Willen Hospice launches virtual 48 hour Relay Run powered by energie Fitness MK

Willen Hospice is inviting local people to support them by staying home and staying fit, with their virtual 48 Hour Relay Run, powered by energie Fitness Milton Keynes. The brand new event will raise essential funds for the charity.

The 48 hour relay run will start on Friday 17 April at 8am, and finish at the same time on Sunday 19 April. People can run in their garden, up and down the stairs, around the living room or during their one-hour daily exercise. All they have to do is choose a 20, 40, or 60-minute time slot during the 48 hours, and when their time is up they’ll pass the virtual baton on to the next runner.

Organisers are asking runners to gather sponsorship to help support the Hospice during this very difficult time. It costs £9 a minute to fund Willen Hospice, so during the 48-hours of this challenge, that cost of care amounts to an astonishing £26,000. All sponsorship from the relay will help them to raise the vital funds to continue to provide their expert, compassionate care.

Tracey Jago, Willen Hospice Events Manager, said: “With all of our summer events and fundraising activities postponed, we will sadly be facing a huge loss in income this year. We hope this virtual fundraiser will not only help fill some of that fundraising gap, but also bring our amazing community together.”

Rob Francis, owner of energie Fitness Milton Keynes, said: “Since before we opened our energie Fitness gym at Kiln Farm, we have worked hard to make a positive contribution to our local community and Willen Hospice has become very dear to us. The idea for this event came from one of our members who had seen a person in Italy run a marathon on his apartment balcony, and we felt that we could do something to get the whole of Milton Keynes involved, no matter where they live or their circumstances. Knowing that this time is hard for businesses like ours, we understood how much harder it must be for charities like Willen Hospice. I thought this would be a brilliant way to bring the residents of MK together on an on-line platform, all contributing positively to the Willen Hospice cause.”

Register to take part by visiting www.willen-hospice.org.uk/relayrun