Telethon 2025: Runners raise more than $200,000 at the Perth Running Festival marathon

Big and little legends from all walks of life pounded the pavement on Sunday to help raise more than $200,000 for Telethon.

Among the 15,200 people to participate in the Perth Running Festival was Little Telethon Star Xavier Summers, who completed the 10km course in his wheelchair with the help of his uncle, Shannan Brown.

The eight-year-old said he was “really happy” crossing the finish line at Optus Stadium after receiving plenty of encouragement along the way.

“People were stopping and giving me high-fives . . . I really liked that,” he said.

Mr Brown, 43, said running through the Graham Farmer Freeway tunnel was a standout moment for the pair.

“It isn’t something that everyone gets to do and it’s very different and very exciting for him,” he said.

It was the first time Mr Brown had run behind a wheelchair, an experience he likened to a “10km sled push”.

“It was a very different run . . . it’s not a purpose-built racing chair or anything like that, so it’s not particularly well built for running at speed or at all,” he added.

“Team Mateo” — comprising 37 runners who helped raise over $27,000 in honour of six-year-old Mateo Domazetovski, one of this year’s Telethon champions — were a force to be reckoned with.

The Sacred Heart Primary School student was diagnosed with a low-grade glioma last December — a slow-growing tumour of the brain.

Mother Ceffra Domazetovski crossed the finish line with Mateo, something she wasn’t sure would be possible in the lead-up to his 4km run.

“It was amazing, the day was incredible,” she said.

The sentiment was echoed by Mateo, who described the experience as “amazing”.

Nia Collova, 12, and her mother Sarah Collova also had big smiles on their faces at the finish line.

Nia was diagnosed with Dup15q Syndrome when she was just 16 months old — a rare genetic neurodevelopmental disorder that has caused a number of health conditions.

The proceeds will go towards funding medical research, vital equipment, and life-changing opportunities for WA’s sickest kids.