Christine was first, joining Ballarat Parkrun, and Leigh wanted to know what all the fun was about.

The past five years or so has become a juggling act, taking turns to run while the other looks after their young children.

Christine and Leigh managed to build up to run their first marathon last year in Melbourne together but say Run for a Cause is the only time their daughters can also get in the action.

Ballarat's running festival will take on a virtual challenge next month and while a bit different, the Hutchinsons can hardly wait to get moving.

"When we do events, it's nice to do events together," Christine said. "Run for a Cause is so exciting because there is no other local fun run for kids really. This one is achievable for them - they tend to get the blinkers on and go for it and they love getting their own medal."

Run for a Cause's virtual fun run is for participants to pledge their own running or walking distance for November, for example, progressively tallying up 42.2 kilometres to reach a marathon for the month.

Christine, who has been nursing niggling injuries, is considering logging 180 kilometres which is the equivalent to running a lap of Lake Wendouree every day for the month. Leigh is working out what goal my suit his usual training, to push himself a little more.

Daughters Izzy, who is almost seven, and Claire, age five, are happy to have a run.

READ MORE

The Ballarat Foundation has also modified the registration fee to a self-nominated amount for anyone who registers before November 1. This is in a bid for anyone to be able to take part and offer as much as they can afford in what has been a tough year for the community.

Childhood literacy program Ballarat Reads is the cause in focus for this year's event. Dolly Parton Imagination Library, a program within Ballarat Reads, delivers children aged zero to five in Ballarat a free book every month.

Visit run4ac.org for more information and to enter.

Have you signed up to The Courier's variety of news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in Ballarat.