FAQs

You can find answers to some of the most common questions below. If your question still remains unanswered, please contact us and we’ll be more than happy to help!

Participation and Fundraising

Everyone is welcome! Most people participate as part of a workplace team or as a group of friends and family members. If you’d like to form a team, simply register via this link, fill out the form, and we’ll help set up your team. If you’re an individual (not part of a team), you can also register via the link. For anyone under the age of 18, a parent or guardian will need to register on your behalf and sign the Terms and Conditions, and a responsible adult will need to supervise you during the event.
In 2026, we are aiming to raise $900,000 to help us provide 24-hour palliative care for children and young people with life-limiting conditions. Your support will help improve the quality of life for children and their families – through life, death and bereavement.
You don’t need to buy a ticket to take part, but we ask all participants to raise $500 for every 30-minute block you’re on the treadmill. If everyone raises $500 per 30-minute block, we’ll reach $24,000 for every treadmill!
We also ask corporate teams to provide a registration fee for their treadmill, which we add to your team’s fundraising total. Each registration package comes with its own perks and benefits, such as branded signage, butler service on the day, or special gifts for your team members.
We ask participants to raise $500 for each 30-minute block you’re on the treadmill. For example, if you participate for an hour, your fundraising goal would be $1,000. Teams who take full treadmills are asked to raise $24,000 for each treadmill they book.
We provide tons of support to help you reach your fundraising goal, and we’re standing by to help. Please contact us if you have any questions. And check out our ‘Tools & Tips’ page for fundraising inspiration, social media resources, and more. Every single dollar you raise goes towards helping us provide support for hundreds of families across Victoria.
That’s fantastic! Most participants are part of workplace teams, and we’d love to encourage more businesses to get involved. We ask corporate teams to provide a registration fee for their treadmill. Each registration package comes with its own perks and benefits for your team to enjoy, such as branded signage, butler service on the day, or special gifts for your team members. To learn more or get involved, please contact us.
There are four simple steps to setting up a team:
- First, please register via the blue link above or click here.
- Next, we will contact you to find out about your team and how you’d like to participate.
- We’ll then create a fundraising page for you, which includes your team name and your fundraising target.
- The final step is for you to share your fundraising page link with your team members, family and friends and encourage them to register to join you.
Click on the blue ‘Register Your Interest’ button at the top right and fill out the form. It only takes a few minutes, and we’ll be in touch soon to help you get started.

Event information

Not at all! Participants can walk, jog or run at their own pace. Of course, you are welcome to challenge yourself but it’s entirely up to you.
The 24-Hour Treadmill Challenge is broken down into 30-minute blocks and you can choose how long you take part. Many participants are on the treadmill for 30 minutes, but some take out two or even three blocks. Team captains will allocate people to specific time blocks in their treadmill roster.
Very Special Kids provides some treadmills for smaller teams or individuals to share. If you are part of a smaller group of people, we’ll help you find a block that suits you. Please note, there are limited blocks on shared treadmills, so we can’t guarantee your preferred time will be available. We encourage you to register early.
We understand that sometimes unexpected things come up. Team captains are responsible for filling their roster and ensuring all blocks are covered on the day. We’re also here to help, so let us know as soon as possible if you have any concerns.
Our wonderful MCs will announce when you have five minutes left and they’ll encourage the next participants to get ready at their treadmill. There will be a 10-second countdown and participants will be asked to completely stop their treadmill before getting off. The next team member will then get on safely and re-start the treadmill.
Please DO NOT try to get on a treadmill that is running as it is very easy to lose your footing and fall off.
When you arrive, you will receive a wristband to confirm which treadmill you are registered on. Inside the marquee we provide water stations and refreshments for the full 24 hours and of course much-needed coffee, hot chocolate and snacks! We also have an incredible line-up of entertainment, music to keep you going, and fun activities. If your team has registered for one of our team registration packages, you will also enjoy a range of extra benefits.
Something you are comfortable walking or running in, such as activewear and comfortable runners. Many teams pick a theme and choose to dress up – this is great fun and creates a fantastic atmosphere. Plus you might be in the running for the best dressed award! Please refrain from wearing items that may be unsafe on the treadmill or cause a trip hazard – long feather boas, stilettos and similar items can be dangerous.
Please ensure you bring a personal water bottle to refill at the complimentary water stations, as well as a gym towel or hand towel. If you have specific dietary requirements, please bring snacks if you are planning to stay for a while.
Of course, bring your cheer squad along! Your support crew are welcome to enjoy the marquee entertainment and ambience. Please note: supporters are not permitted to be on a treadmill, unless they register online for your team, where they will need to read and agree to the Terms and Conditions.
Absolutely! Anyone under the age of 18 must be registered online by a parent or guardian, who signs the Terms and Conditions on their behalf. Minors must also be supervised at all times by a responsible adult for their own safety and the safety of others. This includes when they are getting on and off the treadmill. We also have a special prize for the top fundraiser who is under 18!
As well as the 35 treadmills, we provide couches for teams and your cheer squads to rest on, as well as places to store your belongings. We will have a phone charging station and photobooth area with fun props so you can take a team photo and share your experience on social media. There will also be a refreshment area with water stations and continual refreshments. There are also big screens to keep you updated with the fundraising total. First aid support will be onsite for the whole event.
There are bathrooms in the main Very Special Kids building, just down a short footpath from the marquee entrance. This will be signed and there will plenty of staff and volunteers around to direct you. Please be aware that there are no shower facilities onsite.
It sure does! We have MCs to keep you motivated, DJs pumping the tunes, and continuous food and refreshments to keep everyone’s energy up. At night, we keep the doors to the marquee closed to minimise impact on our neighbours, but inside those marquee walls, the atmosphere and the energy keeps going!
Parking can be tricky, particularly during the day on Friday. There is parking available in surrounding streets, and we encourage you to check for time restrictions. We also encourage you to arrive early to ensure you have enough time for parking before your allocated time block. We will send you an email with all the necessary information a week before the event. Please keep an eye on your email inbox for handy tips, including parking options.
Very Special Kids is a short walk from both Armadale and Malvern train stations, and tram numbers 6, 16 and 72 all run close by. For more information, head to ptv.vic.gov.au.
- Not at all! We are lucky to have a fully enclosed marquee to host the event, so regardless of the weather outside, you’ll be comfy and dry inside. It can get cool overnight, and whilst we do have heaters inside the marquee, it’s a big space! We encourage you to stay warm by wearing layers.

Miscellaneous

We’d love to have your support, such as donating food, beverages, or items for prizes. Please contact us if you would like to donate goods or services.