Terminal brain cancer sufferer Richard Scolyer has hit a fitness milestone that he feared he wouldn’t live to acheive.
Professor Scolyer, who co-directs the Melanoma Institute, was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2023 but experimental treatment initially kept the disease at bay.
In March however, doctors told him an aggressive glioblastoma had returned meaning he had just months to live.
Glioblastoma is one of the most aggressive types of brain cancer and causes fast-growing tumors to develop in the brain or spinal cord.
After hearing the news, Professor Scolyer vowed to make the most of what little time he had left and pledged to complete 250 park runs.
He was surrounded by friends and family when he crossed his latest finish line in Haberfield in Sydney on Saturday.
Professor Scolyer donned a special t-shirt to commemorate the occasion and was met with three balloons spelling out ‘250’ at the finish line.
Despite the rain Professor Scolyer told those who were out waiting for him that he was glad to make the most of the time he had left.
Professor Richard Scolyer completed his 250th parkrun since being diagnosed with terminal brain cancer in March
Prof Scolyer was joined by his wife Katie Nicoll on the run while other family members waited for him at the finish line in west Sydney on Saturday
Professor Scolyer became emotional when he began thanking everyone for their support.
‘My heart’s touched … one of the challenges of having cancer is the worry for the future but there is more to life,’ he said.
‘We are all going to end up at some period where we’re going to finish our lives, I want to make the most of my time.’
The former Australian of the Year said ‘it was a beautiful day’ after finishing the park run alongside his wife Katie Nicoll.
Professor Scolyer’s daughter Emily, 21, son Matt, 19, older brother Mark and his partner Anna waited at the finish line with cupcakes to celebrate.
Ms Nicoll only started joining her husband on runs after he became sick but managed to run her personal best time for his 250th park run.
A park run is a 5km timed run, open to walkers, joggers, and runners of all ages and abilities which is often hosted by local communities on weekends.
The run was Haberfield’s biggest as 590 runners showed up to support Professor Scolyer.
After being told by doctors that he had months to live Prof Scolyer vowed to run 250 park runs while he still could
Prof Scolyer said he now has his eyes tentatively set on the City2Surf in August
Emily said ‘time is not promised’ which made her father’s goal so much more special.
His family said they were prioritising spending whatever time remained since doctors told them it might only be a matter of months before he dies.
In March, the family were able to organise a trip to Tasmania to celebrate Professor Scolyer’s father’s 90th birthday.
Looking towards the future, Professor Scolyer said he had signed up for the City2Surf on August 10.
The family are optimistic that he will be able to run the event and Ms Nicoll said she had seen her husband sneaking out for occasional run in preparation.
