MIDDLE-DISTANCE star Jacob Nolan has already donated more than $6000 of his winnings from a stellar 2017-18 Victorian Athletic League (VAL) season to Righteous Pups Australia.

Now Bendigo Athletic Club is going a few extra miles for the non-profit organisation, which provides support to young people and adults by training dogs for autism-assistance, medical alert and therapy roles.

On Sunday, the club will host a five-kilometre fun run at Crusoe Reservoir.

All monies raised from entry fees and catering and part-sales from the on-site Brew 2 U Mobile coffee van will go to the Bendigo-founded organisation.

This is the first time the club has organised the run.  It hopes to make it an annual event.

Nolan won five races during the VAL season – all of them in 2018 – including the open 800m at the Stawell Gift on Easter Monday, resulting in a windfall for Righteous Pups Australia.

The 23-year-old was introduced to organisation by his club mate Adam Parker, who together with his wife Anna, have fostered and trained Righteous pups for the last six years.

“As a club we’ve talked about doing a fun run for a while, and we were also keen to support a charity,” Parker said.

“I know Righteous Pups is always struggling to find donations, so we thought why not choose them.

“With Jacob donating his winnings, it’s kind of snowballed and people are getting behind it.”

Parker said all at Bendigo Athletics Club continued to be amazed by Nolan’s generosity and kind-heartedness.

“We are proud of what he has achieved on the athletics track, but probably more so of his community spirit in donating that money,” he said.

“As a young guy that prize money would be pretty handy for him for various things, to give it away like that is a pretty noble thing to do.”

Sunday’s fun run starts at 10.30am and includes a 1km children’s race and 5km run or walk for all ages and abilities.

Trophies for will be awarded for the fastest time overall, fastest runners aged under-23, 24-39 and 40-plus, fastest woman and fastest junior in the 1km race.

Entry is $10 and can be done on the day or via trybooking.com by searching for ‘Make your Mark’. 

All pre-event entries go into the draw to win a double pass to Bendigo Gold Class Cinema donated by Advanced Electrical.

For more on Righteous Pups Australia, visit their website at http://righteouspups.org.au/