"The staff are talking in riddles, we're going a bit delirious," Jai Forster admitted with a smile.

Mr Forster, the franchisee at Anytime Fitness Wodonga, and his team took part in the gym group's national treadmill challenge, aiming to step out on the equipment from 3pm Friday to 3pm Saturday.

Now in its third year, the challenge involved about 250 clubs nationwide and raised money for R U OK?, a suicide prevention charity that encourages people to reach out to those who may be struggling.

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Mr Forster said the Wodonga challenge had been successful, with people working in relay and staff members donating their time to fill any gaps on the roster.

"From 1am to 3am, it was fairly quiet, but our staff were here to keep the treadmills going during those quiet times," he said.

"There's different techniques, some like to be a bit adventurous and creative and keep it running and do a few acrobatic moves to get on, no accidents yet."

Chloe Hawkins took her turn on a treadmill several times between 2am and 6am and was still striding strongly in hour number 22.

"There hasn't been a space where we didn't have anyone to fill it," she said.

"At the end of the day, it's only one day a year we're doing this and it's such a good cause, we've just got to tough it out."

Mr Forster, a personal trainer for 20 years, said the goals behind R U OK? resonated with the Anytime Fitness team.

"Linking the movement side with mental health is really important to us," he said.

"I always promoted movement and the motivational side behind getting people off the couch and moving for their own mental well being."

The franchisee noted the four steps of R U OK? - ask the question, listen without judgement, recommend help and then check in.

"It's just a really simple way because it is the black dog that no one likes to talk about, it's really hard, a sensitive issue to approach your friends about," Mr Forster said.

"Those four steps make it really achievable for anyone in the community to say, 'Hey mate, are you OK, what's going on?'.

"Just breaking the ice with them and bringing it out of the shadows and into regular conversation."

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