Matt, his wife Rachael and her sister Sarah all caught the running bug. They have been running the past seven or so years since. Matt and Rachael have chalked up nine marathons between them.

Their hope is for sons Thomas, aged six, and Lewis, four, to feel that spark too - if not for running, then to just keep moving and be involved in physical activity.

The Cash family will all be stepping out to Run For A Cause on Sunday: Rachael in the half-marathon, Matt in the 10-kilometre run and the boys in the children's dash.

"Being at an event and being at the finish line is one of the most inspirational things. You can tell when people cross the finish line it is the best feeling," Matt said. "We love to bring the kids along because there is always such a cool atmosphere. I didn't really have a chance to experience that as a kid growing up."

Matt said putting in the training and effort to reach the finish line in an event evoked a great sense of pride, happiness and achievement, especially in a big personal challenge.

Still recovering from last month's Melbourne Marathon, Matt said he would be on course not to break records but simply to be involved.

"The main reason we're doing the run is to support the charities and the event," Matt said. "Really as a runner in Ballarat, you feel a sense of responsibility to do it. You know those who are working so hard on it, to give Ballarat a great fun run."

The Ballarat Foundation's Run For A Cause, in its second year, will launch the city's first half-marathon in almost a decade.

There will also be 10 and five-kilometre runs, a 5km family and pet walk and the popular 1km children's dash.

This year's Run is focusing on support for frontline charity partners in early childhood development: Ballarat Reads, Ballarat Community Health's paediatric programs, Eureka Mums, Eureka Community Kindergarten Association, Uniting Ballarat, Ballarat Toy Library and Playgroup Victoria's Sebastopol Hub.

Fifty per cent of Run entry fees is shared evenly between The Ballarat Foundation's program Ballarat Reads and a charity partner of choice.

There is still time to enter.

WHEN: Sunday, November 17.

WHERE: Community Village and start/finish precinct in Victoria Park. Courses path takes in Victoria Park and Lake Wendouree.

WEATHER FORECAST: Maximum 16C, partly cloudy and a slight chance of rain (20 per cent).

EVENTS: RUN - 8am start, Half-marathon (21.1 kilometres); 8.15am, 10km; 9am, 5km; 10.15am, 1km (children's dash). WALK - 9am, 5km family event, pets included.

ENTER: run4ac.org.au

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