A group of runners prepare to begin a 200-km trek from Ottawa to Petawawa to raise money for a military child care centre. (Chad Pawson/CBC)

A group of soldiers, reservists and volunteers left Parliament Hill on Thursday morning to begin a 200-km relay to raise money for emergency childcare for military families.

The run from Ottawa to CFB Petawawa, organized by the Ottawa Commissionaires, is part of an effort to provide funding for the base's Family Resource Centre.

In the last two years, the relay has raised $70,000, or about 15 per cent of the centre's budget.

Theresa Sabourin, the family centre's executive director, said the run is a vital part of keeping the centre operational.

"The run for military families has actually assisted us to extend our range of services and be more flexible and meeting the unique needs such as emergency child care options," said Sabourin.

The non-profit centre has seen an influx of users since the Afghan mission began eight years ago.

Chief Warrant Officer Wayne Ford, one of the runners, said the centre has done a good job keeping pace with the needs of families as more and more soldiers have been deployed from Petawawa.

Each runner will run about 30 km in stages over the two-day run, and along the route some supporters will be there to greet them. One of the run's biggest boosters is St. Isidore's Catholic School in Kanata. That's where children will hand over another big cheque to the runners.

Lieutenant-General Andrew Leslie was on hand at Parliament Hill to see the runners off and lauded them for demonstrating "the spirit that quite frankly has made our nation as great as it is."

"To actually do, to organize, to commit energy, time and resources in a worthy cause, and what worthier cause than to take care of the military families from CFB Petawawa," said Leslie.

With files from the CBC's Chad Pawson