Impact Week: “Why I run the TCS Sydney Marathon”

All of our runners have a reason to strive for the finish line. For some, that’s a personal goal, a fitness goal or something… bigger. This week, Impact Week, we’re sharing the stories of those runners who are raising awareness for different charities. 

For Shathusan, running the TCS Sydney Marathon is the perfect way to honour his turbulent start in life as a premature baby in a war zone. His run is dedicated to the Australian charity, Running for Premature Babies, and this is his story. 

Sathu’s story

“Born in the heart of conflict in Jaffna, Sri Lanka, my very first breath was a victory over impossible odds. My mum, carrying me in her womb during a time of war between freedom fighters and the government, faced hardships that no expectant mother should endure. Amidst a curfew that kept everyone indoors and chaos echoing through our streets, my family’s courage shone through.

One dark night, with no transport available and the sound of distant battles filling the air, my brave father set out with my mum and grandmother. Their only hope was our neighbour’s humble bullock cart – a lifeline that carried them through the night to a hospital that offered little comfort.

At the hospital, there was no doctor and hardly any facilities; a duty nurse helped my mum bring me into the world. But without even an incubator, I was sent back home wrapped in prayers, as a fragile, premature baby.

Every breath was a victory. Every day, a miracle.

Yet my survival was no accident. With the tender care of my parents and grandmother, and the ancient wisdom of Ayurveda from my great-uncle – an Ayurvedic doctor whose clinic was nearby – I was nurtured back to health. Every moment of my early days was a battle, a fight to prove that even the tiniest spark can ignite a flame of hope.

Today, as I prepare to run the TCS Sydney Marathon, I carry with me the spirit of resilience that marked my very first fight for life. I am forever grateful to my family for their unwavering love and determination, which gave me the strength to overcome those dire circumstances.

Now, I dedicate my journey to supporting the charity Running for Premature Babies – a cause that ensures future fighters have the help I once so desperately needed.

My story is one of survival, courage, and hope – a reminder that even in the darkest times, the human spirit can triumph. I share it not just to remember where I came from, but to empower others, to inspire those who face their own battles, and to support the cause that continues to save precious lives every day.

I run:

• For parents who face that heart-stopping moment when their child fits in one palm

• For nurses who become angels in scrubs

• For modern medicine that gives preemies what I never had – fighting chance after fighting chance

Today, I’m racing to pay forward the gift I was given; the chance to grow from a fragile beginning into a man who can run marathons.”

If you’d like to get involved and run for charity, read more about how you can make an impact here. We’ll see you at the start line!

Unlock more than the finish line…

At the TCS Sydney Marathon presented by ASICS we believe you deserve more than just a finisher medal. With Seven Rewards, your running journey just begins. Join up and you’ll get exclusive access to tickets, once-in-a-lifetime giveaways, partner discounts, VIP run club and community invites, limited-edition merchandise, and more. Your run, your rewards! Find out more.