Ben Ferris has run in thongs, he has run semi-naked and he has been the first person to run solo across Australia — now he is attempting to run from Byron Bay to Cairns on water.

Key points: Ben Ferris will attempt to cover 2,000 kilometres on water to raise awareness about pollution in waterways

Ben Ferris will attempt to cover 2,000 kilometres on water to raise awareness about pollution in waterways He will use a pedal-powered board which is set up like a step machine, allowing him to 'walk' on water

He will use a pedal-powered board which is set up like a step machine, allowing him to 'walk' on water He previously ran from Townsville to Cairns and then to Darwin to raise money for the Royal Flying Doctor Service

The 35-year-old whose inspiration is his childhood hero Forrest Gump (from the 1994 movie starring Tom Hanks) is stand-up 'pedal boarding' the nearly 2,000-kilometre journey on the ocean.

He arrived on Queensland's Sunshine Coast this week as part of the three-month trek to do the "world's longest run on water".

And it's all in the name of a good cause.

Ben Ferris expects his paddle from Byron Bay to Cairns will take three months. ( Supplied: Ben Ferris, RunFerrisRunN )

"I'm doing it to raise awareness about how much plastic and pollution is in our waterways and ensure Seabins are placed in every harbour," said the man who calls himself Ferris Gump.

Customised board

Ben Ferris with Mike Middleton from Mooloolaba Coast Guard. ( Supplied: Mooloolaba Coast Guard )

The pedal board allows Mr Ferris to stand up on the water and use push pedals to move through the water instead of using a paddle.

"It's like a [stand up] paddle board, but it has pedals built into it so it's like a step-up machine, so you are walking or running on water," he said.

Mr Ferris has no sponsors for his journey and is living in a tent on "donations and generosity", but he was no stranger to odd running events for a cause.

'Marathongs' and other challenges

In 2016, he ran from Townsville to Cairns and then on to Darwin with no support vehicles to help him along the way to raise money for the Royal Flying Doctor Service.

He has also run across Bali, dragging along a solar panel to make people living in Bali "more aware of the environment".

Ben Ferris ran around Australia in his thongs to raise money for bush heritage and Indigenous running groups. ( Supplied: Ben Ferris, RunFerrisRunN )

And then last year he began his "marathong" challenge, ditching his running shoes to run in thongs to raise money for farmers.

He even ran from Sydney to Melbourne in gumboots.

But by the end of last year he got tired of running on roads as he was "tired of cars, tired of trucks and pollution and had lots of unsafe moments".

He set his sights to running on water.

He approached the manufacturer of the pedal boards and Seabin and they were keen to be involved.

Ditching the military life

Mr Ferris grew up on a farm in Kyogle, near Byron Bay, and just like Forrest Gump, he loved running and then enrolled in the military.

Ben Ferris is known for his cheeky approach to fundraising. ( Supplied: Ben Ferris )

He had enough cash to buy his own home by the age of 21 and thanks to spending seven years in the military, he had $270,000 in the bank.

The death of a friend in 2010 switched his focus to a Buddhist mindset so he decided to start "living in the moment".

And like Gump, he found solace in running when it came to dealing with a hard time.

"I'm more for the moment and about helping other people now," Mr Ferris said.

Challenges of 'running' on the ocean

Running on water was a whole new challenge.

Not only does he have to juggle big waves, winds tides and currents, there were also the ocean's creatures.

"I have a strong feeling I've pedalled over big sharks," Mr Ferris said.

"They're not 100 per cent visible, but they were a very powerful, shark-looking thing.

"I've seen lots of dolphins."

He lost "four phones in five weeks", his satellite phone was "no longer working" and he lost his fishing gear when the pedal board flipped.

Mr Ferris hoped to reach Cairns by June. He will have to go through crocodile territory first.

His journey can be followed on his Facebook page, RunFerrisRunN.