Mom Runs Sydney Marathon to Honor Dad, Raise Mental Health Funds

When Natasha Littler crosses the finish line at the Sydney Marathon this Sunday, she'll be running for the father she lost at age seven and the future she's building for her three sons.

The 36-year-old Adelaide nurse is tackling her seventh marathon in memory of her dad, Garry Rae, who died by suicide after struggling with mental health challenges following his service in the Royal Australian Air Force. "He was a smart man who loved playing Minesweeper," Littler recalls of the father she barely got to know.

Nearly three decades later, Littler has channeled her loss into action. She's raised almost $2,500 for Beyond Blue, joining over 9,200 fundraisers who have collectively contributed more than $12.7 million through the Sydney Marathon.

As a nurse who has worked with mentally unwell patients, Littler sees the progress society has made. "Back in those days, people were just staying silent, encouraged to stay silent," she said. "Whereas now, I feel like people are talking a bit more."

The statistics show why this work matters. Nearly 5 million Australians live with anxiety or depression, and last year more than 300,000 people reached out to Beyond Blue's support service.

Why This Inspires

Littler isn't just running to remember the past. She's racing toward a healthier future for her sons Ryan, 11, Caleb, 10, and Spencer, 7.

The family has made wellness a lifestyle. They participate in 10km races together, attend their local Parkrun each week, and even plan vacations around running events. "They see how happy we are running and how we feel fulfilled afterwards," Littler said.

Her boys will watch the livestream from home with their grandmother, getting inspired by their mom who started running just 10 years ago after the birth of her second child. She's since completed six marathons and discovered running's power to lift her mood. "If I'm not having a great day, I'll go for a run and I'll feel better usually afterwards."

On Sunday morning, Littler and her husband will join over 40,000 runners from 140 countries on a course that starts north of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and finishes at the Opera House. She's aiming for under 4 hours and 30 minutes, powered by months of training that included five-day-a-week runs and distances over 30 kilometers.

But the real finish line is further ahead: a generation of boys who grow up knowing that asking for help is strength, not weakness.