Stand up to Cancer and Dementia UK are among a host of charities offering fitness challenges this month. Discover which you’d like to take on.
Frosty weather can be the biggest deterrent when it comes to exercise. In a bid to help you keep motivated — while making a positive contribution to the world — we rounded up the best challenges to take part in this winter, and explain how to sign up to them.
Stand up to Cancer: Sweat Every Day Challenge
Stand Up to Cancer has returned with yet another challenge this November: Sweat Every Day.
To complete the challenge, you’ll need to complete a 30-minute workout every day of November in order to raise money. Ideal if you’d prefer to do a series of home workouts.
Those wishing to sign up can join the Facebook group, which is full of fundraising tips and suggestions. If you need any additional incentives, the sign-up pack also includes a free top and a resistance band.
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Prostate Cancer Research: Walk 60 Miles in November
‘Whatever your ability, it’s the taking part that counts’ is the motto that accompanies the Prostate Cancer Research challenge. To take part, you’ll need to walk 60-miles during November.
You’ll also receive a free T-shirt and a tracer, with proceeds raised from this challenge going towards a whole portfolio of research projects that aim to better understand and treat prostate cancer.
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Cancer Research UK: 60-mile dog walk
If you have a pup in tow that’s used to a couple of daily walks, this will be as much a treat for them as a challenge for you. After signing up to Cancer Research UK’s 60-mile dog walk, you’ll will receive a free Cancer Research doggy bandana — ideal for adorable pictures to encourage donations. Again, this is not a 60-mile walk, rather a challenge to walk a total of 60-miles with your dog over the course of November.
Macmillan Cancer Support: 50 burpees a day challenge
The Macmillan Cancer Support challenge asks participants to accomplish a total of 1,500 burpees — which is a lot less daunting-sounding when you realise the task can be spread out over a month. It’s a great challenge if you’d rather not leave your home, but still want to participate in a charity challenge in November.
The fundraising pack includes a progress tracker and a sponsorship form, as well as information on the difference that donations can make. Just £39 can pay for a Macmillan nurse for one hour, which helps people living with cancer receive emotional and practical support.
Teenage Cancer Trust: 3000 push-ups in November
Looking for motivation to hit your push-up personal best? This challenge of an average of 100 push-ups a day will certainly help you along. According to Teenage Cancer Trust, seven young people between 13 and 24 are diagnosed with cancer every day, and funds raised from this challenge will help provide these young people with the support they need.
Another organisation doing a similar 100 push-ups-a-day challenge is the Great Ormond Street Hospital, which supports hundreds of sick children who are treated by the hospital every day.
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Mind: 30 days of yoga in November
Mental health charity Mind hosts monthly challenges, and for November it’s a chance to relax and be more mindful. Yoga has a whole range of physical and mental benefits, making it a fitting challenge for Mind. Upon signing up you’ll receive a free T-shirt and if you raise £30 you’ll receive a pair of grippy socks (ideal for more intensive yoga moves). If you raise £100, you’ll receive a shiny medal to be proud of for years to come.
Brain Tumour Research 99 Miles in November
This fitness challenge to fundraise for Brain Tumour Research is ideal for those who like to have variety in their daily movement. Whether you prefer to walk, swim, run or cycle, you can complete this challenge as long as you cover 99 miles by the end of November. You can also split the distance of this challenge within a group to make it easier. Simply get four friends involved and you’ll each need to cover roughly 20 miles.
Dementia UK November Swim Challenge
Whether you’re an experience swimmer or are just beginning to get into the water, you can adjust Dementia UK’s challenge according to your skill set.
Choose between five, 10 or 15K challenges and receive a free Dementia UK swimming cap upon completion.
Feature image: Freepik
