This Saturday, 11 April, ultra-endurance runner John Salton (65 years young) will undertake a 24-hour non-stop run around the Cape Byron Lighthouse loop, beginning at sunrise, to raise funds for the Byron Youth Services (BYS).
John’s run is the official launch of Run for Youth, a campaign dedicated to raising awareness and funds to support young Australians. BYS creates spaces and opportunities for young people to feel supported, build confidence, express creativity, and stay connected through a range of wellbeing programs and youth-led initiatives.
Following the death of his father from colon cancer at the age of 57 John began ultra-running in 2013.
‘That experience became a turning point [for John], prompting him to reassess his health and lifestyle. Since then, he has completed multiple 50km, 100km and 100-mile events, including the Alpine Challenge (DU 135), as well as a 2,019km 40-day endurance challenge,’ said Christian Tancred from BYS.
Personal challenge
John says that endurance running is not about competition, but responsibility, using personal challenge as a way to lead by example and contribute to something greater. The Cape Byron run is the first of a series of activations designed to build awareness, community connection, and long-term impact.
John is preparing for a 5,080km run across Australia from west to east, scheduled for July 2026. This next phase will expand the campaign nationally, raising further funds and support for youth-focused initiatives across the country.
Everyone is invited to support John this Saturday during his run and find out more on his Instagram @johnsalton.run.
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