An Indian-origin athlete Rahul Sharma is currently viral all over social media for a feat he achieved for a cause bigger than materialistic priorities. He has set a record for running 566-kilometre across Sri Lanka for children's cancer cause.
Sharma is a Melbourne-based sports and exercise physiologist and ultra-runner who ran across the length of the country in just over six and a half days, raising more than $27,000 for Children's Cancer Institute, a Sydney-based research organisation dedicated to curing childhood cancer.
With this, the 24-year-old former Hong Kong youth cricketer became the fastest person to run across the country from Point Pedro in the north to Dondra Head in the south, completing the challenge in 6 days, 13 hours and 22 minutes. The feat has been verified by the World Book of Records.
His journey has been documented in the film 'Born To Fly' and was undertaken to support the Children's Cancer Institute Australia, with all the donations and proceeds from the run, premiere events and screenings directed towards cancer research.
Who is Rahul Sharma?
Born and raised in Hong Kong, Sharma attended Quarry Bay School and South Island School. He had played at the Hong Kong Cricket Club since he was 10 years old, before representing the country internationally in cricket, including at the under-19 level from 2018-19, when a string of injuries forced him to take time off from the sport.
In 2023, he moved to Australia to complete his Bachelor of Exercise and Sport Science and Master of Clinical Exercise Physiology at Deakin University. Now, he works as a sports and exercise physiologist in Melbourne.
It was during Christmas 2025 that Sharma began to cover the entire length of Sri Lanka running from 4 am to 7 pm each day and surviving on only around three hours of sleep every night. The challenge was made even more complex with the arrival of unexpected setbacks including last-minute changes to his support team, problems with his planned accommodation vehicle and of course, extreme heat.
Temperatures during the run reached up to 32 degrees Celsius, creating severe physical challenges. On the second day, the rubber on his grip socks melted in the heat and became stuck to his foot, requiring his team to cut it away. “On the second last day, I was in so much pain. I ran the first 20km, then walked 60km for the rest of the day,” he said. “It was the worst pain I’ve ever felt in my life.”
The toughest moment came near the end of the journey when exhaustion and pain combined to push him to his limits. However, he persisted and completed the final stage, crediting the support of his family, friends, his crew team and local communities in Sri Lanka for helping him reach the finish line.
Support from across the globe
Sharma's fundraising campaign has received global support, particularly from Hong Kong, where more than half of the donations arrived from Hong Kong, his home country. His former school community also organised relay runs covering 560km in support of his effort.
The documentary Born To Fly, directed by Ali Khajeian, captures Sharma’s journey of endurance, friendship and purpose, highlighting the message behind the campaign: “Dream Like a Kid.”
The film has premiered in Melbourne and Hong Kong, including a charity red-carpet screening attended by community leaders, athletes, educators and supporters.
Sharma said he would consider embarking on a similar run in Hong Kong, but he would have to plan a route creatively, given the city’s far smaller area.
Source: Times of India
--Agencies
