Jayden Bootsma to run from Perth to Albany to raise money for Kids Cancer Support Group and late cousin Zara

Country football player Jayden Bootsma is embarking on a gruelling 585km run from Perth to his Great Southern club’s home ground in memory of his late cousin who lost her battle with leukaemia at just 14. Starting at Perth Children’s Hospital on Friday, the 29-year-old will pass through Waroona, Harvey, Collie, Bridgetown and Walpole before heading east to finish at Collingwood Park, the home of Bootsma’s North Albany Football Club on September 20. He is calling the nine-day challenge Zara’s Run, in honour of his 14-year-old cousin Zara Horley, who lost her years-long fight to leukaemia last year, and to support other children suffering from cancer. “It’s been more than a year in the making,” Bootsma said. “It actually started as a support run for (Zara) when she was still battling her cancer, but when she passed away, we decided to turn it into a memorial remembrance sort of run. “I wanted to do a fundraiser to support families still going through what my family went through for the best part of several years.” Bootsma will be donating all proceeds of the run campaign, an auction and merchandise sales to Kids Cancer Support Group, a not-for-profit that helps young patients and their families navigate what is often the most difficult time of their lives. “It was one of the main charities that helped out our family through that tough time,” he said. “It’s not just during the hospital stays, but afterwards and even now, they are still supporting.” Zara, who lived on her family farm in Darkan, was first diagnosed with leukaemia in 2020, and fought the disease for seven months before recovering. Unfortunately, less than two years later, she was diagnosed with a second bout of the cancer, and, despite chemotherapy, radiation and stem cell surgery to shrink the lesion in her head, died in December 2024. “She was a light-hearted, easy-going, country sort of kid that just enjoyed life,” Bootsma said. “She took everything that was thrown at her in her stride and always seemed to put a positive spin on things — she was still laughing right to the end.” The CBH plant operator, who spent part of his childhood in Albany but now lives in Hamilton Hill in Perth, has been training for several months and has raised almost $5800 as of Monday afternoon for KCGS. The Kangas footballer picked his route over the more direct Albany Highway one to hear from regional residents who might share similar stories to Zara’s. His only companion throughout the entire journey is his cousin Nick, who will accompany him in a van, serving as a “support crew of one” and “chief motivator”. Bootsma said both the beginning and end of the nine-day run is open to all to join, with his father and former Fremantle player Brad Bootsma already pledging to complete the final sprint from Elleker with him. “I’m sure I’ll get a few of the North Albany footy boys with me for the last few kilometres as well,” he said. “Everyone in the greater Albany community and greater Darkan community, where Zara’s from, have been so supportive of this which is great. “We’ll have a couple of well-earned beers and a bit of light-hearted celebration, which is what Zara would have wanted. “Me having nine days of sore legs is minuscule compared to children and their families in hospital across the world.” Donations can be made via his my.cause page — Jayden’s run for children’s cancer, with more information available on the Boots & Beyond Linktree.