Donate to Sarah’s 2.6 challenge here, and/or donate to Joanna’s 2.6 challenge here.
(Please note both sets of money raised will contribute to the same JRS fund!)
This Sunday 26 April 2020 would have been the 40th London Marathon. Six amazing volunteers were set to run for JRS UK after months of hard work training and fundraising. Instead, the iconic event has been postponed until October 2020 due to the coronavirus crisis and JRS staff members and volunteers will fundraise at home as part of the ‘Two Point Six Challenge’.
Undoubtedly the biggest fundraising event of the year under normal circumstances, JRS UK relies heavily on the cash the London Marathon would have raised to help us support people who have been made destitute by the asylum system and those in immigration detention.
The London Marathon’s organisers, Virgin Money, are instead giving us all a chance to raise money for a good cause from our homes this weekend. Instead of hosting the physical 26.2 mile event which would be attended by thousands of people, they have devised the ‘Two Point Six Challenge’. As the organisers explain on their website:
“Anyone can take on the challenge. All you need to do is dream up an activity based around the numbers 2.6 or 26 that suits your skills and complete it on Sunday 26 April – when the 40th London Marathon would have taken place. This could be something as simple as pledging to run or ride 2.6 miles as your daily exercise, gardening for 26 minutes, running around the balcony for 2.6 miles, doing 26 press-ups with the dog on your back or bench-pressing 26 kilos with your grandchildren.”
Why not take on the 2.6 challenge this weekend by choosing a challenge around the numbers 2 and 6, and have family or friends sponsor your effort for JRS UK?
To fundraise, visit the Two Point Six Challenge fundraising page and search ‘Jesuit Refugee Service’
While JRS UK has received numerous generous donations, now more than ever we need help to continue serving our refugee friends. The Coronavirus outbreak has been devastating for so many people in many ways and the refugee friends who JRS UK support are particularly struggling. Without access to benefits and banned from working, they live precarious lives, and the pandemic means day centres have had to close their doors. Many are finding their informal housing arrangements breaking down. They aren’t benefiting from government schemes to relieve pressure and they are falling through the cracks of most of the mutual aid organisations.
It leaves our refugee friends facing a crisis to survive.
That’s why one of JRS UK’s fundraising marathon runners, Andrea, is taking on the full marathon (26.2 miles) this weekend as part of the Two Point Six Challenge along with a team of runners/walkers. The relay will take place in their respective homes, gardens and neighbourhoods to raise money for JRS UK – thank you Andrea!!
JRS UK staff are also getting involved. Director, Sarah Teather is venturing out to walk 2.6 miles by 6.26AM on Sunday 26th April 2020, while Communications Editorial Assistant Joanna Biernat has agreed to look silly and cycle 26km on her exercise bike, whilst wearing 26 different items of clothing!
If taking on the challenge sounds too much like hard work why not sponsor JRS UK staff instead and help them fundraise for the Two Point Six Challenge?
Donate to Sarah’s 2.6 challenge here, and/or donate to Joanna’s 2.6 challenge here.
(Please note both sets of money raised will contribute to the same JRS fund!)
And, of course, how could we forget a very special thanks to our 6 runners who are training and fundraising for an extra 6 months ahead of the new London Marathon date, 4th October 2020.
THANK YOU!
If you’d like to take on your own challenge, however small, visit the Two Point Six Challenge fundraising page to fundraise and search ‘Jesuit Refugee Service’ or donate to Sarah or Joanna’s Just Giving pages.
