I wanted to share this press release from the Running Bug about their latest challenge, as it sounds like a lot of fun and in addition to that will also raise money for Great Ormond Street Hospital (affectionately known as GOSH). Â Having done some work for GOSH in the past I think they do an amazing job helping sick children and so I think this is a great way to get involved in raising funds for them.
Thousands of UK runners to run 240,000 miles to the moon
- Social network for runners launches Run to the Moon Challenge
- Aim is to keep the British public active during the darker days of Oct and Nov
- In aid of Great Ormond Street Hospital children’s charity
- Stunning pictures taken from space
Do you know how far it is to the moon exactly?
Well the short answer is, ‘a very long way’. It is exactly 238,857 miles from earth, a distance that if someone decided they wanted to run (at say an average of 7 miles per hour pace), would take them a grand total of 3.9 years!
And the team at the UK’s largest social network for runners The Running Bug has decided to do just that to encourage members of the British public to keep active and running during the darker days of October and November and collectively run 238,855 miles in just seven weeks. Their motto is: ‘Just because the sun’s gone down doesn’t mean we stop running!’
The Running Bug Founder, Joe Mountain says, ‘The Running Bug is all about helping runners of all abilities keep fit, active and healthy whatever the weather or time of year. Run to the Moon is a fantastic challenge and will hopefully motivate our members, and the wider public, to keep running even through the darker months.’
To start logging their miles, runners will be required to either download the NEW Running Bug – Bugmiles app from the Running Bug website or enter their runs via the Bugmiles page on the Running Bug website. They will be able to view a running total of miles in real-time, which makes it easy for them to identify how far they are off the total target, and also how much ground other runners are covering.
Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity is supporting the challenge along with Elite British long-distance runner Charlotte Purdue. The charity is hoping the event will encourage more runners to take part in some of its many running challenges to help raise vital funds for the hospital
Senior Fundraising Executive at Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity Gary Bansor says, “We’re delighted to be a part of this fantastic challenge, and hope that it motivates Running Bug members to take part in a running event for the charity. The money raised by our running events helps us to make a real difference to patients and their families from across the UK. We hope everyone really enjoys taking part in this fantastic challenge.â€
Charlotte Purdue is also really excited be onboard and she says,
‘I am really happy to join forces with the Running Bug to help promote this exciting campaign. Run to the Moon is a really great way to help promote the sport of running, especially to those who need a little bit of extra motivation as the cold winter months draw in.’
And to launch the event The Running Bug did a quick recce into space (no really) to check out ‘the course’. The stunning pics you can see are the result!
It is very quick and easy to join the Running Bug community and become a part of this fantastic campaign – visit the Run to the Moon page on the Running Bug website and sign up today.
Also follow the team via the Running Bug Facebook and Twitter, for all the latest running news and reviews #runtothemoon
So there you have it! I’m signed up and am planning on getting my first miles logged after work tonight!  You can follow my progress here.