Gabriel Leroy will run as a butterfly to create awareness of Beyond Blue and mental health; while ex-Wallaby and Armidale School old boy Richard Tombs will show his courage in a wheelchair, proudly pushed along the 14 km course by students from his alma mater.

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The Armidale District Cricket Association donated $3500 to Mr Leroy at Armidale Sportsground on Friday morning, on behalf of Easts.

The money would provide 73 calls to a trained councillor for someone suffering with mental health issues, Mr Leroy wrote on his Facebook page.

"I would like to thank the amazing generosity of the club and all its players, staff and affiliates," Mr Leroy wrote. "With the help of amazing people like that we can break the stigma around mental health and save lives."

Some young club members, Armidale Cricket president Mike Porter said, had been close to young fellows who took their own lives in Armidale. "It's very close to their hearts, so they wanted to do that."

The money came from a fundraising day for Beyond Blue, and a fine kitty that accumulated over the years.

""There's not a lot of point in us having money in the bank unless we can do something useful with it," Mr Porter said.

Almost a year to the day after he received a critical neck injury while playing soccer, the bravery of former Australian centre Richard Tombs will be at the forefront of a record team of 286 runners from The Armidale School who will make a 16-hour return bus trip to both honour him and be inspired by him as they set out to raise funds and the profile of the Guns Out For Tombsy Spinal Foundation, whilst achieving personal goals.

"Tombsy's story had a real impact on students, not just on the boys and increasing number of girls that play rugby," said Year 11 student Samuel Jones, who last year set a school record for the event finishing in 56 minutes 12 seconds and has designed the special singlets to be worn by the team.

"The shock of him being injured so badly while playing a casual game of soccer was really powerful and the effect of that is a big reason why we have the largest team ever.

"It's wonderful that his story has encouraged so many students to get out and push themselves and it will be especially significant for those students who get to push him."

Joining the team will be Tombs' wife Carissa, a former Australian netballer, and their three daughters.

TAS has been fielding a team in the iconic footrace for many years and will once again be the largest school team at the event "by a country mile", the school said.

Jim Pennington, who is organising TAS's team for the event, said the fact that around half of all secondary students had entered it was a statement in itself.

"Being prepared to take on something that is so much bigger than just themselves says something about their courage and willingness to pursue a personal challenge, and Tombsy's story just makes that even more powerful," Pennington said.

"It's a great tribute to him, and a credit to the students, that a school from 600km away from the city can end up fielding one of the largest teams in a world-recognised event."