Charity challenge events are an important source of funding for charities. They are a key form of public engagement, helping to turn ordinary people into money raising mavericks.
The challenge element helps to drive more engagement, as people are more likely to donate when the stakes are higher. It’s not just your friend asking you to donate to charity – it’s your friend pledging to complete a physically difficult feat, in exchange for your support.
If the person raising money needs to train for the challenge, this turns every workout and training session into a collaborative event and an opportunity to talk about the cause.
For those taking part in challenges in memory of a loved one, there is also the deeply personal aspect of raising money and awareness. It’s not just about completing a challenge in honour of a loved one, but also raising money for a charity that may have helped them in their life.
Charity challenges are on the rise, as people look for fun ways to get fit, challenge themselves, and take part in exciting activities that are out of the ordinary. In many cases, raising money for charity is a minor part of the appeal; often, it’s all about being able to take part in an event that would otherwise be inaccessible.
Let’s take a deep dive into some of the most popular types of charity events that people take part in across the UK.
Types of charity events in the UK
Looking for your next charity challenge that is a little out of the ordinary? Consider the following events as a great way to get active, challenge yourself and raise money for a good cause at the same time.
Long-distance bike challenges
Long distance cycling is growing in popularity as more people get confident in the saddle. There is the added appeal of being able to complete a challenge in a race environment, as this will be more organised and can feel much safer for less experienced riders. There is certainly safety in numbers when it comes to cycling challenges.
Running challenges
If the appeal of the challenge is not just the distance achieved, then the appeal may be the location. Taking part in running challenges will often allow you access to unique locations that would not otherwise be available on your usual running routes. Examples include zoos, iconic landmarks and National Trust locations. Popular running lengths include marathons, half marathons, 10K and 5K fun runs. There are also night runs and colour runs to consider.
Multi-peak hikes
Tackling multiple peaks in a single day is a very popular physical challenge. People may compete alone, head out in pairs or tackle the challenge as a team. Hiking is a popular pastime in the UK, with so many beautiful areas to explore. These challenges will often include a time challenge element, as the hikers will need to complete the challenge before they lose the light.
Obstacle course runs
Obstacle course runs will include all of the elements of a fun 5K run with a moderately challenging to scarily challenging obstacle course. These are often inspired by military assault courses and can include water and mud-based challenges. These are often completed as a team, with team members encouraged to help each other out as they tackle the various challenges.
Multi-event challenges
Races with multiple different events are growing in popularity, building on the traditional triathlon template to offer new and exciting challenges. Examples include hike, bike and kayak challenges, often completed in pairs. Like multi-peak challenges, there is often a time element to consider, as the challenge will have to be completed before the sun goes down.
Extreme sports
Some people prefer to raise their adrenalin levels while they raise money. This accounts for the rise in challenges such as skydives, white water rafting, and climbing/abseiling challenges. This type of physical challenge works best if the individual is actually overcoming some kind of personal fear to complete the feat. Otherwise, it’s just a great opportunity to raise money while taking part in an incredible challenge.
Personal challenges
Raising money doesn’t have to include covering a long distance or scaling great heights. It can also include personal challenges, often completed over a longer period like a month. These pledge-style challenges include things like completing 1000 pushups in a month, or running a mile every day.
While individuals can document their journey, it’s often down to an honour system of self-reporting to confirm that the challenge has been completed. Sometimes, the challenge can be linked to a fitness tracker to confirm that work has been completed.
Final thoughts on charity challenge events
There’s no shortage of fun and engaging ways to get healthy while also raising money for a good cause. There is clearly a strong appetite for fundraising in the UK that isn’t going anywhere any time soon.
