The business will host a 12-hour treadmill marathon on Wednesday.

Anytime Fitness Horsham manager Leah Dumesny said a large number of gym members and staff had a connection to the Wimmera Health Care Group oncology unit, and wanted to help raise money for the new centre in Horsham.

“This is a cause so close to so many people. It affects the whole community,” she said.

“We knew we wanted to help, but we really wanted to do it in our own style and also get our members involved. We have had a lot of support and the spots have filled up.”

Miss Dumesny said runners would take half-hour shifts on the treadmill.

She said each runner paid for their spot and collected sponsorship from friends and family.

Miss Dumesny said she hoped the initiative could raise $5000.

Anytime Fitness Horsham will donate $3 for each kilometre completed on the day.

Wimmera Cancer Centre fundraising sub-committee chairwoman Amelia Crafter said the event was another example of a Wimmera business finding an innovative way to raise money for Rachael’s Wish.

The fundraising appeal was named after Murtoa woman Rachael Littore, who contacted Member for Mallee Andrew Broad last year and urged him to fund a state-of-the-art cancer centre in the Wimmera.