In November, Bardon resident Tony Sutton will tackle the Vertical 5km Challenge, a fundraising collaboration between Bloody Long Way Mission and the Leukaemia Foundation.
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The challenge, which calls on participants to climb the equivalent of 5,000 vertical metres over five days, mirrors Tony’s own uphill battle with multiple myeloma, a rare blood cancer diagnosed in 2022.
For Tony, the challenge has personal meaning. A routine visit to his GP in September 2022 revealed that 95 per cent of his bone marrow was filled with multiple myeloma. At just 40 years old, he was confronting a disease most often diagnosed in people over 70.
Amid rounds of chemotherapy, a stem cell transplant and ongoing treatments, Tony found an unexpected refuge on the trails of Mount Coot‑tha. Encouraged by local mates, he began joining morning walks along the Powerful Owl Trail, a 5.6‑kilometre route with 253 metres of elevation.
What began as cautious walks evolved into trail running, becoming a form of movement that helped him process the physical and emotional weight of his diagnosis. By the end of 2023, Tony was running up hills he once thought were impossible, each climb marking a step in his recovery.
About the Vertical 5km Challenge
The Vertical 5km Challenge runs from 26 to 30 November and is focused not on distance but on vertical gain. Participants aim to climb 5,000 vertical metres, either in one session or spread over the five‑day period.
Climbs can take place anywhere — stairs, hills, trails or treadmills — making it accessible across Australia. Whether solo or in a group, every metre helps raise funds for the Leukaemia Foundation, supporting research, patient care and the goal of ending blood cancer by 2035. Participants register online and can record and share their climbs and donations.
Tony’s plan: complete multiple loops of the Powerful Owl Trail each day, climbing from dawn until dusk. He’s inviting the community to join him, even for 20 minutes, or to take on their own #Vertical5kmChallenge. For Tony, each metre gained reflects his own journey of rebuilding strength and perseverance, while also supporting those affected by blood cancer.
His commitment echoes past achievements, such as completing a 100‑kilometre ultra‑marathon earlier this year. But this next climb holds unique personal significance, as it mirrors the physical and emotional challenges he has faced since that life‑changing phone call in 2022.
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Supporters can back Tony by donating to his campaign or by taking up the Vertical 5km Challenge themselves. Every step taken and every dollar raised helps the Leukaemia Foundation continue its work in improving outcomes for Australians affected by blood cancer.
Published 7-November-2025
