What's Inspiring This Everday Hero To Run 3000km?

Andrew Biszczak by no means in the past would have called himself a marathon runner, but this everyday hero has set out on the run of his life in the hope to raise $1 Million for a disease that has gone under the radar in Australia – Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB).

Suffers of EB are referred to as the "Butterfly Children". It is an excruciating condition - their skin is as delicate as a butterfly wing and may blister and peel under virtually no pressure at all.

It is heart-breaking for children born with the disease and their families. Whereas for healthy children playing and hugging can be done without a thought, for victims of EB even the most basic joys in life can be a painful ordeal.  

As Andrew describes the disease in an interview with Today Tonight, “… essentially what happens is they are missing the protein or the glue that holds the layers of skin together”. This genetic skin condition has been compared to living with third degree burns.

“There are only a thousand sufferers they know of in Australia, and because it’s such a small number there’s no government funding; the funds are usually raised by family and friends of sufferers,” Andrew said.

Kate Turner, ambassador for DEBRA Australia and EB sufferer was the inspiration behind The Million Dollar Run. After meeting her and learning of the condition, Andrew was compelled to do all he could to support DEBRA Australia, a charity that focuses on providing people with EB the best quality of life possible including medical care, support services and the search for a cure. Sadly, Kate passed away in 2015 at the age of just 26 years old.

Andrew was moved by her story and with no family connection at all to the disease, was compelled to sell his dream home and business to fund a 3000km run from Adelaide to Brisbane  – The Million Dollar Run for a cure. His journey is inspiring Australians and raising awareness about the rare and traumatic skin condition.

“We said bugger it, sold everything that we own and we’ll figure out the rest when we get to Brisbane”.

“Once you meet the Butterfly Children, once you actually experience what they go through and spend some time with these kids, you just want to do everything you can to help them," Andrew said.

“I’ve been effected in a way emotionally that has really, literally taken over me and my life”.

Johnny, pictured above with Andrew and family is one of the Butterfly Children that has inspired Andrew with his uplifting personality and strength. Johnny is an official ambassador for The Million Dollar Run and with Andrew by his side has shared his story to raise awareness and touch the hearts of other Australians.

On April 23, with the support of his wife Sonia and his nine year old daughter Tiffany travelling by road, Andrew set out from Victor Harbor on a journey that turned his life upside down to create hope for others.

“We’ve gone all in so that Andrew can pursue his dream for the Butterfly Children and you just have to have faith that it’s going to work out in the end,” said Sonia.

The Million Dollar Run is equivalent to completing approximately five marathons a week for four months – an amazing accomplishment for seasoned athletes let alone the former real estate agent from Hayborough.

“It’s not a race, but it is an epic distance and it’s going to take physical and mental endurance, and take my body to the absolute limit,” Andrew said. “But my focus in this, every single part of the way, is all about the people who suffer EB – I’m just doing what I can to help them.”

Andrew is battling EB feet first to reach the $1 Million target for the Butterfly Children. He plans to run the full 3000km via Melbourne, Canberra and Sydney before finishing in Brisbane by August 11.

Andrew is one in a million. In an interview with Today Tonight he emotionally shared what’s at the heart of his motivation.

"I want to raise the minimum of $1 Million for these kids to go towards research for a cure. I want all of Australia to know what this disease is and whats it about because right now the tag line for this disease is the worst disease you’ve never heard of. My goal will be to change that to the worst disease that everyone is talking about.”

Learn more about Andrew’s selfless journey on the The Million Dollar Run Facebook page. Click here to read the The Million Dollar Run Story or to donate and help this everyday hero raise the full $1 Million for this worthwhile cause.