There are journeys that measure distance. There are journeys that are measured by time. And then there are journeys that measure depth of courage, of compassion, of what it means to truly show up. Brooke’s 777 Bravehearts challenge wasn’t just about kilometres logged or the marathon medals collected. It was about heart. And hers proved boundless.
She set out to complete 7 marathons in 7 days across 7 states to raise money and awareness for Bravehearts, a mission driven in protecting and empowering children. That alone would have been enough. But what unfolded across those first 5 marathons revealed something greater. A kind of quiet, yet colourful, steely strength. A transformation not just in body, but in purpose.
Brooke didn’t just run, she gave. She taught. She led.
And then, with all the grace in the world, she showed us that stopping isn’t the opposite of strength. Sometimes, it’s the clearest sign of it.
The Marathon Within the Marathon
From the moment she pulled on here running shoes (and there were quite a few sets!), Brooke ran not just for the finish line, but for something far more sacred: the children who deserve safety, dignity, and a voice. Every step echoed with the names and stories of those Bravehearts seeks to protect. And with every city, every crowd, every stride, Brooke made sure they were seen.
She dribbled and kicked a ball around Adelaide in a symbol of lightness amidst the heaviness. A reminder that hope isn’t just an idea. It’s something you can hold, throw, catch, and share. That simple act? It lit up faces. It started conversations, even leading to a supporter joining her for a leg of her marathon. It spread joy. In the middle of pain, she made space for play.
That’s who Brooke is.
Completing five marathons in five days would break most people. But Brooke? She bent and refused to break. She listened to her body. She honoured her limits. And in doing so, she reminded all of us that the bravest thing we can do sometimes is pause.
Not because the dream died.
But because the mission was already alive.
I will forever be grateful that I got to see Brooke in Hobart with my family after her 4th and favourite Marathon. A moment we will all hold dear.
The money she raised was phenomenal. $13,185, with even more to come from the sale of her incredible Yeah Buddy x Brooke cap. The awareness she sparked? Unquantifiable. And the personal transformation, the kind that doesn’t show up in photos or timesheets, was profound.
You could see it in her eyes. Hear it in her voice. Feel it in our podcast episode, a conversation I’ll treasure forever. Because it wasn’t just about running. It was about healing. About stepping into strength through softness. About leading with empathy in a world obsessed with ego.
Brooke x Yeah Buddy: Purpose Over Perfection
Brooke didn’t run to impress. She ran to express. To express love. Compassion. Fierce protection for the vulnerable. And for that and so much more, she is family.
At Yeah Buddy, we talk a lot about movement as medicine, about running as rebellion, about sport as story. Brooke is that story. One of transformation, not just in muscles but in mindset. One of someone who set out to complete a race and ended up igniting something far bigger.
The Yeah Buddy Run Team stood behind her the whole way and now, we stand beside her as she comes home, head held high, legacy intact.
Brooke, you may not have crossed every finish line on that map, but make no mistake: you completed the mission.
You raised awareness. You raised spirits. You raised the bar on what it means to run with meaning.
You ran with empathy. With elegance. With the kind of strength that doesn’t shout, but instead whispers: “I’m still here. I’m still moving. And I’m doing it for something bigger than me.”
Welcome home, Brooke.
You are, and always will be a force. We’re so proud. So moved. So inspired.
Rest up, legend. But keep those laces close.
There are still so many kilometres and lives, left to impact.
yb x