Registered Charity in England & Wales No.1165941

WILD WELFARE JOINS THE 2.6 CHALLENGE!

16
Apr

Wild Welfare Joins the 2.6 Challenge

SAVE THE UK’S CHARITIES

Wild Welfare calls on supporters to join The 2.6 Challenge

Wild Welfare, like so many charities across the UK, has been hugely impacted by the cancellation of thousands of fundraising events due to COVID-19.

In response, the organisers of the biggest mass participation sports events across the country have come together to create a new campaign to raise vital funds to help our fundraising and save the UK’s charities.

The campaign, The 2.6 Challenge, will launch on Sunday 26 April – what should have been the date of the 40th edition of the London Marathon, the world’s biggest one day annual fundraising event, which raised £66.4 million for charities in 2019.

The 2.6 Challenge, challenges people to do any activity that involves 26 – You can run or walk 2.6 miles, 2.6km or for 26 minutes. You could juggle for 2.6 minutes!

But, we’ve taken it a step further and asking you to take the 26 Second Animal Challenge! The unique #26AnimalChallenge asks our supporters to name at least 26 animals in 26 seconds – it’s not as easy as you may think! They can then either donate or fundraise to Wild Welfare on Just Giving via >>  Wild Welfare personalised link 

“We’re delighted to be taking part in this challenge and are excited to be challenging our supporters with our unique but fun Animal Challenge,” said Georgina Groves, Executive Director of Wild Welfare.

We’ll shortly be sharing more details on how to take part and we suspect that many will rise to this challenge! Of course, if they also want to come up with their own challenge they can and there are plenty of suggestions on twopointsixchallenge.co.uk to pick from.”

“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.”

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 2.6 Challenge is open to anyone of any age – the only requirement is that the activity must follow the Government guidelines on exercise and social distancing.

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.

In the next few hours we’ll be posting information about our own #AnimalChallenge, but for more information on The 2.6 Challenge, visit twopointsixchallenge.co.uk

ENDS

Notes to Editors

For more information or interview requests please contact Wild Welfare on communications@wildwelfare.org

Wild Welfare is a global organisation committed to improving animal welfare for captive wild animals. By uniting the world’s leading zoos, zoo associations and animal welfare organisations, we build trusting partnerships that help provide long-term solutions to critical wild animal welfare issues.

Our vision is to end the suffering of captive wild animals around the world and ensure full and sustainable protection is given to all animals in human care. Find out more at wildwelfare.org. Registered charity in England (no.1165941).

Everyone participating in The 2.6 Challenge is urged to follow Government guidelines. The current Government advice is that you should only go out once a day for exercise, either alone or with members of your household. You are urged to say local and always keep more than 2 metres away from other people at all times.

About the MSO:

  • The Mass Participation Sports Organisers (MSO) group was formed in 2019 to work together to create and introduce sustainable practices in mass participation sports events in the UK.
  • MSO includes 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
  • MSO has worked together to create The 2.6 Challenge.