Graham Lewis insists that “fun run” is most definitely an oxymoron, and that there’s nothing fun about it, especially when the weather is cold and miserable. 

And cold and miserable it was when Graham completed this year, only the third time it’s rained for the event in the past 50 years according to Graham. 

2025 was Graham’s second City to Bay run, decades after his first. And a lot has happened in between. 

Graham’s stem cell transplant experience

As a two-time transplant recipient—including an allogeneic stem cell transplant (allo-SCT), Graham and his family know firsthand the challenges patients face.

“Allogeneic stem cell transplant is one of the most complex and high-risk procedures in modern medicine,” Graham explains. “The conditioning therapy is brutal, and transplant-related mortality in the first 12 months can be as high as 10–20%. Survivors often live with chronic, disabling conditions such as graft-versus-host disease (GVHD)—a reality that leaves many wondering if the cure was worse than the disease.”

Graham’s own GVHD has left him in a wheelchair requiring daily support. It has been a difficult time for Graham and his family, but they have stuck together and survived.

Why Graham chose to support Arrow

Graham didn’t know about Arrow back in 2019, when he and his family were struggling to cope with the long term effects of his transplants. “Since then,” he says, “I’ve seen how many patients across Australia have been helped—some even supported to access treatments not available in their home state. Founded in 1987 and involved in the establishment of the Australasian Bone Marrow Transplant Recipient Registry [ABMTRR, now the ANZTCT Registry], Arrow has grown to play a vital role for people undergoing bone marrow and stem cell transplants. Importantly, Arrow receives no government funding. Every bit of its work is powered by donations.”

Graham believes three factors make the biggest difference to stem cell transplant patient outcomes: location, clinician expertise and support from family, caregivers and organisations like Arrow. Having seen Arrow’s impact, Graham was determined to support the Paint the Town Red fundraiser.

From stem cell transplant, and back to competing

Graham had thought he might never be able to compete in events like this again. But with dedication and training through a gym that specialises in fitness for people with (dis)abilities, he has once again taken on the Adelaide fun run, now 62 years of age.

His first City to Bay was in 1979 when he was just 16 years old. He recalls buying new runners a few days before the event – a mistake that left his feet so blistered he finished barefoot on the grass median strip! This time, Graham let the tyres of his Alinker walking bike take the punishment instead of his feet. He completed the full 12 kilometers of the event, admitting “the last three kilometres were tough”, but added “If I can do that, then you can make a contribution to the Arrow Foundation so they can continue to support people through stem cell transplants.”

Top fundraiser for Paint the Town Red 2025!

Not only did Graham complete the event, but he also became the top fundraiser for Paint the Town Red 2025, raising over $7000! 

His efforts included more than just the fund run. Graham rallied his own team—the aptly named Great Southern Reds—and encouraged friends, family, and associates to donate to Arrow to help him reach his ambitious target of $10,000. He engaged his community through social media posts and newsletters and hosted two events: a red-themed morning tea in his local park as well as the 12-kilometre City to Bay fun run.

We’re so pleased to have Graham as part of Arrow’s community of fundraisers and supporters. The funds Graham has raised will go towards our patient support program, helping others who are facing stem cell transplants like Graham once did.