While most people mark their 50th birthday with a celebration, Australian father and aviation entrepreneur Jason Williamson is doing something far more extreme – running 4,000km across one of the world’s toughest landscapes to raise awareness and funds for youth mental health.
The Aussie ultra-endurance athlete and founder of global aircraft operations company Six West Aviation will run from Perth to his hometown of Port Macquarie, averaging two marathons a day for 50 days.
The run will begin on August 7, 2025, with Jason aiming to complete the journey by late September.
His goal? To raise funds for Australian and Irish charities Gotcha4Life and A Lust for Life – both committed to giving young people the mental fitness tools they need to thrive.
‘As a father of three, I know how important it is that kids grow up with the emotional support they need to navigate this complex world,’ Williamson said.
‘Mental health is as real for all of us as a sore knee or a broken arm. I want to help break the silence and raise funds for programs that make a difference.’
What began as a personal challenge to mark a milestone birthday quickly became an opportunity to spark conversation and create impact on both sides of the world.
‘This is about proving what’s possible not just physically, but mentally,’ he said. ‘If you always choose comfort, you miss out on what you’re truly capable of.’
Battling extreme heat, remote terrain and grueling distances, his journey will take him across the Nullarbor Plain through Norseman, Port Augusta, Broken Hill, Dubbo and Tamworth.
Supported by a small crew in campervans, he’ll document the run daily on Instagram, YouTube and live broadcasts – sharing the highs and lows in real time.
In June 2023, Jason set the fastest known time for running the length of Ireland – 1,038km in 14 days, 9 hours and 26 minutes.
But the Australian desert will be his biggest challenge yet.
‘It does scare me, to be honest,’ he said. ‘But if it wasn’t scary, I wouldn’t be doing it.’
Now based in County Cork, Ireland, Jason spent much of his 20s and 30s focused on career, family and running his global aviation company, Six West Aviation – a firm specialising in flight operations and lessors for aircrafts and airlines.
But over time, the demands of work took a toll. I was unfit and not taking care of myself and I just thought, this isn’t where I want to be,’ he said.
Determined to reclaim his health, Jason started with short treadmill runs and gradually worked up to ultra-marathons. For the past four years, he’s trained under an ultra-marathon coach to push beyond what he thought possible.
Running has improved his physical endurance and transformed his mental toughness — teaching him to push through pain, exhaustion and self-doubt.
‘On these long runs, you feel everything – highs, lows, moments you want to quit,’ he said. ‘But you keep moving. That’s how resilience is built – and that’s the message I want to share with young people.’
Jason follows in the footsteps of a select few who have completed this intense cross-country route, with the current Perth to Sydney record set at 35 days by William Goodge.
The run is being backed by Six West, which is providing financial backing and practical support as part of its wider corporate responsibility efforts. The company has contributed essential equipment, tech and logistical support for the run and will provide internal resources behind the scenes to help things run smoothly.
Six West made the decision to support Jason’s run as part of its CSR initiative.
‘He’s supporting two very worthy charities based in Ireland and Australia – both countries where Six West has deep connections,’ said Matt Gee, Head of Flight Operations.
‘Mental health is something we’re all talking about more. It affects everyone in some way, and it’s great to see those conversations becoming more open.’
Six West has supported several community-focused initiatives in recent years, including youth development programs and other charitable causes.
‘We’re proud to be supporting Jason on his run across one of the world’s largest countries by land mass,’ Matt said.
‘This kind of challenge echoes what we do in aviation every day – the planning, preparation and the sheer number of logistics involved.’
You can follow the journey in real-time through Jason’s Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube accounts and stay tuned for daily updates, videos, and live insights from the road.
His run is proudly sponsored by Six West Aviation and supported by The Clare Herald.