After a 5am start on Friday runners from ANU tackled 5km legs in pairs all the way, stopping for the night in Bowral before hitting battling traffic to the finish line late on Saturday evening in Sydney.

The annual event raises money for Batyr, an enterprise aimed at bringing the issue of mental health out of the shadows, founded by former Canberran Sebastian Robertson.

Suicide is the biggest killer of young Australians and accounts for the deaths of more young people than car accidents and, according to Beyond Blue, one in four young Australians has a mental health condition.

Mr Robertson, a 2009 ANU graduate, channelled his struggles with mental illness toward creating change by empowering young Australians to face up to these harrowing statistics.

Batyr universities manager Doug Wylie said one of the most powerful aspects of the outreach conducted in schools and universities was storytelling.

Inspired by Illinois Institute of Technology Professor Patrick Corrigan's findings that peer-to-peer communication was one of the most influential factors in reducing stigma, Batyr's five step programs include speakers who share their journey of mental health challenges.

They also give students skills to recognise behavioural changes in themselves and peers, speak appropriately about mental health, and learn to actively listen and support those around them.

Second-year law and international relations student Kyle Wood ran to raise money for Batyr first in the 2014 Civic2Surf.

The atmosphere of camaraderie made the thought of getting from the ACT to Bondi Beach on foot far less daunting.

"There is a lot of buzz in the air, a lot of tired eyes with people rolling out like zombies but it is such a great experience," he said.

This year he has stepped up to be a vehicle support driver providing much needed sugar and moral support to the 60 or more runners taking part.