Running to make a difference: Ultramarathoner Natalie Dau and paralympian Gregory Burns push for inclusivity in sport
Singapore-based ultramarathoner Naralie Dau and three-time Paralympian Gregory Burns are pushing the boundaries of human endurance to inspire a more inclusive sporting landscape.
Both athletes are ambassadors for One Race, Many Journeys, an initiative launched on June 4 at The Westin Singapore to promote greater participation of persons with disabilities (PWDs) in the 2025 Standard Chartered Marathon Singapore (SCSM).
While PWDs have taken part in the SCSM before, with a category for wheelchair users being added in 2018, this initiative aims to integrate PWDs alongside able-bodied runners in the 2025 edition.
At 53, Dau recently completed her second Project 1,000, where she ran 1,000km in just 12 days. Her first journey, completed in 2024, took her from Thailand to Singapore, where she raised over $50,000 for the global charity GRLS and provided scholarships to underprivileged children.
In May 2025, she repeated the same feat in the Philippines, running from San Vicente to Batangas to raise funds for Save the Children's Girls' Impact Fund as well as children in the Philippines.
Dau said: "Sometimes we have to do hard and crazy things to bring attention to causes that we can help."
Through her ultramarathons, Dau aims to empower women and shed light on the barriers many face when it comes to physical activity, including body image concerns and fear of judgment.
She told ABS-CBN News in May that although people may think their impact is small, any change is good change, and contributes to making a difference.
"I'm doing this for a bigger purpose, not just for myself but to impact others, so I owe it to other people to do this."
She told Stomp: "I have a 16-year-old daughter. So for me, it's about teaching her and passing that on as well."
Upon reflecting on her decision to launch Project 1,000, Dau said: "I got sick of racing, and I just thought of doing something crazy. Something someone hadn't done before, and to push my limits both physically and mentally."
She believes One Race, Many Journeys will give more people the chance to push their boundaries too.
"It's about being inclusive; it shouldn't be that only able-bodied athletes are able to participate in these races. Everyone should have the opportunity to challenge themselves."
For 68-year-old Gregory Burns, physical activity has always been about overcoming barriers. Despite being paralysed from the waist down after contracting polio as an infant, Burns continues to pursue his passions, having earned three Paralympic gold medals in swimming, and establishing himself as a successful artist.
Burns shared: "All my life I've walked down the street and hundreds, if not thousands of little kids, without knowing any better they ask, 'Mommy mommy, what happened to him?'"
As an ambassador for One Race, Many Journeys, Burns hopes to be a role model for others in the disabled community.
He said: "We as a community don't have a lot of mentors and role models out there in the regular world. One Race, Many Journeys is an opportunity for regular people with disabilities to go out, to push their limits, and try to overcome something for themselves.
"Somebody sitting at home or watching TV might say, 'Oh, that guy is in a wheelchair,' or, 'Oh, she's blind and she's still running. Maybe I could do that.'"
Burns acknowledged that families of PWDs are often afraid that they will get hurt, but he advocates for them to support exploration and risk.
"In our world, we need to fall down. And disabled people are no different, so giving them the opportunity to try and succeed, or even try and fail before succeeding, is a good thing."
One Race, Many Journeys will support greater inclusion during this years' SCSM.
Dau said: "There's still a big gap between the people that are starting and the people that may be a bit more experienced and I think what we've been missing in Singapore is real inclusivity and the community coming together.
"A lot of us don't have friends with disabilities, so if you are running next to someone who is not able-bodied, then have a chat and welcome them into the community."
The 2025 SCSM will take place on December 6 and 7. Registration is open until November 30, but may close earlier if slots are sold out.
