BASICS Devon calls on supporters to join The 2.6 Challenge from Sunday 26 April 2020 to help raise awareness and up lift their community’s spirits.
The UK’s charities need your help
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.
The Virgin Money London Marathon alone, which should have taken place on Sunday 26 April, is the world’s biggest one-day fundraising event, which raised more than £66.4 million for thousands of charities in 2019.
As it cannot take place as planned, its organisers have created a ”lockdown-friendly event” which is easy for anyone to join in and make a difference, especially for smaller local charities. Every small “event” can add up to something worthwhile.
BASICS Devon, like so many charities across the UK, has been impacted by COVID-19. The cancellation of this summer’s planned fundraising events means that income for this year will be significantly reduced.
They hope that supporters will join the 2.6 Challenge to help BASICS Devon and their community raise awareness, but also to help up lift their community’s spirits at such an emotionally difficult time.
BASICS Devon is a charity offering experienced doctors to assist frontline emergency service colleagues when attending medical and trauma emergencies in the community. The BASICS doctors bring additional skills, drugs and equipment to emergency situations and have adapted their roles to help the NHS respond to Coronavirus.
BASICS Devon doctors are often first on the scene be it at the roadside, in a field, on a farm or a home emergency. In 2019 there were 463 emergency call outs, 144 of those were at night, that BASICS Devon volunteer doctors responded to. They are fully equipped to help reach vulnerable and isolated communities, which is vital in this current pandemic.
From Sunday 26 April 2020, the challenge is to dream up an activity based around the numbers 2.6 or 26 and fundraise by donating on our Just Giving page here: https://twopointsixchallenge.justgiving.com/get-involved?charityId=2946172&iesrc=ctr
Taking up the 2.6 Challenge can be something as simple as walking or running 2.6 miles, 2.6 kms - or 26 press-ups, 26 minutes walking round the garden. It can be a sponsored activity, or a donation - £2.60 or £26 - whatever is affordable - it all adds up and will make a difference to our doctors and their patients across Devon.
The campaign, The 2.6 Challenge, will launch on Sunday 26 April 2020 – what should have been the date of the 40th London Marathon - and 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.
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.”
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
Ends
Notes to editors:
About BASICS Devon
· BASICS Devon is a network of 13 emergency volunteer doctors providing immediate access to specialist medical care at the scene of an accident or illness. Making themselves available around the clock throughout the year, responding to incidents at the request of the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust. The charity relies solely on donations.
· BASICS Devon doctors aim to provide a fast response to incidents in rural areas, and use their extensive skills to support patient care.
· For further information, to donate or get involved please visit: www.basics-devon.org.uk
Contact Amie Bull, Fundraising Manager amie.bull@basics-devon.org.uk M: 01752 936299