Star 106.3’s Archie & Donny conquer Townsville Sign Marathon

Star 106.3 Breakfast hosts Archie & Donny have officially completed the Townsville Sign Marathon, clocking 42.2 km in 4 hours, 1 minute, and 6 seconds across 1,000 laps of the 30-metre track at Central Park.

Supporting Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC), the one-of-a-kind stunt attracted a huge show of community support and raised a significant amount of money to help families with seriously ill children.

In a heartwarming finale, local legend Ray Nicolls joined Archie & Donny for their final lap, bringing their marathon effort to an emotional close.

The challenge formed part of the lead-up to this weekend’s 2025 Townsville Running Festival.

What made this marathon truly unique was its setting a tight, oval-shaped 30-metre loop which turned every step into a dizzying test of endurance and spirit.

High-profile locals stepped up throughout the morning to lend a hand and a lap, including:

• Glenn “Minty” Mintern – MC of the Townsville Running Festival, who kicked off the event
• State MPs – Adam Baille, Janelle Poole, Natalie Marr and Nick Dametto
• Brigadier Ben McLennan – Representing the Australian Defence Force
• Matt Bowen – North Queensland Cowboys legend
• Olivia Ford – Aspiring Olympian

A major boost came from Optus, which pledged $1 for every lap completed, directly benefitting RMHC and adding momentum to the marathon’s mission.

“Did we train for this? Absolutely not,” laughed Archie. “We weren’t sure what would give out first our legs or our minds but we knew Townsville would show up. It’s The People’s Marathon.”

The ARN station credits the success to the passion and effort of the entire Star106.3 team, the generosity of the local community and a shared commitment to making noise for a good cause.

More info on how to support Ronald McDonald House Charities here.

*Images supplied