BALLARAT'S biggest running festival is setting an ambitious target to move forward in November, despite being forced to adopt a virtual format once more.
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The Ballarat Foundation has set the goal at $50,000 from a combined 50,000 kilometres in the annual Run for a Cause.
Plans had been underway to bring Run for a Cause back to Victoria Park but escalating COVID cases and lack of clarity for how and if the event could work left organisers to move online for a second consecutive year.
The Ballarat Foundation chief executive officer Andrew Eales said it was disappointing not to be back on course but the answers the foundation needed to run the charity event were not available - and that was just the reality of working through opening up.
This comes as Ballarat Turf Club has made clear its intentions to host 5000 people for the Ballarat Cup on November 20, in what it hopes could be the catalyst for the return of other major events in the region.
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Run for a Cause featured more than 2000 participants in its second run at Victoria Park in 2019. Mr Eales said logistically that was a tough enough challenge in meeting safety requirements, before the pandemic.
"There are so many things we can't control," Mr Eales said.
"As a small not-for-profit organisation, we don't have the capacity to wait a couple of weeks before coming to a decision. If things didn't go to plan, the situation would be very difficult for us and not in line with what we're trying to achieve for this event, and that's trying to raise as much money as we can to help children in need."
Run for a Cause raised $16,577 for its Ballarat Read program from virtual participants last year.
Mr Eales was confident a much higher $50,000 target could be reached, with the backing of community impact partners, to this year fund back to school vouchers to buy stationery and shoes.
People can pledge to run or walk as far as they like for the month of November towards the cause.
For the past 18 months, the generosity and enthusiasm of the community has been overwhelming and I am confident that our virtual Run for a Cause will elicit a similar response.
- Andrew Eales, The Ballarat Foundation chief executive
He said government road maps were gradually allowing people more chance to get moving and exercise and, as an organisation, the Foundation recognised how much people were looking for an outlet to do some good.
"People are fatigued with what they've experienced with COVID. We encourage people to get out, be active and be safe," Mr Eales said. "We're reminded the pandemic has had such a significant impact on the community and there's a lot of need for food support, housing and basic essentials."
Back to school vouchers are part of a Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal program and vouchers are administered in this region by The Ballarat Foundation.
Run for a Cause officially launches October 18: ballaratfoundation.org.au.
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