Six marathons in six days: AFL/WAFL player running to raise funds for MS

In just six days, school teacher Jarrod Kayler-Thomson has run six marathons — from Cottesloe Beach in Perth to Caves House in Yalingup.

Starting out on December 10, Mr Kayler-Thomson covered the 250km to support people diagnosed with multiple sclerosis by raising money and awareness to help with future research in finding a cure.

Mr Kayler-Thomson, who played more than 200 WAFL games, is now a teacher at Christ Church Grammar School in Perth where he delivers a specialist life skills, values and leadership program for Year 9 boys called On Queenslea Drive or OQD.

He said the inspiration for the epic run came during a drive home to Perth from a family holiday in the South West.

“The training and planning started about six months ago,” he said.

After sacrificing a huge amount of family time and covering 700km in training runs, Mr Kayler-Thomson realised the scale of this challenge.

“This is the hardest thing I have ever done, but I made the meal, so I had to eat it,” he said.

During marathon number four Mr Kayler-Thomson experienced a significant panic attack that his support lead James Crabtree helped him through.

“This was basically a whole week of torture for my whole body,” he said.

About 70 of his family, friends and former OQD students, who had gathered at Caves House, burst into rapturous applause as he crossed the line of the sixth and final marathon.

With the final marathon complete, Mr Kayler-Thomson ran to his waiting family for an emotional reunion.

Leading the support crew for the six marathons was Mr Kayler-Thomson’s good friend Mr Crabtree.

He said covering more than 250km in six days took its toll on Mr Kayler-Thomson both physically and mentally.

During the fourth marathon the support crew, that included a medical school graduate and a physiotherapist, thought Mr Kayler-Thomson would have to pull out.

“He had lost eight toenails and he was in a world on pain,” Mr Crabtree said.

Starting the fifth marathon, the seasoned athlete seemed to find his second wind, and with remarkable grit and determination he pushed through to the finish.

So far the team has raised $40,000 that will go towards vital research into MS.

Donations in support of Mr Kayler-Thomson’s run can be made here https://kissgoodbyetoms.org/fundraiser/cott-2-caves/.