London 2 Brighton Challenge
Starting in Richmond, the London 2 Brighton Challenge is a signed and marshalled 100 km route along footpaths, bridleways, and national trails traversing the North and South Downs through the night before arriving in Brighton.
London 2 Brighton Challenge: 12 – 13 May 2012
About
London 2 Brighton Challenge 2012 is not just a challenge – it’s a journey you won’t forget.
Most will choose to walk the 100k, perhaps some will jog parts of it, and a few hardened types may even attempt to run it. However you decide to take on the challenge it will be a definitive test of endurance, determination, and teamwork.
Your experience begins with a committed training regime some months beforehand, through to the anticipation and excitement of setting off alongside more than 1000 challengers, and finishes after a long night on weary limbs with the beautiful Brighton Coast in view as you celebrate an overwhelming sense of achievement.
Whether you aim to finish in 15 or 30 hours, the year for achieving personal goals and setting some new records is 2012. The challenge is London 2 Brighton 2012!
Registration fee: £75
Minimum sponsorship: £375
How we will support you
As part of Team Breast Cancer Care, we will provide you with:
- a support pack full of fundraising and training advice
- a Breast Cancer Care T-shirt
- support and advice from a dedicated member of the Breast Cancer Care challenges team
- regular newsletters and emails to keep you updated
- fundraising materials to help you reach your target – including balloons, banners and collection tins
- 15% off at Cotswold Outdoor.
Fundraisers taking part in this event will be joined by hundreds of other challengers, all raising money for different charities. We hope to welcome you to Team Breast Cancer Care very soon!
Itinerary
The London 2 Brighton Challenge 2012 starts in Richmond, on the banks of the Thames, on Saturday 12 May 2012. It is a signed and marshalled 100k route along footpaths, bridleways, and national trails traversing the North and South Downs through the night before arriving in Brighton.
En-route you'll be supported by an extensive team of pacers, caterers, medics, and physios; with replenishment checkpoints every 12k or so. Hot-meal stations at 50k and 75k will keep you well fueled, with a welcome brunch at the end.
Full route maps, topography, and timings will be released via the London 2 Brighton website (participant area) in early 2012.
Join our team
Registration fee: £75
Minimum sponsorship: £375
What's included?
- Online participants resource
- Walker/runner safety pack
- All food at the event
- Pace walkers, marshals and safety teams
- Medics, event doctor and physiotherapists
- Manned checkpoints approximately every 12k, including toilets, and cover
- Support vehicles
- Finish line party
- Family, friends, supporters welcome
- Finishers pack – including medal!
Fundraising
Reaching your fundraising target can be a challenge, but don’t worry as we have some useful tips to help you plan and coordinate your fundraising.
Check out our seasonal fundraising ideas to ensure that your fundraising is fresh and on trend.
Social networks
Remember, it’s your network of friends, family, colleagues and contacts who will support you with your training and fundraising. Keep them updated every step of the way with your Facebook profile, blog or Twitter account. Tell them how your training is going (with pictures for added impact) and let them know how you’re getting on with your fundraising target. You can even upload pictures on the day to show everyone your progress along the route! If you follow Breast Cancer Care on Facebook and Twitter, we’ll keep you up to date with the goings-on here, and keep you on track with support and tips.
Fundraising materials
Download your very own fundraising planner to follow to ensure that your fundraising activities run as smoothly as possible.
Use this downloadable poster to promote your fundraising events.
Online fundraising
Now you can raise sponsorship without all the hassle. No more dealing with cash and cheques, no more chasing friends after the event. Simply create a free, online fundraising page, personalise it with a photo and message, and email it to your friends, family and work colleagues. They can donate quickly and securely online with a credit or debit card. Online donations from UK taxpayers are worth almost a third more to us with Gift Aid, which can be claimed on online donations. Follow the instructions to set up your unique JustGiving page.
Once you’ve created your page, email the link to friends, family, colleagues and classmates. You can even add the JustGiving application to your Facebook page to make it even easier for your friends to donate.
For more information or help setting up your page, visit www.justgiving.com or call the Justgiving helpdesk on 0845 021 2110.
Please note: Justgiving money will only be attributed to the person who set up the Justgiving page, so please do not set up joint pages as we are unable to share the money between several people.
How do I pay in my sponsorship?
There are few ways in which your sponsorship money will reach us:
JustGiving
If you have decided to create a Justgiving fundraising page, then you do not need to do anything as all your sponsorship money will automatically be sent directly to our bank account. Please note that it can take up to four weeks to show up on your fundraising record at Breast Cancer Care.
Cheque
Please send all cheques to the address below:
Breast Cancer Care Events
5 – 13 Great Suffolk Street
London SE1 0NS
Don’t forget to write your name, Breast Cancer Care number and event name on the back of your cheques.
Online
You can also pay money in directly on the Breast Cancer Care website. If you use our online paying in function then please remember to send us your sponsorship forms so that we can claim Gift Aid.
Enclosed in your event handbook pack, which you will receive when you register for your event, will be your pay-in forms. You can send them to us along with your sponsorship money and sponsorship forms. Please do not send cash in the post.
Over the phone
If you want to pay in sponsorship money over the phone you call 0845 092 0817 Monday to Friday 9am–5pm. You will need to quote your Breast Cancer Care ID number, which will be sent to you in your registration pack.
Once you join Team Breast Cancer Care we will provide you with further fundraising tips and ideas!
Training Tips
Training is essential to your challenge preparation. The more you put in, the more enjoyable your experience will be! We have designed a training plan to help you on your way.
Before you start remember that your body may need time to adjust to your new fitness regime. We recommend that you ideally start your training plan no less than six months before you start your challenge. Within your training programme, rest is as important as time spent on your feet. We strongly recommend that you rest on at least one day out of seven. When training, make sure your stick within the limits of speed and distance that are comfortable for you.
If you live near hills, use them for your training as much as possible to prepare your muscles for doing lots of upward walking. If you don’t have any hills near you, use the incline setting on a treadmill or visit hilly places for your weekend walks to practice.
Top tips for training
To ensure that you are comfortable when walking long distances, you must pay attention to your posture and gait. Walk correctly, and at the end of the day's walk you will have sturdy, albeit tired legs, ready for the following day.
- Stand tall and keep your head up.
- Take a natural stride length walk with poles.
- Keep your back straight when coming downhill.
- Shorten your stride when walking uphill.
- Keep your elbows close to your body.
- Integrate aerobic exercise – try spinning, swimming and jogging.
- Wear your walking boots and socks as much as possible, to ensure you are comfortable on the trek.
If you have not exercised for a long time we recommend your see your doctor before you start your new training plan. Don’t overdo it and make sure you keep your plan varied and fun!
The training plan includes information on diet and keeping hydrated both during your training and while on your challenge.
FAQs
How much does it cost?
What's included?
What about food and nutrition?
What do I carry?
How tough is the challenge?
How old do I need to be?
Why do you only accept 3, 4, 5, or 6 man teams?
How do I cancel my place?
How do I choose my start/pace time?
How much does it cost?
Registration Fee (non-refundable):
- (individuals) £75
- (3-man team) £225
- (4-man team) £300
- (5-man team) £350
- (6-man team) £375
Fundraising Target: £375 per person
- Online participants resource
- Walker/runner safety pack
- All food at event
- Pace walkers, marshals and safety teams
- Medics, event doctor, physiotherapists
- Manned checkpoints approximately every 12k, including toilets, and cover
- Support vehicles
- Finish line party
- Family, friends, supporters welcome
- Finishers pack – including medal!
What about food and nutrition?
Approximately every 12k there are manned checkpoints and replenishment stops with water, tea, coffee, soup, juices, and snacks. Hot meals are served by our specialist catering team at 50k and 75k. The event catering will be mixed and plentiful with calorific intake a priority.
At the finish in Brighton there will be a celebratory hot brunch/BBQ available to all participants (supporters are charged a nominal fee).
You are responsible for your personal items at the event and an equipment and clothing list will soon be available to download from the Participants Area. Some items are essential/compulsory, others recommended.
You will need a daypack (c30l) to carry the recommended personal items throughout the event including wet weather gear, warm clothing, water, snacks, sun protection, personal first aid kit, and personal items. You will also be issued with a walker safety pack including maps.
There will be a baggage transfer service from the start in London to the finish line in Brighton for a single piece of baggage not exceeding 50 litres (or 10kg). Participants who retire from the challenge will be responsible for claiming their baggage at the finish line.
There's no denying it – this is a tough challenge by anyone's standards. It will be physically and emotionally demanding! You will have to combat fatigue and tiring limbs as you battle through the challenge! You will need to prepare and should carefully read the training advice issued. The more comfortable you are with walking long distances for sustained periods the more comfortable you will be on the challenge.
You should also practice walking at night at similar times to those projected on the schedule to get your body accustomed and used to the sensation of working when it's normally sleeping and recovering!
You must be 17 years or over on the date of the event (12 May 2012) to enter the London to Brighton Challenge 2012.
Why do you only accept 3, 4, 5, or 6 man teams?
For safety reasons we encourage team entries. Individuals registering to the event will be allocated to a pre-determined pace group and support team. If you are a team of more than six we can accommodate you – and will be able to offer additional incentives. Email info@london2brightonchallenge.com for further details.
If you need to cancel your place, please contact the Challenges team immediately on 0845 092 0805 or email challenges@breastcancercare.org.uk
This is particularly important if you are cancelling within 10 weeks of departure as cancellation costs will be accrued during this period. It is essential that you advise us that you will not be taking part as soon as you can, otherwise the charity risks spending money on your place and we will ask you to reimburse us for any lost costs.
How do I choose my start/pace time?
On the registration form you will be asked to nominate your (or your team's) pace preference:
- sub 20hr
- 24hr
- 30hr
You will be allocated an official start time in your pre-departure pack which will be issued in Spring 2012 and this will contain details of the joining process and start times.
