Pair run Sydney to Disneyland for stroke

After two touches of cancer and one stroke in the past five years, Sydney couple, Samantha and David Colden now make every day count.

This September, Samantha and David will travel to Disneyland, California where they will run a five kilometre, 10 kilometre and a Half Marathon on three consecutive days as part of the Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend. 

In 2014, the pair made the trip to Disneyland for Samantha to fulfil a lifelong dream of running the Disney half marathon after a battle with thyroid cancer. Later than year, David suffered a devastating stroke that was a frightening wake-up call for both of them. 

Now the couple is travelling back to Disneyland to celebrate surviving two of Australia’s biggest killers – stroke and cancer – while raising funds and awareness for the Stroke Foundation.

“We feel incredibly lucky that we are both healthy enough to be able to run our dreams into reality, and even better that we can do it together,” Samantha said.

“However, we want this experience to make a difference not just to our own lives, but also to those of others. That's why we're running for the Stroke Foundation and every penny, just like every step counts,” she said.

“We want the funds raised to help survivors and their families get the emotional and practical support they need for life after stroke,” David added.

In the most magical place on earth where ‘dreams do come true’ this is not your average fun run. After working on their costumes for months, Samantha and David will run as Mickey and Minnie Mouse; Prince Charming and Cinderella; and the Incredibles across the three-day race weekend. 

“When I found out the 10k run was all about Aladdin, I was so excited I could have rubbed my lamp. This is pretty much my dream come true, running in my favourite place, with my favourite person and we’ll be bringing home the bling,” Samantha said.

David said they hoped to raise $2000 to help fight stroke and with more than $1600 raised so far, they were well on their way to meeting their target. 

“This around the world run-cation is a once in a life-time opportunity and we want to make it count, not just as a personal achievement but to give something back to help others,” David said.

“You splash the cash and we'll run the hard yards. No donation is too big or too small, we love them all.” 

Please donate to Samantha and David running Sydney to Disney to fight stroke 

or call the Stroke Foundation fundraising team on 1300 194 196.
To find out more about Samantha and David’s Disneyland adventure visit Samantha’s blog The Annoyed Thyroid. 

Download the media release here