© Robert Pope
Highway to Help: Robert Pope Hits the Road
On November 16 in Melbourne—timed with AC/DC’s Australia tour—British ultra-runner Robert “Rob” Pope launched an extraordinary challenge: covering roughly 2,000 km from Melbourne to Brisbane to raise money for three charities: The Smith Family, the NSPCC, and WWF. As always, he set off with his trademark smile and boundless generosity.
Just a few days earlier, on November 13, Robert Pope posted a simple message on Instagram: “On Sunday, I will start on the Highway to Help. Running 2000 km — Melbourne to Brisbane, following the ACDC tour. 4 weeks, no stop signs, speed limits. Come along for the ride.”
On Sunday, I will start on the Highway to Help. Running 2000 km — Melbourne to Brisbane, following the ACDC tour. 4 weeks, no stop signs, speed limits. Come along for the ride.
Robert Pope, on November 13, 2025
On November 16, the Liverpool-born veterinarian—one of the most resilient endurance runners on the planet—took his first steps from Melbourne, following the legendary Australian band AC/DC on their tour dates. When we last featured him in May in the article “Robert Pope, always running”, we highlighted his twin passions: running and rock. This time, he’s using the spotlight surrounding AC/DC to draw attention to his cause and raise funds for three organizations. The Smith Family (Australia) and the UK’s NSPCC both support children facing hardship. WWF, which focuses on wildlife protection, is a cause close to Pope’s heart.
He had already raised money for WWF during his mind-blowing Forrest-Gump-inspired run across the United States from 2016 to 2018. Now, the runner-veterinarian is back on the road. He left Melbourne on November 16, 2025, embarking on Highway to Help, shadowing AC/DC’s Australian tour. Until their final show on December 18 in Brisbane, Rob will be running daily—aiming for more than 70 km a day over four weeks. The best news? The band is fully on board. “AC/DC have been incredibly supportive. They’re selling inflatable guitars—signed and unsigned—and all profits go to the charities. It was their idea, I didn’t even ask. Amazing and unbelievably generous.”
| A Lone Runner with a Bright Spirit
Rob Pope is no ordinary runner. He thrives on long, punishing challenges. From 2016 to 2018, he ran over 25,000 km across the United States—the equivalent of five coast-to-coast crossings—becoming the first person to faithfully recreate Forrest Gump’s fictional run. That journey shaped him, and in many ways still defines him: “I think I’m still running. I don’t feel like that run ever really ended. I don’t want it to end, even though I know the window is closing… If it does end and I don’t go back out again, I’ll be at peace because of what I’ve done, even though I always want more. I just want one last run my daughter will be old enough to remember.” Back in May, he told us he longed to run in Australia: “I’ve never crossed Australia, and I really want to take on a similar solo project. I won’t be the fastest, but that doesn’t matter. Next June, in England or somewhere else in Europe, I’ll head out for a quiet week around my birthday. I won’t post anything on social media. I just want to run and listen to my body—80 km a day—to see if I still love it. I have to face the possibility that maybe I don’t anymore. Maybe it’s too much now… But one foot is already in the project: a family donated a €400 running cart to replace the one that broke in the U.S. So now I have to do it.”
A few months later, here we are. He’s running with a soundtrack of pure rock energy. And while music may help him push through the tough stretches, he’s realistic about the challenge. On November 28, speaking to ABC Radio Adelaide, he described this kind of undertaking as “type-2 fun—the kind of fun that isn’t fun until you look back on it.” A classic “Pope” line—delivered, no doubt, with a loud laugh afterward. As for teaming up with AC/DC? There’s no better match for this lifelong fan: “AC/DC has always been one of my favorite bands. I’ve seen them many times. When I was in the U.S. retracing Forrest Gump’s route, their music kept me going—almost magically appearing whenever I needed it. I made myself a rule: if an AC/DC track came on, I wasn’t allowed to stop running. No matter where I was, I had to keep going.”
| Running for a Cause
For Rob, running is a way to give and to connect. The challenge itself isn’t the goal—the generosity it inspires is. His daily videos show him smiling through exhaustion, insomnia, rough terrain, and the struggles of pushing a heavy cart over broken roads. His Instagram stories are a joy to watch. Years of hosting a Red Bull podcast have turned him into a charismatic storyteller. On AC/DC’s website, fans can find a link to support his Highway to Help fundraiser. Before setting off, he even got the band to sign a few inflatable guitars. And once again, his simplicity and warmth were rewarded: “Since they’re selling the guitars, the band wanted to hand one to me personally. I already had concert tickets, but before the show someone told me to go to a specific spot. I was there with my wife and daughter, and suddenly Brian Johnson walks up. He gives me the guitar—super friendly, just Brian being Brian. I was so focused on him that I didn’t notice Angus, Stevie, and Chris standing there too. I saw them again after the show with Matt, the drummer. They’re all incredibly kind, very down-to-earth. Such a special experience.”
All proceeds from the inflatable guitars sold at AC/DC’s pop-up stores—signed or unsigned—go straight to The Smith Family, the NSPCC, and WWF. By early December, halfway through the route, Rob had already raised more than €5,000 toward his €7,000 goal. The fatigue is real, but his spirits remain high: “I’m tired most of the time, but things are going pretty well. My legs and nutrition have adjusted. I’m just constantly managing injuries—my left shin, right Achilles, left glute, hip flexor. Every day one acts up more than the others, so it’s like putting out fires nonstop. But I’m feeling positive and still covering the distance.”
All proceeds from the inflatable guitars sold at AC/DC’s pop-up stores—signed or unsigned—go straight to The Smith Family, the NSPCC, and WWF. By early December, halfway through the route, Rob had already raised more than €6,000 toward his €7,500 goal. The fatigue is real, but his spirits remain high: “I’m tired most of the time, but things are going pretty well. My legs and nutrition have adjusted. I’m just constantly managing injuries—my left shin, right Achilles, left glute, hip flexor. Every day one acts up more than the others, so it’s like putting out fires nonstop. But I’m feeling positive and still covering the distance.”
Highway to Help, a bridge—better yet, a long road—linking rock, running, and humanity.
Further Reading / Links
➜ How to Be Superhuman podcast
➜ Highway to Help page on the AC/DC website
➜ Donate to Highway to Help
Charles-Emmanuel PEAN
Journalist
04/12/2025
25/11/2025
21/11/2025