Hospice urges Ayrshire to join 2.6 Challenge to save UK’s charities

The world as we know it has changed a lot in the last few weeks due to COVID-19 and the local charity, Ayrshire Hospice is no exception.

The Covid-19 pandemic has had and will have an impact on charities, including the hospice, with the cancellation of thousands of local and national events and the loss of billions in fundraising income.

In response, the organisers of the biggest mass-participation sports events across the country have come together to create a new campaign to raise vital funds to help to save the UK’s charities.

The Ayrshire Hospice is inviting the Ayrshire community to take part in The 2.6 Challenge from Sunday 26 April to help keep raising vital funds for the local charity. The 2.6 Challenge launched on Sunday 26 April – what would have been the date of the 40th London Marathon, the world’s biggest one-day annual fundraising event. The Ayrshire Hospice is asking the Ayrshire public to take part in an activity of your choice based around the numbers 2.6 or 26 and fundraise or donate to support Ayrshire Hospice via www.twopointsixchallenge.co.uk People of all ages are taking on The 2.6 Challenge with a host of activities – from walking, running or cycling 2.6 miles, juggling for 2.6 minutes, to holding online workouts with 26 friends. The only requirement is that you must follow Government guidelines on exercise and social distancing. Most people are taking part from Sunday 26 April but you can do your activity whenever is most convenient for you. There are just five simple steps to take:

1. Dream up your 2.6 challenge

2. Head to twopointsixchallenge.co.uk to donate £26 – or whatever you can afford – to Ayrshire Hospice

3. Ask all your friends and family to sponsor you and challenge them to do their own 2.6 Challenge

4. Complete your challenge

Tracey Corrigan, Head of Fundraising at the Ayrshire Hospice said:

“For over 31 years, the Ayrshire Hospice has been so fortunate to benefit from the kindness and goodwill of our fantastic Ayrshire community.

“We hopeand know that the Ayrshire community will come up trumps once again in The 2.6 Challenge to support the Ayrshire Hospice. We have already had a great response with some fabulous ideas from drawing 26 rainbows to be sent to the hospice, bouncing on trampolines, singing 26 songs in 26 minutes to online yoga, cycling as an Easter Bunny, walking 26,000 steps and cycling 26 km.

“The challenge was launched on Sunday 26th April so we would love more people to get involved and take part.”

For further information on The 2.6 Challenge, including a list of partners and supporters, and for more ideas about what your activity could be, visit www.twopointsixchallenge.co.uk