By bobb |
Dane in hi-vis vest after his run

Bianca Gurra

Running from one side of Australia to the other is a feat most of us would never even dream of attempting, but Dane Waites has done just that.

Mr Waites is an elite athlete who was born with autism spectrum disorder, and developed a passion for running as young child.

As is the case with many people living with autism, Mr Waites has also battled with depression throughout his life.

Setting off from Perth in WA back in June, Mr Waites has run across four states, completing the equivalent of a marathon per day, six days a week, until he reached his home town of Pambula on the New South Wales far south coast.

It is a feat he has spent the last 14 years training for — what is now known as "Dane's Dream" began shortly after winning bronze in the 2003 Special Olympics.

Dane Waites in his fluoro top running along a highwayPHOTO: Dane is well known around the South East for his unique running style. (ABC South East NSW: Bianca Gurra)

More than one hundred supporters greeted Mr Waites and his mother Junee Waites on his return, before witnessing tens of thousands of dollars in donations being handed over to charities supporting autism and mental health.

But first on Mr Waites' list of thanks was his mum.

"I'd just like to say thank you mum for your support. You have done everything to get me there, from Perth to Pambula," he said.

"Thank you for everyone for being here and thank you for supporting me. Thank you for sharing my dream."

Gruelling run all in a day's work for Dane

"My favourite part of the whole of the journey across of Australia was the Nullarbor highway."

A map of Australia with dotted lines tracing a path from Perth in Western Australia to Pambula in New South WalesPHOTO: Dane Waites has run more than 4,000 kilometres from Perth to Pambula (Supplied: Perth2Pambula)

"It was a 90-mile long highway and it had straight lines, and I never stopped running, I just kept going."

Ms Waites said there were many highlights along the way, including the friendly toots from countless truck drivers, who recognised Dane's unique running style.

"After a little while they referred to him as Forrest [Gump], but he became their Forrest," she said.

"They were talking about 'have you seen our Forrest today'?''

Mr Waites' support team say he hasn't been deterred by the long distances, and now he's finished his run across Australia he will continue to run six days per week - taking Fridays off to go dancing.

Run serves as inspiration for those with autism, mental health issues

Aside from his success with running, Dane has also competed and won medals in powerlifting and tenpin bowling.

Ms Waites said Dane had inspired everyone he met along the way — proving it is possible to live a normal life and achieve amazing things while living with autism and depression.

Bianca Gurra@bianca_gurra

Pambula’s Dane Waites and his convoy on the home stretch of his 4000km run from #perth2pambula earlier today. #danesdream

"We met so many people that would come up and say 'we have a member of our family who's on the autism spectrum, or who has a mental health condition,''' she said.

"To begin with, we were saying one-in-three people — by the end of the journey, it was a one-in-one, or one-in-two.

"Dane met the most amazing people [on his run]."

And what's next for Dane?

It looks like he is not slowing down.

His support team says he will be settling back in to life at home, which includes return to running along the south east's picturesque beaches.

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VIDEO: Dane Waites before he embarked on his 4.000km run (ABC News)

from http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-10-02/d…