Around the World in 80 Days Challenge gains momentum as colleagues raise vital funds for critically ill children.

CitySprint is proud to be supporting Make-A-Wish UK for the fourth consecutive year, and our biggest fundraising challenge yet is already making fantastic progress.

This summer, colleagues from across the business are taking part in our Around the World in 80 Days Challenge, aiming to collectively cover 25,000 miles through walking, running, cycling and swimming, while raising vital funds to help grant life-changing wishes for critically ill children.

Our fundraising target is £30,000, which CitySprint will match pound for pound up to a maximum of £30,000. Together, that means we could raise an incredible £60,000 – enough to help grant 24 life-changing wishes for children and young people supported by Make-A-Wish UK.

A fantastic start

The challenge is now well into its third week, and colleagues across the UK have embraced the opportunity achieving an impressive:

• 5,771 miles completed
• 1,180 activities logged
• £2,735 raised

The challenge has taken participants virtually from Tashkent, Uzbekistan, to Bangkok, Thailand, bringing Australia firmly within sight as we continue our journey around the world.

The challenge has also seen participation continue to grow. What began with 69 colleagues in the Strava club has now grown to 140 members, with many more contributing through the manual mileage log. During week three, 93 colleagues logged activities, delivering an impressive 66.9% participation rate.

Friendly competition driving big results

The challenge has sparked plenty of friendly competition across the business.

After three weeks of activity, Graham Davies has moved to the top of the individual leaderboard with a remarkable 401.1 miles completed, demonstrating the consistency and determination that the challenge has inspired across the business.

Team competition remains just as competitive. Operations – Central continues to lead the way with 1,048.8 miles, while Operations – South West remains close behind with 861.3 miles, ensuring the race for top spot is far from over.

Across the business, colleagues have found increasingly creative ways to contribute, from lunchtime walks and daily commutes to swimming sessions, cycling challenges and dedicated static bike sessions at service centres nationwide.

Stories from across the challenge

One of the biggest successes of the campaign has been the enthusiasm colleagues have shown in finding new and creative ways to add miles.

Static bikes have become a particular favourite across several service centres. After completing 25 miles, Jack Kanyama summed up the mood perfectly, commenting:

"I think I'm obsessed… Can we just keep the bike?"

The challenge has also encouraged colleagues to step outside their comfort zones. During a recent Feel Good Friday initiative, Natasha Marques completed her first spinning class in over a year, while others shared walks, runs and rides that boosted both wellbeing and mileage totals.

Meanwhile, activities have taken colleagues across the UK and beyond, from a stunning hike in the Lake District National Park, to night runs through the streets of London, and even scenic walks in Cefalù, Sicily.

Why every donation matters

Make-A-Wish UK grants life-changing wishes for critically ill children across the UK, creating precious moments for families facing some of the toughest circumstances imaginable.

Sadly, the number of wish enquiries from seriously ill children with less than a year to live is rising rapidly. For these families, every day counts.

A wish can provide joy, hope and the opportunity to create lasting memories that families will treasure forever, no matter what the future holds.

Fundraising momentum building

The challenge is not only generating miles but also making a real difference for Make-A-Wish UK.

A huge congratulations goes to everyone who has created and shared fundraising pages to support the charity. Among this week's standout fundraising achievements:

• Steve Knibb has raised an incredible £800
• R Terry has raised £720
• Siobhan Cooper is nearing her target with £245 of £300 raised
• Sara Boe is just £5 away from reaching her £200 goal

Help us reach £60,000

While the miles are adding up fast, we still have a long way to go to reach our fundraising goal.

Every donation made today will be matched by CitySprint, helping to double the impact of your support and bring us closer to funding more life-changing wishes.

Whether you've already supported the challenge or are considering making your first donation, now is the perfect time to get involved.

Donate today, share our fundraising page with friends and family, and help us turn every mile travelled into a wish granted.

Every mile matters. Every donation makes a difference. Together, we can help make wishes come true.

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