Melbourne-based Indian national and ultra-endurance athlete Rahul Sharma has announced an ambitious challenge to run more than 1,000 kilometres across Nepal in 10 consecutive days, aiming to raise funds for the Nepal Heart Foundation’s rheumatic heart disease prevention programmes.
The expedition, titled Nepal in 10, is planned for late January 2027 and will see Sharma attempt to traverse Nepal’s Mahendra Highway from west to east. The proposed 1,027-kilometre journey will begin at the Gaddachauki India–Nepal border gate and finish at Mechi Bridge in Kakarbhitta, near Nepal’s eastern border with India.
The attempt aims to establish the first and fastest documented traverse of the highway. According to the organisers, the run will be verified by an official Guinness World Records adjudicator, with daily social media updates and a real-time tracker planned to document the challenge.
From Hong Kong Cricket to Ultra-Endurance Running
Born and raised in Hong Kong, Sharma initially pursued cricket at an elite youth level, representing Hong Kong’s under-19 national team. A series of injuries changed his sporting trajectory, eventually leading him to ultrarunning and extreme endurance challenges.
Sharma is now based in Melbourne, where he works as a sports and exercise physiologist. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Sports and Exercise Science and a Master’s degree in Clinical Exercise Physiology from Deakin University.
His professional background plays an important role in his approach to endurance running, with exercise science informing his hydration, nutrition, pacing and recovery strategies.
In December 2025, Sharma completed a 566-kilometre run across Sri Lanka in six days, 13 hours and 22 minutes, according to the press release. The route stretched from Point Pedro, near Sakotai Cape, to Dondra Head, with temperatures exceeding 35 degrees Celsius.
The achievement earned him recognition in the World Book of Records as the first and fastest man to run the length of Sri Lanka, as stated by the organisers. The challenge also raised more than A$27,000 for the Children’s Cancer Institute in Australia.
His journey was captured in the feature documentary Born to Fly, which had sold-out premiere screenings in Melbourne and Hong Kong before its release on YouTube.
The upcoming Nepal expedition represents a substantial increase in distance and presents a different set of physical challenges, including changing elevations, unpredictable weather and demanding terrain.
Nepal in 10: A 1,027km Test of Endurance
Sharma plans to cover an average of more than 100 kilometres each day over 10 consecutive days. The route will cross 21 major districts, taking him through Nepal’s Terai lowlands and across a landscape characterised by changing weather conditions and challenging terrain.
The organisers expect the expedition to test Sharma’s physical and mental resilience, with long daily running hours and cold conditions among the anticipated challenges.
Reflecting on the scale of the undertaking, Sharma said the journey would be difficult but that its purpose extended beyond the sporting achievement.
“Nepal taught me that the heart is not just an organ, its courage,” he said.
He added that even if the run encouraged one more person to have their heart checked or take up running, the effort would be worthwhile.
The team plans to document the journey in real time through daily updates and a tracking system. The footage will also form the basis of a second documentary, extending the story beyond the record attempt itself.
Running for Hearts: Supporting Nepal’s Heart Health
At the centre of Nepal in 10 is a philanthropic mission to support the Nepal Heart Foundation, an organisation focused on cardiovascular health and the prevention, detection and treatment of rheumatic heart disease (RHD).
Founded in 1993 and based in Kathmandu, the foundation has spent more than three decades working to prevent and control RHD in Nepal. The condition disproportionately affects children and underserved communities and remains a significant preventable cardiovascular health concern in South Asia.
Funds raised through the Nepal campaign will support the foundation’s programmes, according to the release.
The initiative builds on Sharma’s previous fundraising effort in Sri Lanka, which generated more than A$27,000 for the Children’s Cancer Institute in Australia.
For Sharma and his team, the Nepal expedition is intended to combine a major endurance challenge with increased awareness of heart health and the importance of prevention.
The organisers also point to the difficulties faced by communities affected by recent severe climate disasters in Nepal, including damage to infrastructure and disruption to essential services. The campaign aims to draw attention to health needs and support prevention initiatives through its fundraising efforts.
Showcasing Australian Sports Science on the International Stage
Although the run will take place in Nepal, the organisers say the project also highlights Australia’s contribution to sports science, education and high-performance training.
Sharma’s qualifications and professional experience in Melbourne inform the preparation required for a multi-day endurance event. His team uses structured approaches to hydration, nutrition, metabolic management, pacing and recovery to support performance during prolonged physical exertion.
Sharma said his education and work in Melbourne had helped him understand how to push his physical limits while applying scientific methods to endurance training.
He also reflected on the satisfaction of turning the Sri Lanka record attempt into fundraising for Australian medical research, describing Nepal as a substantially different challenge and an opportunity to support cardiac awareness and prevention.
The expedition is expected to bring together audiences and supporters across Australia, Hong Kong, India and Nepal, connecting sport, philanthropy and international community engagement.
Sponsorship and Partnerships Sought for the Expedition
The Nepal in 10 team is seeking partners and sponsors to support the planned world-record attempt. Opportunities include title partnerships, performance and equipment partnerships, food and beverage sponsorships, health and holistic support, and logistics and crew sponsorship.
The organisers say the project offers participating brands an opportunity to connect with audiences across several international markets while supporting a humanitarian fundraising initiative.
As preparations continue for January 2027, Sharma’s challenge will aim to push the boundaries of endurance running while directing attention towards the prevention of rheumatic heart disease in Nepal.
For the Melbourne-based athlete, the central goal is to make every kilometre count—not only towards a potential world record, but also towards a cause that could help improve lives.
Through Nepal in 10, Sharma hopes to demonstrate how sporting ambition can be combined with community awareness, international collaboration and a commitment to supporting heart health.
