The runners will arrive in Goulburn at 12.45pm on September 2 at the corner of Sloane St and Finlay Rd, on a run from Canberra to Sydney in 24 hours.

Civic2Surf is a student-led initiative established in 2011 to raise funds for Batyr, a not-for-profit organisation founded by an alumnus who saw a need for people to talk about mental health.

Five years on, Civic2Surf has raised more than $50,000 towards the greater cause.

“Statistically speaking, one in every four of our friends will be struggling with some form of ill-mental health,” says Civic2Surf committee president for this run, Harriet Nixon.

“Removing the stigma surrounding mental health is imperative to helping our friends speak out about what they might be going through. No one should have to suffer in silence.”

Civic2Surf began in 2011 when student Sebastian Robertson opened up about his depression. He and six friends devised and ran a 340km route from Canberra to Sydney over six days.

This year, in a show of public support, former Wallabies star Clyde Rathbone has joined the cause, speaking at Civic2Surf’s official launch.

“Our goal for this year is to [increase] awareness for such a prominent issue [and] we aim to raise $20,000 for Batyr,” Ms Nixon said.

All funds will be used by Batyr programs to encourage youth to talk about mental health.

The run will leave from the ANU on Friday, and all 60 runners will camp at Bong Bong Racecourse in the Southern Highlands overnight before rising to cross the finish line at Bondi Beach about 4pm on Saturday, joining Sydney University students who will have run from the northern beaches.

Civic2Surf’s 2016 sponsorship director Tyler Grindal outlined ways to support the cause.

“We have recently launched our fundraising platform hub.benojo.com, also available on our Facebook page, Civic2Surf,” he said.

“We’d love to see as many people as possible … to cheer our runners.”