Why running for charity has never been more important

There’s a reason why the London Marathon has raised a billion pounds for charity. Like every other marathon on the planet, the extreme nature of the challenge provides the perfect vehicle through which individuals can raise money for the charities and causes that matter to them. In 2020, however, such mass-participation challenge events have all either been cancelled or postponed and the resulting impact on charities has been devastating. Today, as we face the prospect of a second wave, there’s a very real chance that many charities across the UK will not survive the winter, leaving those who rely on them without the support they need.

I should know, I work for one of them.

The charity I work for provides mental and physical health support to emergency service workers, but since March our fundraising income has plummeted. Over the summer, our regular event-driven income fell by around £200,000 a month as the marathons, walks, challenge events, bike rides, mountain climbs, fun runs, open days, summer fetes, bake sales and coffee mornings all stopped, effectively switching off a source of income that we rely on. And we’re not alone.

The Institute of Fundraising has found that charities are this year, on average, reporting a 24% drop in income, which equates to a £12.4bn loss in total. Eighty-four percent of charities, meanwhile, reported a decrease or significant decrease in their income and 52% of charities have already reduced the level of services they provide.

Some charities will be able to pull upon their reserves to help them ride the coronavirus storm, while others will not. Jobs will be lost and the service users who rely on those charities will be left in need. Macmillan Cancer Support has already made 310 roles redundant; Help for Heroes has said that 142 roles are at risk of redundancy (despite a 33% increase in demand for its services) and Sue Ryder has said that without new funds it will have to close hospices.

So what can we do to help?

The answer may be as simple as running. With most organised events cancelled, we have to take matters into our own hands and set our own challenges, big enough and challenging enough to persuade others to donate towards them. A solo marathon; a garden-based 10KM; a one man mountain marathon; an overnight endurance run; a 48-hour team relay; an equivalent Everest climb or a fancy-dress fun run with the family. Whatever kind of event you prefer, do it for a charity you care about and raise what you can to help them through this challenging time.

The perfect antidote to those organised event blues, setting your own challenge and raising money for a charity in need will make up for the lack of race bling around your neck this year. What better way to run your way through the winter months?

Let’s make 2020 the year of the #CovidCharityChallenge and see how much we can raise to ensure that the UK’s beleaguered charities survive to help those who so desperately need them in 2021 and beyond.

Thanks.

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