East Midlands-based drug and alcohol recovery charity Double Impact is launching a new virtual fundraising campaign encouraging people to ‘Run, Roll, or Ramble for Recovery’ from February 1st to the 28th, 2021.
Like many charity organisations across the UK, Double Impact and the team have had to change the way they operate and provide their services due to the ongoing pandemic. This has included temporary closures of its social enterprise café during lockdown, online support for those in recovery, and a virtual marathon over the summer to raise funds.
Traditionally, the company has raised funds through individual fundraisers completing sporting events and challenges such as the Robin Hood Marathon or the Three Peaks Challenge.
This year however, the team have come up with a creative alternative to get people involved with the charity and fundraising. The ‘Virtual Run, Ramble, or Roll for Recovery’ campaign is taking place throughout February and is aimed at people who want to make a difference to the lives of those in recovery while also boosting their health alongside a supportive community.
The ‘virtual’ nature of the challenge means that taking part is flexible; people can set their own fitness challenge and complete it wherever and whenever they choose throughout February, which makes it perfect for those who are new to fundraising and/or fitness or need to fit it into a busy schedule.
As part of the campaign, individuals who sign up will be encouraged to share their challenge goals and progress along the way on the JustGiving platform, which can now be linked to fitness app, Strava. For instance, Double Impact CEO Graham Miller is aiming to run 100 miles over the course of the month and will be sharing his top tips and advice to people who are new to running.
The team are not setting an overall goal for participants to achieve as the most important thing is taking part and the team want the challenge to be as inclusive, accessible, and creative as possible.
Graham said: “For many people exercise provides an opportunity to boost their physical health, but there is also a mental wellbeing aspect. Physical activity – even in short bursts – can lift a person’s mood and increase their energy levels.”
“After the year we have just had and the uncertainty ahead, we are encouraging people to get active for their mental and physical wellbeing – and as all things ‘local’ have become much more important to us during the pandemic, we would love to see people in Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire getting behind Double Impact and directly helping their local communities,” he added.
More information about the challenge can be viewed at https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/runrambleandroll4recovery.