The Civic2Surf run is going ahead to draw attention to the elephant in the room - mental illness.
The annual two-day relay run by students from the Australian National University raises funds for batyr, a peer-run youth mental health not-for-profit.
While the event usually consists of a run from Canberra to Bondi Beach, due to restrictions the ANU students will run a return route from Canberra to the Bong Bong racecourse.
"It was incredibly difficult this year, we had to liaise [with] all the councils in the different regions, so that's Yass, Goulburn, Upper Lachlan Shire, Wingecarribee ..." Civic2Surf president Isabella Davies said.
"[We] had to speak to police, a lot of traffic managers and head sergeants in different areas."
"It was more about making sure we were COVID-compliant. We had to change the route - we obviously can't run to Bondi and put anyone at risk."
Ms Davies is passionate about mental health and has been involved with Civic2Surf for three years.
"Mental health is something that affects everyone - I think everyone knows someone who has been impacted in one way or another," she said.
This year, the run aims to raise $20,000 for batyr's Being Heard program, which delivers two-day workshops for people aged 18 to 30 with a focus on helping people who have experienced mental illness tell their story.
ANU student and Civic2Surf runner Jess Barallon said being involved with Civic2Surf got her in touch with batyr, and led her to become a lived experience speaker for the organisation two years ago.
"At batyr we talk about different signs that someone might not be doing so well," she said.
"I think it's really important, because events like this get people together and that way you can actually see from where you stand in relation to that person how they are actually doing, rather than just asking if they are OK."
batyr chief executive Nic Brown said that the Civic2Surf run has played a crucial role in the development and ongoing funding of the organisation.
"Nine years ago, Sebastian Robertson, our founder, had a talk at ANU and shared his story," Mr Brown said.
"He had some tough times during university where he got to some really low points, where he attempted taking his own life on a couple of occasions.
"He wanted to go back and share his experiences so other students like him didn't feel the way that he did."
This talk led to students who were motivated by Sebastian's story creating the Civic2Surf event to help kick off his idea for the organisation.
For Isabella Davies, the annual run is a reminder to those facing mental illness that they are not alone and support is available.
"You have friends who put up these wonderfully bubbly facades, and they are suffering in silence," she said.
"No one should suffer in silence."
