General News
24 April, 2025
Isak runs for sick children
Inspired by his own experience as a child, Ultra marathon runner Isak Ketsakidis embarked on a dash for cash between Stawell and Melbourne to raise money for the Royal Children's Hospital through the Good Friday Appeal.
"The hospital saved my life and I want to help give other sick children the same help so they can enjoy life," he said.
He has a target of $20,000.
When he was two, he was diagnosed with hydrocephalus, and at four he needed surgery and became an outpatient of the RCH until he was 17.
This experience impressed upon him the importance of the life-saving services the hospital provided.
Due to the implanted shunt, he was unable to play contact sports such as football and soccer so athletics seemed like the best option for someone who wanted to take part in sport.
He began his recent sen-day run at Beaufort with the Beaufort Lake Park Runners keeping him company.
Moving on to Stawell he lapped the Gift's venue at Central Park and then he took in 75 laps around the North Park's athletics running track before heading for Ararat to lap Alexandra Oval.
Mayor Karen Hyslop, deputy mayor Justine Hide and Cr Jack Blake cheered him on through out the second leg of his run between Stawell and Melbourne.
However for this marathon runner, this is a run with a difference.
Instead of running along the highway between the start and finish line, he will lap parks and ovals along the way recording a running total to the flag fall.
This is not Mr Ketsakidis first marathon nor is it the first time he has let his legs do the talking.
He has run many half marathons, full marathons and ultra-marathons with first one between Melbourne and Sydney in 1997 sparking his interest to take part in others.
"I ran from Melbourne to Sydney to raise money to repay the hospital," he said.
Many of his marathons have also been for hospitals or other worthy causes.
His next lap will be in Ballarat at Wendouree Lake, and then on to Ballan Football Oval.
Heading for the flag fall, he'll run from Footscray Park to the Royal Children''s Hospital and Marvel Stadium with his eye on the finish line at Albert Park where he hopes other runners will join him.
"It can get lonely running alone," he said.
Mr Ketsakidis began planning his run with a call to this newspaper last year to gauge support.
He received approval from the Good Friday Appeal committee, met with mayors across the route he planned to run and visited the communities he'd run through, travelling from Melbourne each time to meet face to face.
He said he was grateful for the support he had received when planning and visiting the towns on his run and planned to return to Stawell on Easter weekend to attend the Stawell Gift.
To donate to the Good Friday Appeal through Mr Ketsakidis' fundraiser visit: http//fubdraise.goodfridayappeal.com.au/event/view/isakdashforcash.