Angie Thomas and Tearnie Brown during the half marathon.
United by grief, driven by purpose and cheered on by family and the Southern Riverina, locals Angie Thomas and Tearnie Brown turned heartbreak into hope at the Gold Coast Half Marathon.
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Crossing the finish line side by side in an inspiring two hours and 12 minutes, the cousins honoured family members who have recently passed and raised more than $23,000 to support families facing the challenges of premature birth that Angie faced herself just last year.
Angie is the daughter of Denise and Steve Thomas, and Tearnie is the daughter of David Brown and Kayleen Avard.
The achievement was about much more than completing 21.1 kilometres.
Denise and Steve Thomas (centre) were there to give a great hug to their daughter Angie Thomas and niece Tearnie Brown after the run.
Angie had originally planned to run the event alongside her sister, Carly, to raise funds for the Running for Premature Babies.
Tragically, Carly lost her life in a workplace accident in December 2025.
In the wake of that heartbreaking loss, Tearnie stepped in to support her cousin, ensuring they could honour the commitment and complete the race together.
The pair also used the event to raise funds for Running for Premature Babies, collecting more than $23,000 to support families facing the challenges of premature birth.
Jasper and Florence Thomas-Williams cheering at the sidelines of the Gold Coast Half Marathon.
For Angie, the cause is deeply personal.
In November 2025, she and partner Daniel Williams welcomed twins early, at 32 weeks, in Melbourne.
While their daughter, Olive, received outstanding care from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) team at the Royal Women's Hospital, they experienced the devastating loss of Tommy, who was stillborn.
The compassion, expertise and support provided by the NICU team during such a difficult time left a lasting impact on Angie.
By raising funds for the Premature Babies Foundation, she hopes to help ensure other families with premature babies receive the support and care they need during their own journeys.
Angie Thomas (front) with her sister and original running partner Carly Thomas.
Adding to the significance of the day, a large group of Thomas and Brown family members travelled to the Gold Coast to cheer Angie and Tearnie on throughout the event.
They are incredibly proud of Angie and Tearnie for transforming their grief into something positive.
