The premise, he said, was the same.

“A lot of runners want to run the event. To volunteer allows people to do what the enjoy. It’s the same in motorsport,” Mr Shepherd said.

“There are heaps of different ways you can volunteer or assist during the week or on the day but it all allows those who want to get out there to be out there."

Mr Shepherd is an experienced key official for Confederation of Australian Motor Sport events, including the Eureka Rally.

He was likely to be out on course helping with road closures. 

Mr Shepherd said being a volunteer was not often glamourous but was rewarding.

“I am excited about this event…Runners will be doing the lake, so we’ll be closing Sturt Street for them to run across. Courses will be taking in three notable site in Ballarat: Lake Wendouree, Vic Park and Sturt Street,” Mr Shepherd said.

“The cause itself is terrific, this year focusing on food security and helping make sure families have a meal every evening.”

The Ballarat Foundation Run for a Cause will this year raise money for the Feed Ballarat Appeal, to establish Food Bank in Ballarat. Food Bank will act as a central food distribution centre for food welfare bodies across the wider Ballarat region.

A portion of entry feeds will also go to each participant’s chosen charity partner.

This comes as research shows one in eight Ballarat people will access food relief this year. 

The Foundation aims to focus the event on awareness for a different social cause in the region each year.

Mr Shepherd encouraged others to consider showing their support in-kind however they could.

“Being involved in motor racing and other events, I appreciate how difficult it can be and how much of an effort it is to get volunteers,” Mr Shepherd said.

“This is a great event because it’s all local.”

Run for a Cause will feature 10 and five-kilometre runs, a 5km family walk and a children’s dash.

To register as a participant or volunteer, visit run4ac.org.

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DATE: Sunday, November 18. 

THE CAUSE: food security in the region. Money raised helps support The Ballarat Foundation’s charity partners working in this space.

RUNS: 10km and 5km, which have been trimmed to what Ballarat is used to. Distances fit more in line with other fun runs, personal running goals, ParkRun distance and even what is contested at Olympic level. 

FAMILY: There will be a 5km walk, suitable for people with prams, and a one-kilometre children’s dash.

COURSE: Start and finish events precinct in Victoria Park. Race ambassador Julian Spence said the course needed to be a little difference to what Ballarat is used to running, for example ParkRun, and include the iconic Lake Wendouree. The course is also flat to suit all runners, from those pushing for a fast run to those keen to get moving.

TRAINING: The Courier will feature Spence’s weekly training programs to help get you started. The Running Company is hosting a beginners’ group on Wednesday evenings from the store at 6pm. The Athlete’s Foot Ballarat is also running a couch to 5km program to the event on Tuesday evenings.

RUN EXPERTISE: Hometown Olympic marathon hero Steve Moneghetti and fellow marathon runner Julian Spence (The Running Company Ballarat) are event ambassadors.

BACKGROUND: The Ballarat Foundation announced in late July it would host the community event to help fill the void of a disbanded Run Ballarat, which raised more than $1million for the Ballarat Health Services children’s ward redevelopment in six years. The children’s ward opened in June.

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