SAVE THE UK’S CHARITIES - Oak Tree Animals’ Charity calls on supporters to join The 2.6 Challenge from Sunday 26 April

Oak Tree Animals’ Charity like so many charities across the UK, has been hugely impacted by the cancellation of thousands of fundraising events due to COVID-19. In response, the organisers of the biggest mass participation sports events across the country have come together to create a new campaign to raise vital funds to help our fundraising and save the UK’s charities.

Calling all Home Heroes! The Two Point Six Challenge has been launched to raise money to help charities survive this crisis! Join in and help animals with Oak Tree! For every pound you help them to raise they get access to more from a central challenge fund.

All you need to do is think of a challenge to do with the numbers 2 and 6 (linked to the number of miles in a marathon, 26). You could do 26 laps of your garden / juggle for 26 minutes / do 2,600 steps / do 260 sit ups / dance to 26 songs - you get the idea!! Their Macot Oakley will be walking 2.6 miles around their site and mascots Marmalady and Horace will be doing a 2.6 hour danceathon!

All 2.6 Challenges will take place from Sunday 26th April, but you can start fundraising right now! To start your very own fundraiser today, head to their Virgin Money Giving site: https://bit.ly/3eqLMDW or alternatively find the link on Oak Tree’s Facebook or website page.

To find out more general information about this challenge, head to the 2.6 Challenge website: https://www.twopointsixchallenge.co.uk If you have any questions, email fundraising@oaktreeanimals.org.uk The challenge will last for a week and is open to anyone of any age – the only requirement is that the activity must follow the Government guidelines on exercise and social distancing and remember to stay local.

“For many of the UK’s charities, the day of the London Marathon is the biggest fundraising day of the year,” said Hugh Brasher, Co-Chair of MSO and Event Director of London Marathon Events. “One of the founding pillars of the London Marathon was ‘to show how the family of mankind can be united’. We hope that The 2.6 Challenge, which starts on the day our 40th Race should have taken place, will embody that spirit and inspire people, families and communities to fundraise for their chosen charity to help Save the UK’s Charities. Right now, our vulnerable members of society need the help of charities more than ever before..”

Caroline Johnson, General Manager at Oak Tree says “We are incredibly grateful to the organisers of this initiative, and really hope our supporters will get on board and either create their own unique 2.6 Challenges, or support Oak Tree and its mascots with theirs. We appreciate we are asking a great deal of our supporters at the moment, and we are so grateful for all the donations we have been receiving and the loyal support the local community continue to show. Your support is so vital to ensure we can help those who need us”