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, which raised £66.4 million for charities in 2019.
The 2.6 Challenge can be any activity you like – from running around the balcony for 2.6 miles to juggling for 2.6 minutes or doing 26 press-ups with the dog on your back, the options are endless.
The only requirement is that you must follow Government guidelines on exercise and social distancing. Most people are taking part from Sunday 26 April but you can do your activity whenever is most convenient for you.
People across the country are taking part in their own 2.6 challenges, with Many fundraising for a charity of their choice.
Emma Lewis, who lives in Broadlands, Bridgend, started her challenge on Monday in support of Marie Curie, and is walking 2.6km per day until Sunday, April 26.
Emma,aged 48, is walking in memory of her mum, Jackie Morgan, who died in 2011. Her mother-in-law Avril Lewis spent her final days at the Marie Curie Hospice, Cardiff and the Vale, in 2016.
“I have always supported Marie Curie, and when I had the email regarding the lack of funding because of events being cancelled, I’d been looking for something to motivate myself to get out and about, so I thought I would try to walk for a week up until Sunday,” she said.
“My mum passed away before she could get Marie Curie support, but my mother in law was at the hospice in Penarth in her final days, so I’ve always known that the care is amazing and the charity is very worthwhile.”
Emma, whose sons – aged 22 and 15 – have also joined her on her walks, added: “It wasn’t just amazing support that my mother in law had, but when she was in her final days, we were able to stay overnight at the hospice. The staff showed all the family kindness and understanding at a very difficult time. The booklet provided, was very welcome and helped explain end of life care and additional services that we could access. They weren’t just caring for her, they were caring for the family too.”
Emma is a primary school teacher and is also taking on shifts at a hub school providing activities for the children of key workers. You can support Emma here.
She said: “It’s nice to be able to see the children, and I’m also sending challenges to the other children to do while we aren’t in school as well.”
Ali Discombe, community fundraiser for South West Wales, said: “We are so grateful to everyone for taking on the 2.6 challenge in aid of Marie Curie.
“The coronavirus has and continues to have, a devastating effect on the charity’s fundraising and income – income upon which we rely on to be able to provide vital care for dying people and their loved ones.
“Marie Curie needs to raise £2.5 million every week to continue to run our essential frontline services and the coronavirus crisis has seriously impacted on our ability to fundraise.
“All fundraising activity which involves direct contact with people has been cancelled, massively reducing the amount of money we have been able to raise in our flagship Great Daffodil Appeal and other events.
“We urgently need funding to make certain that we can continue to provide services and keep our doctors, nurse and hospice staff on the frontline, supporting dying people with and without coronavirus.”
Paul Popham Fund, Renal Support Wales, like so many charities across the UK, has been hugely impacted by the cancellation of thousands of fundraising events due to COVID-19. They are calling their supporters to create a fundraising page and to take part here.
Joanne Popham, CEO, Paul Popham Fund said:
“This event will help the Kidney Community in Wales during this time. People with Kidney Disease have varying needs, we are working with the main charities in Wales and the Welsh Renal Networks to ensure they are all aware of the services available to them and can access the support they need at this time.
“The Paul Popham Fund runs a Peer Support Service, our band of volunteers, who are themselves people with kidney failure, are Peer Mentors, offering much needed advice, sign positing and emotional support during this time via our careline and our on-line support groups. Our counselling service is being accessed via the telephone and we have a welfare fund that patients can access. This event will support us support people with Kidney Disease in Wales and is a welcome initiative. You can do this at your own pace and in your own house or garden – so the challenge is open to everyone. All we ask is that you donate £26 to our challenge page or set up your own page and have your own target to raise – could you raise £260?”
Age Connects Cardiff and the Vale is also asking individuals and businesses to get involved in the national 2.6 Challenge to raise vital funds to help it support older, isolated and vulnerable people in the local community. You can find out more about their challenge here.
https://twitter.com/PrideCymru/status/1253024561089654790
Other local charities getting involved are Pride Cymru, Kidney Wales, Prostate Cymru and City Hospice, among many others.
For more information on The 2.6 Challenge, visit twopointsixchallenge.co.uk
