The ‘Tread As One’ initiative for not-for-profit organisation, R U OK?, ahead of its national day on September 12, ran from 3pm on Friday to 3pm on Saturday.
Side by side and sweating through the night, people came from all over the area to show their support.
“It was a great turnout, at least a couple of hundred residents,” David Halabe, Revesby Anytime Fitness franchisee, said.
Attendees were encouraged to donate a minimum of $15 for 15 minutes of running. Other businesses set up trailers and stalls around the gym on Marigold Street, offering tread-millers and observers tasty treats.
Businesses included Zelicious Woodfire Pizza, made in an outdoor masonry oven, and Knafeh offering classic Jerusalem street food which was run out of a converted shipping container.
Big Papa’s Food Truck was also there while family owned A.K.A Coffee helped keep people warm and awake throughout the marathon effort.
“We still have donations coming in through the website but on the night over $2,000 was raised,” David said.
Mr Halabe agrees with researchers who claim one of the best ways of dealing with anxiety and depression is through physical exercise.
More than 3,027 Australians have committed suicide since 2015, according to Lifeline.
If you would like to donate to RUOK?, visit ruok.org.au
