Run for a Cause's first virtual edition reached its finish line on Monday with combined efforts tallying 20,712 kilometres for $16,232. All efforts will boost the foundation's Ballarat Reads program, and mean about 90 children, aged under-five, will receive a free book every month for the next year.

Participants ran at sea with the crew of Australian navy ship HMAS Ballarat chalking up laps on the flight deck and in the gym. Teams, like Federation University, ran interstate.

And there was plenty of running in the heart of Ballarat with school groups, work groups and individuals setting their own running targets to keep moving for the common goal.

The Ballarat Foundation chief executive officer Andrew Eales said shifting the major fundraiser to a virtual platform was always going to be difficult to gauge how the community might respond.

He said the community's strong love for running and supporting each other became clear.

"It's an amazing outcome and we're really thankful for the community for getting involved, particularly in an environment hit hard by the economic impacts of COVID," Mr Eales said.

"Early on we gave people the chance to determine how much they would pay for their individual entry fee. Some people paid $10 and others paid $200 - it all counts and there was an understanding those in a more advantaged position could give a little more."

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Children's literacy was the cause in focus for this year's event primarily due to the heavy toll on schooling and pivots to home learning during lockdowns.

Run participant Helen Bettes said her passion for all children to be immersed in books and develop a love of reading was the "hook" to her signing up. Ms Bettes was the event's highest fundraiser, collecting more than $550 for her efforts.

"My wish is for all children to 'catch the reading bug' from their families and friends who take time to nurture a love of reading by reading to them, by talking to them about books and modelling the joy of reading to their children," Ms Bettes said.

"I wish for all children to have the chance to enjoy the company of books as they turn each page to discover, wonder and laugh at their world. I wish for all children to feel the magic that reading together brings."

The Ballarat Foundation hopes to return an on-site Run for a Cause event to Ballarat next year.