Jayden Bootsma’s epic run for Kids Cancer Support Group honouring cousin Zara Horley turns into community feat

Jayden Bootsma’s one-man endurance feat for a children’s cancer charity turned into a touching community effort as the people of his late cousin’s hometown rallied to share the journey and remember the young fighter. Now resting at his Hamilton Hill home after finishing his epic nine-day run from Perth Children’s Hospital to his football club’s home ground in Albany on Saturday, the 29-year-old said, despite the challenges, he is very proud of the effort. The North Albany player raised money for Kids Cancer Support Group, the charity that supported his cousin, Darkan teenager Zara Horley, in her final months before she died from leukemia last year. Bootsma trained for the ultra-marathon all year, but a brutal leg infection acquired sometime on day four of the run forced a rethink of the epic 585km run. “It didn’t turn out exactly how we envisioned it at the beginning,” Bootsma said. “I must have got a cut or a nick somewhere on the way but nothing was bleeding so I kept going, but then on day four I woke up and my foot was blown up and I could barely walk. “It sort of reduced me to a walk for the best part of five days because I couldn’t run at all, and I just trudged through to the end.” With a detour via Albany Highway cutting off 85km from the planned 585km route and the swollen foot slowing him down, Bootsma feared he wouldn’t be able to live up to his promise. The community of Zara’s hometown in Darkan were more than happy to pick up the slack, however. “It was just awesome to see — people you wouldn’t think that would be able to walk as far as they did just getting it in there and getting it done,” Bootsma said. “Other families in the Darkan community who knew Zara or parents of her friends, they all just chipped in to do five or 10km here and there — a couple of ladies did up to 30km in a day, which was huge. “Those last five days were a bit of a group effort, us all sharing the kilometres a bit to get it done. “It took a lot to kick me off the road, because I’m a pretty stubborn sort of guy, but they said ‘no you have to get your health sorted’. “It speaks to the reason why we’re doing it and what we’re raising for and it does bring out the best in people.” About 30 people joined for the final kilometres into Collingwood Park, including his father Brad and his young family. As of Wednesday, Bootsma had surpassed his $20,000 fundraising goal by $50, not including the money from a silent auction. “Although it’s not as scripted, it’s probably how it’s meant to be and how Zara would have wanted it to be, with everyone bonding together having some laughs along the way,” he said. “Looking back at the experience, its not something I’ll forget anytime soon.” Donations for Zara’s run will be open to the end of the year and can be made via my.cause page — Jayden’s run for children’s cancer.