Nearly 500 runners took to Professor Richard Scolyer’s favourite parkrun to honour his legacy following his hard-fought battle with brain cancer.
The former Australian of the Year recipient died aged 59 on June 8.
Posters of Mr Scoyler were hung around Richard Murdern Reserve in Haberfield in Sydney’s inner west at the weekly Greenway Parkrun on Saturday morning.
Almost 500 people turned out to the Greenway Parkrun on Saturday morning. (ABC News: Digby Werthmuller)
At the start line, speeches were read and participants took a moment to reflect on the impact he had left on a community that loves to run.
This week’s event was held in memory of Mr Scoyler, an avid runner who competed in 250 parkruns, both in Australia and abroad.
Mark Scolyer reflects on his brother’s impact on the running community. (ABC News)
His brother, Mark, a running enthusiast himself, said it was an emotional day for all involved.
“It’s nice to be here today because this is really the spirit of Rich … people being kind to each other, people being friendly,”
he said.
Mark affectionately described his brother as “a daggy guy” who would “run up next to people and talk” at parkrun events.
“I’ve probably run here with Rich 20 times. We’d push each other and sometimes I couldn’t keep up and sometimes he was having bad days and some days he couldn’t run,” he said.
“We all shed a tear, we’ll all keep running here; it’s a special place to remember Rich.“
‘Encouraged people to give it a crack and a go’
Professor Richard Scolyer celebrates completing his 250th parkrun in 2025. (ABC News: Luke Royes)
Acting group run director Emily Hamilton said Mr Scolyer embodied the ethos of what the Greenway parkrun community was.
“He has been such an important figure for Australia and for cancer research,” she said.
“But here in our community, he was one of those people that just really encouraged people to give it a crack and have a go.”
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Another participant reflected on Mr Scoyler 250th parkrun, a milestone she watched him achieve almost a year ago to the day.
“I feel that he will always have a very special place in this community,” she said.
Leaving behind a running legacy
Mr Scolyer first took part in the City2Surf 21 years ago with his wife and eldest daughter Emily (pictured). (X: Professor Richard Scolyer AO)
Every Saturday for the past eight years, Mr Scolyer ran the five-kilometre loop, which stretches around Haberfield, Leichhardt and Dulwich Hill in Sydney’s inner west.
During his cancer battle, he had set himself a goal of completing 250 parkruns.
He marked the milestone in June 2025, despite having announced his cancer had returned months earlier in March.
“I guess it’s part of my personality. Bit embarrassing, but wanting to get to 250 was something that pushed me along,” he said of his feat at the time.
A three-year battle
A renowned pathologist and melanoma researcher, Mr Scolyer died on June 8 after a three-year battle with glioblastoma.
He became a pioneer of brain cancer research when he volunteered as “patient zero” for an experimental immunotherapy treatment.
Mr Scolyer had volunteered to undergo experimental immunotherapy for medical research. (Supplied: Instagram/@profrscolyer)
Mr Scolyer managed to stave off the disease for almost two years, while also supplying scientists with a wealth of knowledge to help shape the future of brain cancer immunotherapy.
In 2024, Mr Scolyer was a co-recipient of the Australian of the Year award alongside Professor Georgina Long, for their ground-breaking melanoma research and treatment.
