Their effort also raised an incredible $1200 for The Bridge Youth and Family Services, supporting young people across Seymour, the Mitchell Shire and surrounding communities.
It was a homecoming, a reconnection and a commitment to the Seymour and broader Mitchell Shire communities that helped shape their young adult lives.
Separated by 15 years of living on different continents, Ciaran, who’s now based in Puckapunyal, and Danny, who lives in Craigieburn, took on their first endurance race together as a way to rebuild their bond, and to give back to the region their family calls home.
Held on Saturday, December 6 and Sunday, December 7 at Lorne on the Great Ocean Rd, Buckley’s 24 is a classic non-stop 24-hour adventure race involving trekking, mountain biking, kayaking and other surprise disciplines designed to test physical strength, navigation skills and mental resilience.
Teams of two or four must navigate their way unsupported through more than 120km of rugged terrain, with the full course only revealed to competitors hours before the start.
After finishing the course, Ciaran said: “It was the hardest thing I have ever done. The pain I am in is unexplainable.”
For Danny, an air conditioning and refrigeration mechanic completing his electrical trade, this was an entirely new challenge.
For Ciaran, an ADF artillery soldier with experience in youth mental health support, it was a chance to use his skills meaningfully.
The pair, who grew up moving between the UK and Germany due to family and military life, found their way to Victoria later in life.
Their parents have lived in Seymour for more than 15 years, anchoring the family into the Mitchell region, with Danny and sister Lennda spending much of their young adult life in town.
Since returning to Australia in 2024 after serving with the army in the UK, Ciaran has also embedded himself in the area, supporting local charities and becoming involved with the Seymour Football Netball Club.
Supporting a youth organisation with a strong presence in the area for their challenge felt like a natural choice.
“During my search of who to support, The Bridge aligned best with what my brother and I believed in. The work you do for young people is so important for our community,” Ciaran said.
“(The Bridge’s) programs — early intervention, outreach, family support, youth homelessness, mental health — they are vital. Even if your fundraiser helps just one young person reach out for help, that’s enough.”
While the pair raised $1200 for The Bridge, they said it was about more than just money.
“This fundraiser wasn’t about raising loads of money — it was about raising awareness,” Ciaran said.
“The Bridge does amazing work for our younger generation, and we just wanted to help shine a light on that.”
