There are moments that remind us why we run, moments that cut deeper, lift higher, and stay with us forever. Running alongside Spencer for a short while from Melbourne to Portsea was one of those moments.
This wasn’t just a run. This was a tribute. A mission of love, loss, and determination. A 100km journey to honour his mum’s memory, to raise money for the Peter MacCallum Cancer Foundation, and to show all of us what resilience truly looks like.
A Run With a Purpose
Spencer didn’t take on 100km for the headlines or the medals. He ran to make a difference. He ran to turn grief into hope, to transform the ache of losing his mum to cancer into action that would help others.
Around the 40km mark, Spencer pulled his calf, a moment that would stop most people in their tracks. But not Spence. He dug in, gritted his teeth, and kept moving. Because he knew the finish line mattered, but the reason he was crossing it mattered even more.
And when he arrived in Portsea, hundreds were there to welcome him home. Family, friends, locals, strangers, all united in awe and admiration.
A Special Journey, Shared
For me, this was already a trip to treasure, made even more special because I shared it with my six-year-old son. To stand beside him and watch a young man pour his heart out on the road, to see him witness what determination, heart, and community look like, that’s a memory we'll both carry for life.
Meeting Spencer’s circle made it even richer. His grandparents, salt-of-the-earth people whose quiet strength explained so much about him. His mum’s best friend, who told me how much she cherished the podcast Spencer and I did together, the one where Spence showed up raw and real, no mask, just himself.
This wasn’t just a solo mission. It was a village effort, and that village showed up in force.
A Ripple That Became a Wave
From the YB x Spencer hat collab alone, we raised $4,500, but Spencer’s effort didn’t stop there. He raised over $68,552 for Peter Mac, an incredible figure that will help drive research, treatment, and hope for families facing what his own family faced.
That’s not just running. That’s impact. That’s legacy.
The Man Behind the Mission
Spencer’s story is one of courage, heart, and quiet heroism. He showed up when it hurt. He kept going when his body wanted to quit. And he made sure that every step counted for something bigger than himself.
That’s the kind of runner, the kind of person, who reminds us what this is all really about. Not PBs, not medals, not accolades. It’s about purpose. About lifting others. About showing that even in our hardest moments, we can be a force for good.
What’s Next
Portsea was a finish line, but it’s also the start of something bigger. Spencer’s journey has already touched hearts and opened eyes. And knowing him, this is just the beginning of the impact he’ll make.
And yeah, the Yeah Buddy crew will be there, every step of the way.
Spencer, you didn’t just run 100km. You ran with love, with purpose, with fire. You ran for your mum, and you ran for all the people who needed to see that light at the end of the road.
We couldn’t be prouder to stand behind you.
Rest up, legend. But not for too long.
We’ll see you at the next start line.
yb x