The Covid-19 pandemic has had a catastrophic effect on charities with the cancellation of thousands of events with the loss of significant income from fundraising activity and that includes the London Irish Foundation. In response, the organisers of the biggest mass participation sports events across the United Kingdom have come together to create a new campaign to raise vital funds to help support the country’s charities.

The campaign, The 2.6 Challenge, will launch on Sunday 26 April 2020 – what should have been the date of the 40th London Marathon, the world’s biggest one day annual fundraising event. The challenge which will last for a week 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.


Announcing the London Irish Foundation’s participation in the campaign, Andy Keast, the Foundation’s Chief Executive, said, “From Sunday 26 April 2020, we are asking you to dream up an activity based around the numbers 2.6 or 26 and fundraise by donating on our Virgin Money Giving page at: https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/donation-web/charity?charityId=1017867&stop_mobi=yes 

“The 2.6 Challenge can be anything that works for you,” says Andy. “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 for the Foundation.”

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

 

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