Didnt even plan on telling anyone, was just going to do it solo...

Good thing he didnt.

As the growth of Charlies Run 4 Kids may never have had the influence it has.

Originally started to help a young Dudley girl, Charlie who was battling Neuroblastoma raise money for the Childrens Hospital art and craft section, the charity has grown into something much bigger than Mr Waddingham ever thought it could be.

Kylie and I sort of head the front of it, but its definitely a community-based charity, Cheyne says.

It all worked so easy for us, because of Charlie. She was battling her disease on and off for over eight years.

So the whole community already knew about her, and how hard she worked to try and beat it. As soon as we used her name, the community was straight on board.

She was an absolute champion, a fighter and taught so many people in our community so many life lessons.

The group has run from Seal Rocks to Dudley each November for the past five years. In that time, theyve raised over $450,000 to help numerous families who had kids fighting illnesses.

What the runners do, and put the their bodies through for the five days, is pretty amazing, Cheyne says. We finish with a fun day, which is our main fundraiser.

Last year, all the parents of the kids the charity has helped took part in the run.

What we do for them, the community feel and what it does for their family, is pretty empowering, Cheyne says.

But to have them come back and be involved, they hang out with families whove been through the same thing, and the runners. Its become a really big family.

That nature was proven recently when a group of the charitys regulars travelled out to a familys farm near Inverell for a weekend. The family lost their son last year.

Theres not much support out there in those areas, Cheyne says. Its important they continue to get support, not just on the [run] day.

Mrs Waddingham says its surreal to see what the charity has grown into and the flow-on influence.

These runners are everyday people, theyre not athletes, she says. People come up saying we love your run; wearing out hats, shirts and with stickers on cars.

Cheyne adds: What its teaching this next generation is probably the most mind-blowing part for me.

The 2018 run is on in September and the charity are seeking corporate support.

Visit www.charliesr4k.com or their Facebook page for info.