December 22, Colombo (LNW): Rahul Sharma, a 24-year-old exercise physiologist now based in Melbourne and a former Hong Kong under-19 cricketer, is preparing to take on an ambitious endurance challenge by running from one end of Sri Lanka to the other in just seven days to support childhood cancer research.
Sharma is scheduled to begin his journey on December 24 from Point Pedro, the island’s northernmost town, and reach Dondra Head at the southern tip by December 30.
The route stretches roughly 574 kilometres, meaning he will need to average close to 100 kilometres a day in what is expected to be a physically demanding test of stamina and resilience.
Having travelled to Sri Lanka from Mumbai on December 18, Sharma said the run is aimed at raising a minimum of A$20,000 for the Children’s Cancer Institute in Sydney, which is dedicated to improving treatment outcomes and finding cures for childhood cancers.
Born in India and raised in Hong Kong, Sharma took up cricket at the age of ten and later represented Hong Kong at under-19 level between 2018 and 2019. He believes the challenge, which his team says has not previously been attempted in this format, brings together his background in sport and his professional focus on human performance, while supporting a cause close to his heart.
Adding to the fundraising effort, Hong Kong-based charity Erase Poverty has announced it will contribute HK$10,000 if Sharma successfully completes the run as planned.
