Lancashire sight loss charity Galloway’s is joining a host of other organisations to take part in The 2.6 Challenge, a nationwide campaign to raise vital funds.
As largescale fundraisers have been postponed following the Coronavirus pandemic, the organisers of the biggest mass participation events across the country have come together to help save UK’s charities.
The 2.6 Challenge will launch on Sunday April 26 – what should have been the date of the 40th London Marathon, the world’s biggest one day annual fundraising event.
The challenge will last for a week and is open to anyone of any age. The only requirement is that the activity must follow the Government guidelines on exercise and social distancing and remember to stay local.
From Sunday April 26, Galloway’s is asking people to dream up an activity based around the numbers 2.6 or 26 and fundraise or donate £26. To get involved follow this link: https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/giving/events/twopointsix/ and select either, ‘donate or fundraise’ on the Virgin Money Giving website. Then simply select Galloway’s as your chosen charity.
Charlotte Carnell, Events Fundraiser at Galloway’s, said “This campaign could really make a life changing difference to local people affected by sight loss. This is a challenge that everyone can get involved with, at your own pace, in your own house or garden. It doesn’t even need to be something active. You could flip a pancake 26 times, do a 26-minute sponsored silence or bake 26 cakes – the options are endless. All we ask is that you donate £26 to our challenge page, or you set up your own page and have your own target to raise. Maybe you could you even raise £260.”
For more information on how to get involved and support Galloway’s in The 2.6 Challenge, email charlotte.carnell@galloways.org.uk or call 07544 392359.
Nick Rusling, Co-Chairman of the Mass Participation Sports Organisers group (MSO) and CEO of Human Race, said: “The 2.6 Challenge can be anything that works for you. You can run or walk 2.6 miles, 2.6km or for 26 minutes. You could do the same in your home or garden, go up and down the stairs 26 times, juggle for 2.6 minutes, do a 26 minute exercise class or get 26 people on a video call and do a 26 minute workout – anything you like. We want people to get active, have fun and raise money to help Save the UK’s Charities by giving money or raising funds for the charity close to your heart.”
Hugh Brasher, Co-Chair of MSO and Event Director of London Marathon Events, said: “For many of the UK’s charities, the day of the London Marathon is the biggest fundraising day of the year,” said “One of the founding pillars of the London Marathon was ‘to show how the family of mankind can be united’. We hope that The 2.6 Challenge, which starts on the day our 40th Race should have taken place, will embody that spirit and inspire people, families and communities to fundraise for their chosen charity to help Save the UK’s Charities. Right now, our vulnerable members of society need the help of charities more than ever before.”
The mass-participation events organisers behind The 2.6 Challenge are: Human Race, parkrun, The Great Run Company, Run 4 Wales, Grounded Events, London Landmarks, Virgin Sport, Limelight Sports, Threshold Sports, Running High and London Marathon Events. The design and website has been created by Studio Republic and the social media campaign by LiveWire Sport. Both agencies are working pro bono. The campaign is supported by the Charities Aid Foundation, the Institute of Fundraising, the Small Charities Coalition, the Office for Civil Society, Sport England, Let’s Do This, Virgin Money Giving and JustGiving.
For more information on The 2.6 Challenge, visit twopointsixchallenge.co.uk
Galloway’s, which has sites in Penwortham, Chorley, Southport and Morecambe, supports more than 7,000 blind and partially sighted people across Sefton and Lancashire.
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