The Crusaders have been "blown away" by the turnout from the community for their annual long run to raise funds for the Child Cancer Foundation.
After running 5000 laps of Rugby and Malvern parks last year and raising more than $50,000, the Crusaders opted to double their goals in 2024 with 10,000 laps and $100,000 of fundraising.
Crusaders academy manager Aaron Webb said the club looked likely to "smash" those targets, thanks to plenty of runners joining players and staff when the run kicked off this morning at 6am.
"It's been more than I could ever imagine — there's probably three times as many people here as last year," Webb said.
"People running and walking and crawling even! It's very humbling."
Webb was a big driver in the creation of the now-annual event, running 102km around Malvern and Rugby parks in early 2022 to raise money for the Child Cancer Foundation after the contributions to the charity dropped by around $300,000 due to Covid-19.
The event has since ballooned and in the first four hours of this year's run alone, approximately 6000 laps had already been completed.
"I can't believe it's turned into this. I was just the catalyst — there's been so many people who have made this happen. Everybody's got behind this.
"I'm glad I was able to start it, but now it's about everyone else."
Along with the run, which ends at 6pm tonight, fans have also been able to enjoy events throughout the day such as viewing an open Crusaders training and meeting players from both the Super Rugby and Super Rugby Aupiki squads.
Webb said he wasn't sure how they'd top it next year.
"I'm going to finish 2024 first," he grinned.
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