a previous Instagram post in which Nedd’s quote of the day was “It ain’t over until the fat lady sings, and she ain’t singing”. This humorous gesture not only lightened the mood as this day was particularly tough for Nedd but also caught his attention, further deepening their connection to his cause. The boys found it incredibly inspiring to witness someone so dedicated to making a difference, reinforcing their own commitment to their challenge.
Despite being split for a few days and having to persist with the challenge separately, the boys carried on even in hot and remote conditions. When reunited they kept each other motivated which made even the toughest days manageable. Jarrod Sinclair emphasised the importance of teamwork: “Surround yourself with people that are going to help you achieve it.”
On their final day, the ’Tired & Inspired’ initially felt disappointment as they arrived to find that no one had shown up to support them. The empty space at the start line left them feeling disheartened. However, as they did more laps around the University, something remarkable happened. Jarrod recalled, “In my head, I was like, no one’s there. And then it was just kind of caught us off guard when we came around the corner and everyone was there cheering us on. It was pretty sick.” The energy of their friends and supporters propelled them forward, creating a powerful sense of community. As they completed their final laps, the atmosphere was electric. Tanner remarked, “Everyone made posters with our faces on it and tacky cool posters. It was amazing” The boys celebrated their achievement, capturing the moment with photos and cheers, marking not only their accomplishment but also raising money and awareness for homelessness.
Harry’s piece of encouragement to anyone considering a similar challenge: “Just get out there and try something, have a crack. You never know what you are capable of if you do not try. Nedd says it best, but it is so true: ‘Get comfortable being uncomfortable, just keep putting one foot in front of the other and keep showing up.’”
Through their dedication, these nine boys have not only made a difference in their community but have also embodied the spirit of support and perseverance that Nedd Brockman inspires in all of us.
Tired & Inspired:
Harry Callaghan
Jarrod Sinclair
Tanner Hagen
Elijah Morton
Justin Renfrew
Nathan Smith
Reuben Thomas
Ben Lewis
Sonny Martin
You can still donate to Tired & Inspired: https://www.neddsuncomfortablechallenge.com/fundraisers/TiredInspired