by Simon Brunsdon

WAGGA will be a key checkpoint in the charity run from the MCG to the SCG to be held at the end of this month.

The 1200-kilometre-long run is set to raise a large sum of money to be donated to the McGrath Foundation.

The donation will be used to fund nurses in rural areas in conjunction with breast cancer support and awareness.

Eight runners have put up their hands to take part in the endurance run, with each running 10 kilometres at a time in relay style.

When they are not running they will be travelling on the support bus as well as collecting donations from onlookers.

One of the runners and organisers of the run, Trent Elkin, said preparations were going well.

"Each of the boys have been doing their own personal training," Elkin said.

"Some of the guys have been running together and so on, so preparations are going really well."

Elkin knows exactly what is needed to ensure peak fitness for the run, as he has been the strength and conditioning coach with the Cronulla Sharks for the past five years.

He said although they had not yet put a figure on the amount being raised, they were confident it would be a sizeable sum.

They will be passing through six major cities/towns on their way from Melbourne to Sydney, including Wagga, Albury, Gundagai and Canberra.

Leaving from the MCG on December 29, Elkin says the team is scheduled to arrive at the SCG on the third day of the cricket Test, which is formally known as Jane McGrath Day.

After arrival at the cricket ground, the runners will be collecting donations from the crowd before presenting the donations to the McGrath Foundation.

Although this is the first time the run has been held, it is part of the annual fundraiser the group of men do for the McGrath foundation.

Elkin said heat would be a factor during the run, but said they were fully prepared for it.

"Heat is something we have talked about," he said.

"But we will have a full support crew driving alongside the runners at all times and we will be taking precautions to avoid any illness.

"Each person is only running for an hour at a time so they will have plenty of time in between stints to recover."

Depending on what time they leave the MCG, the team is planning to pass through Wagga on Thursday, December 31 at about noon or mid-afternoon.

Elkin said any support from the locals would be greatly appreciated and a crowd would help to motivate the runners.