When William Burnett was medically discharged from the Air Force, he was told he would be in a wheelchair by the time he was 35.
He left the military aged 27 — and it was at that point his nervous system started to slow and the injuries he had ignored began to surface.
On top of the physical injuries, he struggled with depression and suicidal thoughts for years after returning to civilian life in 2018.
Now, to help those who are struggling like he did, he is running a 4,500 kilometre journey from WA to NSW to raise money for veteran suicide prevention.
A super marathon a day
Mr Burnett said when he started the run in Margaret River it was tough going, but since passing the 50-day mark, he was finding his body adapting to the challenge.
"I'm at a point now in the run where we're well over 50 days and physically I've come to expect little niggles and imbalances," he said.
"I find that I'm overcoming them as the days go by and my body is getting stronger."
Despite acclimatising, he still feels the pain of running a super marathon a day.
"I have an intense amount of pain running through my legs all day, every day," he said.
"At the beginning I was crying a lot during my sleep. I was sleeping maybe one and a half to two hours a night.
"I could barely walk on my feet because my feet were so sore and sensitive … but as much as the pain is there, I am finding ways to move around more efficiently."
Support from family and friends
Along for the journey with Mr Burnett is his wife Cassie, their children Bill and Willow and his best mate River.
Mr Burnett said the strength they had shown in supporting him on his run was unbelievable.
"[They are] the real MVPs (most valuable players), " he said.
"My life as a father and a husband hasn't stopped, I still need to be present for my two children who want to play.
"But the best thing … has been having my wife and my best mate to be able to know what's going on in my body without having to say anything."
Still proud to have served
Despite the physical and mental toll serving in the ADF inflicted on Mr Burnett, he said he is still "so proud" of joining the military.
He said his time in the service taught him the lessons of strength and perseverance that have carried him through his cross-country run.
But he also believed not enough was being done to help former servicemen and women transition to life away from the military, and there was a severe lack of support services available.
"I'm passionate about getting in the trenches and doing the work to help veterans and their families above and beyond what the state and federal levels say they are doing," he said.
Mr Burnett will finish his run in the NSW coastal town of Byron Bay.
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