Runners boarded a bus before dawn, deep heat rubbed into muscles, ready to run 26 kilometres for people they may never meet. This is the Hope Run - an annual fundraiser for The Jeremiah Project, a Hawkesbury-based charity that has grown from one woman's vision into a movement of 80 volunteers fighting homelessness across Western Sydney.
The Jeremiah Project was founded by Jacky Turano, who felt compelled to step up as homelessness needs grew in the Hawkesbury region. "We're not here to fix them, but we're here to give them hope and a future," she explains. "Sit down, have a chat with them. Do they need help with housing? Do they need work? A haircut? Do they need a counsellor? We're like an octopus with many hands, always trying to help each other."
The causes of homelessness are varied and complex. "Whether they've had tough times, mental health issues, drug or alcohol addiction, domestic violence - there's a whole range of issues," says Robyn Preston MP, NSW Member for Hawkesbury who was present at the finish line of the Hope Run. "But we can't just ignore that. And Jacky doesn't."
Volunteers were stationed along the way offering water, Gatorade, protein bars, and encouragement. "We're counting them as they come past, helping them along in case anyone's injured," says first aid officer Sonia Kassis. Many runners had no running experience at all, making the achievement all the more meaningful.
"It's a great cause that raises a lot of awareness for homelessness," says Jesse Gerber, runner and volunteer mascot for the project’s "Run Club". "It's important to bring the energy and make [the runners] feel like they just achieved something that not a lot of people can do."
Every year, The Jeremiah Project supports over 60 people with emergency supplies and accommodation, provides over 100 haircuts, and distributes over 300 Christmas hampers.
For Jacky, the physical pain of running serves a deeper purpose. "I remember their pain," she says through tears. "The whole point of doing this is to feel what the homeless feel, to raise awareness, to stop the stereotyping."
She thinks of Sean, a man who endured a difficult upbringing and was homeless for six months. When he got a house, The Jeremiah Project helped furnish his home. "If he can do it, I can do it," Jacky says.
The event culminated at "The Bunker" - a space where people experiencing homelessness can shower and access support - celebrating both the runners' achievement and the people the run supports.
Yasmine Chalmers from funding partner Windsor RSL Club recalls Jacky's vision when she first sought support two years ago: "Her dream was to create more than just feeding the homeless … a safe environment to rehabilitate and get people back into society."
“It’s about connecting people regardless of your background and where you’re from, and I think that’s the most important thing.”
At the 2026 Hope Run, 40 participants ran or walked 26 kilometres and raised over $8,000 - showing the impact of rallying behind one person’s vision to make a difference in their local community.
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