Help save the UK’s Charities by joining the 2.6 Challenge

Paul Popham Fund, Renal Support Wales calls on supporters to join the 2.6 Challenge from Sunday 26 April 2020. The Covid-19 pandemic has had a catastrophic effect with the cancellation of thousands of events and the loss of billions in income through fundraising events.

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.

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 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 challenge will last for a week. 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 and remember to stay local.

From Sunday 26 April 2020, the organisers are asking you to dream up an activity based around the numbers 2.6 or 26 and fundraise by donating on the Paul Popham Fund’ 2.6 Challenge campaign donation page virginmoneygiving.com/fund/PPF2.6Challenge26April20 or by creating your own 2.6 Challenge fundraising page from the Paul Popham Fund Virgin Giving charity page on https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/ and search for the Paul Popham Fund, Renal Support Wales.

“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.”

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?”

The mass-participation event’s 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

For more information on the Paul Popham Fund, Renal Support Wales, visit: www.paulpophamfund.co.uk