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EMERGENCY services personnel will run into Ballarat on Thursday morning in a tribute to firefighter and solider Nathan Shanahan, who took his life in December.
They arrive on a mission that Shanahan himself completed last year, the Damien Burke Memorial Relay Run from Mildura to Melbourne.
Shanahan ran to honour his mate and former colleague, but also in his ongoing personal pledge to raise awareness of post-traumatic stress disorder and depression.
Organisers sought permission from both families to add Shanahan’s hometown into the course for the second annual event.
Shanahan’s family is taking part in various stages of the 600-kilometre journey, which started at Mildura fire station on Saturday.
Runners will arrive in Ballarat about lunch-time after a night stop-over in Daylesford.
The final leg will be an eight-kilometre run from Footscray Fire Station to the Crown Metropol Hotel where they will join the Melbourne Firefighter Stair Climb.
“Burkey’s Run” aims to raise $500,000 to improve support services, research and awareness for mental health.