The starting line of a marathon can stir up many emotions. But while preparing to hit the pavement at last year’s Nike Melbourne Marathon, Ryan Gormly (36) never expected to see a familiar charity logo so close to his heart. “I was lining up for the race when I saw a Very Special Kids t-shirt. I couldn’t believe it because my daughter was staying at their children’s hospice that same day.” Ryan’s five-year-old daughter Annie has a rare life-limiting condition called Aicardi syndrome – Annie cannot eat by herself, she is wheelchair bound and requires round-the-clock support from her loving par ..read more

If you’ve ever had a pet, you know the joy, support and companionship your furry friend can bring.  That’s why Pets of the Homeless (POTH) works to keep vulnerable people and their pets together by alleviating the burden of providing essential pet care during times of hardship.  Through the provision of pet food and supplies, veterinary care and safe shelter, POTH works to ensure that the important bond between a person and their companion animal is never broken.  Jessica and Zeus meant everything to each other. When Jessica’s heart failed and she faced hospitalisation and reha ..read more

Childhood cancer is not simply adult cancer in a child, they are often different in their causes, the way they grow and spread, and how they respond to treatment. In Australia, more than 1000 children and adolescents are diagnosed with cancer each year. Cancer kills three children every week and of those children that do survive, 70% suffer long-term effects from their treatment. Children’s Cancer Institute exists solely to put an end to childhood cancer by raising vital funds to support critical medical research that will help save hundreds of young lives across Australia every year. With you ..read more

When Bonnie was only two weeks old, her parents and doctor noticed that her vision was not tracking the way it should and she was referred to an ophthalmologist and connected with Vision Australia.  Bonnie was diagnosed with oculomotor apraxia, a neurological disorder that causes problems with voluntary horizontal eye movement. Children with this condition have difficulty moving their eyes in a desired direction. ‘‘We had an idea of what we thought she could see, but it was reassuring to hear from a professional to say yes, she can see up to 20cm, bright objects, shiny things and some ad ..read more

Taneille Brann, 39, is travelling all the way from Darwin to Melbourne this October to fulfill a goal she set herself ten years ago after giving birth to her firstborn son eight weeks early – to run a marathon before she turns 40! When Taneille saw that the charity Running for Premature Babies is a headline charity of this year’s Nike Melbourne Marathon she knew this had to be ‘her’ race, and she signed up as a Running for Premature Babies Charity Superstar. Taneille says that it’s the memories of the six weeks her son Tom spent in hospital following his premature birth due ..read more

Running for a charity is one of the primary ways to GUARANTEE your spot in the Nike Melbourne Marathon and Nike Half Marathon. We now have more charity opportunities available!  We are excited to announce nine new charity options for you to run with heart for. These have more limited guaranteed spots available, so act quickly to secure yours. Select from the list of charities below that you connect most closely with and apply to be a Charity Superstar for the Nike Melbourne Marathon Festival. All you need to do is sign up a Charity Runner for one of our incredible Charity Partne ..read more

The Nike Half Marathon has officially reached general capacity! With two events already at capacity we are so excited for a massive 2024 #melbmara, and we want to make sure you have a chance to secure a spot on course! The Waitlist for the Nike Half Marathon is NOW OPEN, by joining the waitlist you will be the first to learn when registration opportunities become available.  SIGN UP TO THE WAITLIST By signing up to the Waitlist, you are registering your interest to be the first to know when registration opportunities become available for a sold out race category. Registrations secure ..read more

Run For A Cause at the Nike Melbourne Marathon Festival! Sign up a Charity Runner for our Platinum Charity Partner, Running for Premature Babies, and commit to raising $2,000 or more in return for a GUARANTEED and FREE entry into the event of your choice. In Australia, 1 in 10 babies are born prematurely, which equates to 26,000 babies every year. Many of these babies require Neonatal Intensive Care, which is one of the most expensive parts of health care. Caring for a premature baby can cost anywhere between $3,500 and $10,000 per day.  Running for Premature Babies is proud to support th ..read more

Year after year, Australia’s Premier Marathon Festival the Nike Melbourne Marathon Festival is growing more and more popular. 2023 saw record breaking numbers with 4 race categories selling out well before Race Day. The 2024 event went on sale at the end of November and resulted in the Marathon reaching general allocation capacity in under 48 hours. To be the first to know when registration opportunities become available, join our waitlist below. SIGN UP TO THE WAITLIST How can you access a registration for an event that has reached the General Allocation capacity? Learn more about the avenue ..read more

Year after year, Australia’s Premier Marathon Festival continues to grow more and more popular.  The 2024 event is no different with the 42.195km Nike Melbourne Marathon reaching general allocation capacity in under 48 hours. To be the first to know when registration opportunities become available, join our waitlist below. SIGN UP TO THE WAITLIST By signing up to the Waitlist, you are registering your interest to be the first to know when registration opportunities become available for a sold out race category. Registrations secured through our Waitlist are very limited. Waitlis ..read more