Cameron Sowter and Lara Jay have challenged themselves to run 50 kilometres each over the course of October as part of Kidney Health's Red Socks Appeal.

As well as being an excuse to get up and about after months of lockdown and virtual university lectures, the challenge was also a way for Mr Sowter to raise awareness of an issue close to his heart.

"My mum's side of the family has chronic kidney disease - my mum was diagnosed at 18 and her dad passed away the next year from kidney disease and complications with cancer as well," Mr Sowter said.

"Mum has been on medication ever since to manage her kidneys and to keep her blood pressure as low as possible."

Over 25,000 people in Australia live with kidney failure, a condition with no cure which often results in patients needing dialysis or a kidney transplant just to stay alive.

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Mr Sowter tested negative for the disease when he turned 18, but that hasn't stopped the condition from being ever-present at the back of his mind.

"My mum has to get regular checks every few months and thankfully everything has been alright so far but there is always a bit of a worry that one day she'll need to go on dialysis," he said.

"During my last term at uni we were learning about the kidney and all of its functions and it's when you hear stuff like that that it pops up again and you start to worry."

When he saw a social media post about Kidney Health's Red Socks Challenge, Mr Sowter was on board straight away - as was his girlfriend.

"As soon as I heard Cam was doing it I wanted to to be there to support him and his family," Ms Jay said.

The pair have run about 55 kilometres combined so far and now they are gearing up for the final stretch of the challenge.

"The running is going alright but you definitely have to commit and run about two or three kilometres every day," Ms Jay said.

"To know that we're doing it together is really good because we both motivate eachother to do better."

The duo have smashed their $500 fundraising goal and have raised over $640 so far, with friends and family jumping at the chance to support them.

Mr Sowter said he was blown away by the amount of support that had been thrown their way and he was keen for the Red Socks Appeal to provide better outcomes for future patients.

To donate to the pair visit www.redsocksappeal.org.au/fundraisers/CamLara.

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