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Challenge Events

Choose your event and get active to help refugees build new lives

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Are you thinking of taking on a physical challenge to help refugees? We’ll support you from start to finish (line) and beyond!

Already chosen your challenge?

If you’ve registered for an event, whether it’s through Breaking Barriers or independently, we’ll be delighted to support and celebrate your efforts. Check out our fundraising tips and learn how we can help you.

 

Need to find an event?

Thanks to our partnership with Run for Charity, we can offer places in a wide range of events in the UK and beyond. There’s no upfront cost to you. All we ask is a minimum fundraising commitment. See a selection of events below, or read our advice on choosing your challenge.

When you click on any event link on this page, you’ll be taken to Breaking Barriers’ pages on the Run for Charity website. If you register for an event, we’ll be notified and we’ll be in touch to support you with your challenge.

Don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or you’d like assistance with event registration. We’re excited to hear what challenge you have planned!

 

Several pairs of brightly-coloured training shoes lined up in rows

Choose your Challenge

Book your challenge event place through our partner, Run for Charity. We'll even cover the entry fees for a minimum fundraising commitment.

Find an event near you

Three women sat on a sofa with laptops on their laps, looking at the laptop in the middle and smiling

 

How to choose your challenge

  • Who’s taking part? Will you take on a challenge as an individual or a group?
  • What will you do? Will you run, cycle, swim or bungee? It’s much easier to stay motivated when you choosing an activity you really want to do!
  • What’s your goal? Challenges usually have a target distance, or sometimes speed. You may want a goal that stretches you as an individual, or one that’s realistic for a team with different levels of experience.
  • When will your challenge be? Remember to give yourself enough time to plan and train – and of course to fundraise!
  • Will you join an organised event? A third-party event can offer benefits such as first aid support, licences to use public areas and insurance, but organising your own challenge gives you more flexibility on the what, when and how.

 

A cyclist, dressed in black, passing through a field with waymarking tape on either side of their path

 

Fundraising tips

  • Create a fundraising page on JustGiving or another platform of your choice. Once you’ve chosen your challenge, we can help you create your page!
  • Share your challenge on social media, and follow-up with training and fundraising updates, photos or videos. We can also provide a quote about your challenge or photos of our work.
  • Email or WhatsApp your networks to tell them about your event and share your page URL.
  • Ask your company to spread the word. Especially if you’re fundraising with colleagues! Your employer could help you raise sponsorship via their social media channels, in a staff newsletter, on your intranet, or even tell clients, customers or suppliers.
  • A flyer or poster in the right place can go a long way. We can help you create these, including a QR code that links to your fundraising page.
  • Check if your company has a sponsorship matching scheme. Often, employers will make a donation based on how much money you raise – sometimes doubling (or more) your total!
  • Contact your local press. We can advise on how to do this or create a press release for you.
  • Thank your donors and keep them updated. With JustGiving, it’s easy to send progress emails to people who’ve sponsored you, and ask them to spread the word.

 

A tightly-packed group of runners, shown from waist-down, running along a road towards the camera

 

How we can help you

  • Don’t forget we can offer places free of charge in a wide range of challenge events.
  • We can provide advice on fundraising and setting up your challenge webpage.
  • We’ll promote your challenge to Breaking Barriers’ supporters via social media, email and our website – and of course celebrate your success afterwards!
  • We can help create fundraising materials or support you to reach out to the press.
  • We’ll provide Breaking Barriers branded vests for sporting events.
  • For physical challenges we’ll provide training tips and advice. We may even be able to connect you with other participants for mutual support and encouragement.
  • And, wherever possible, we’ll be there on the day to cheer you on!

Challenge Events - Frequently Asked Questions

When you click on any event link on this page, you’ll be taken to Breaking Barriers’ pages on the Run for Charity website. There, you can register for a wide range of challenge events and we’ll cover any entry fees. Each event page will show the minimum fundraising commitment required per place. When you register for an event, we’ll be notified and we’ll be in touch to support you with your challenge.

Alternatively, if you’ve purchased your own place in a challenge event, and would like to fundraise for Breaking Barriers, simply let us know and we’ll be delighted to support your fundraising.

Through Breaking Barriers’ partnership with Run for Charity, you can take part in a wide range of challenge events, and we’ll cover your entry fee for a minimum fundraising commitment. Challenge options available via Run for Charity include:

  • Running challenges – from 5k to Ultra Marathons
  • Ultra walks
  • Duathlons and triathlons
  • Cycling challenges
  • Tough Mudder events
  • Bungee jumps
  • Obstacle runs
  • Overseas events
  • Virtual challenges

Alternatively, you can book your own place in a challenge – any sport, distance or location – and we’ll also support you from start to finish!

We may still have places available in events after the public ballot has closed.

To see if we have places available, visit our profile on Run for Charity, select the relevant month and see if the event appears on the list. If the event appears, click through to the event page. If “Register” is an option in the ‘Mode’ field on the sign up form, places are available through us! Alternatively, simply contact us and we can check availability for you.

Yes! We can advise you on setting up and tailoring your online fundraising page, and offer advice and guidance on training and preparing for your event.

We can also provide fundraising tips and promotional materials for you to share, as well as a Breaking Barriers branded vest for your event. Plus, we’ll promote your challenge on our website and social media, and keep in touch throughout your preparations to answer any questions and offer additional support.

If you’ve purchased your own place in a challenge event, we don’t ask for any minimum fundraising commitment.

If Breaking Barriers is covering the cost of your place in a challenge event, the minimum fundraising commitment will vary depending upon the cost to us. When you click on any event link on this page, you’ll be taken to the relevant page on the Run for Charity website, where the minimum fundraising commitment for that event will be specified.

Yes! Whether you’re fundraising as a family, with friends or alongside colleagues, we’ll be delighted to support your challenge.

We also offer places free of charge, for a minimum fundraising commitment, in a range of challenges that are perfect for groups. These include shorter-distance running events, obstacle runs, theme park runs, and team relays in duathlons and triathlons. Check out the options via our Run for Charity profile.

Other ways to get involved