Close to $180,000 was raised for the Child Cancer Foundation today, thanks to an annual event put on by the Crusaders.

Thousands ran laps at a park in Christchurch's St Albans for the cause today.

From big kids to real kids and even some in dress-ups, Cantabians ran or walked from 6am to 6pm.

“I’ve done like 17 [laps] I think,” one runner said.

“I've done somewhere between 15 and 18,” said another.

“I'm aiming for a marathon.”

Dubbed the 'Long Run, ' it's all about raising money for children facing unimaginable health battles.

Child Cancer Foundation Chief Executive Monica Briggs said it was one of the organisation’s major fundraisers of the year.

“This is just such an awesome event that the Crusaders put on," he said.

"It invites the community of Canterbury to participate, get active, raise funds for such a vital cause to support those parents that are helping their child and family through a diagnosis of having their child with cancer,” she said.

For Kingston Boyd’s family, it was personal. The six-year-old was diagnosed with leukaemia in 2021. He's now in remission.

“It's very heartwarming, been quite emotional about it today, it's lovely to see so many people on board for this cause” mum Renata Boyd said.

The event started in 2022 with just one runner; this year, it's the biggest yet, with around three thousand people expected across the day, with Crusaders and Matatū players also getting amongst the action.

For Matatū Back Abigail Paton, there was a personal reason behind her involvement.

“We're called the Frankie's rescue team, and it was sort of around our manager, Michelle, her son passed away from brain cancer, and the cancer foundation was a massive, sort of provider for their family during that time and really helped them... it’s like, every step that we take, a step forward for helping someone else.”

Crusaders Prop Tamaiti Williams arrived early to participate.

“Pretty blown away, to be honest. I was here this morning and still as full now as it was then”, he said.