Will you rise to the 2.6 challenge?

Have you got any plans on Sunday 26th April? Want to do something amazing? Take part in the 2.6 challenge and join the nation in raising funds for or donating to your favourite charity.

All you need to do is dream up an activity based around the numbers 2.6 or 26 that suits your skills and complete it on Sunday April 26 – when the 40th London Marathon would have taken place.

It is being organised by a collective of the biggest mass-participation sports events across the country and they are hoping to get 2.6million people involved. We would like to say a massive THANK YOU to everybody who has already signed up to fundraise on our behalf or made a donation to the Youth Adventure Trust.

Don’t worry if you haven’t had chance yet, there is still time to take part and encourage your friends and families to get involved too – if 100 people raise or donate £26 then that would cover the cost of providing remote mentoring for 40 of our young people for a fortnight.  

So far people have signed up to do a 26,000ft stair climb, a virtual cook off from page 26 of their favourite recipe book, a 26 minute trampoline bounce, a 2.6 hour silence, a 2.6 minute trampoline bounce wearing 26 items of clothing, a 26,000 step challenge and a 2,600 step up challenge. The possibilities are endless!

And if you would prefer to join in with something that has already been organised, then you can join our Programme Manager, Kerrie, at 8pm for a Ball-less BINGO extravaganza on Zoom at 8.30pm on 26th April. Visit her Just Giving page for more information. If you prefer something more active, Corporate Partnerships Manager, Philippa, doubles up as a pilates instructor in her spare time. Visit her Just Giving page and join her on Zoom for PHILATES at 6pm!

The 2.6 Challenge can be anything that works for you,” says Nick Rusling, Co-Chair of the Mass Participation Sports Organisers group (MSO) and CEO of Human Race. “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.”

“For many of the UK’s charities, the day of the London Marathon is the biggest fundraising day of the year,” said Hugh Brasher, Co-Chair of MSO and Event Director of London Marathon Events. “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. We are asking everyone to create a 2.6 Challenge of their own and raise funds or pledge a donation.”

You can find more information on the 2.6 Challenge here; set up your own fundraising page or make a donation here.

Every penny you donate or fundraise will go towards providing the young people on our programme with a one to one remote mentoring service, group discussions and practical resources to help them build the resilience to navigate these challenging times.