To mark the conclusion of Ben Smith’s 10,506.2 miles in 401 days, The 401 Challenge team has collaborated with EtchRock and Virgin Money Giving to launch a virtual marathon challenge.
Ben Smith reaches the end of his 10.506.2 mile challenge, which has seen him run the equivalent of 401 marathons in 401 days. His final marathon will be completed in Bristol on the 5th October 2016. Since the 1st September 2015, Ben has run in 309 locations across the UK in an aim to raise £250,000 for Kidscape and Stonewall. The virtual challenge (#Marathon401) enables people all over the world to join him in his fight against bullying.
The 401 Challenge have teamed up with EtchRock and Virgin Money Giving to deliver a virtual running challenge named #Marathon401. Participants can join Ben virtually for #Marathon401 by running either a 10k, half marathon or marathon between the 2nd and 9th October 2016. EtchRock’s virtual platform enables individuals to record their training, connect with other participants and actively promote the challenge worldwide. #Marathon401 enables people to support The 401 Challenge’s objectives to raise £250,000 for charity and engage as many people as possible. 100% of the entry fee of £26.20 will go to the charitable fund, that has already reached over £140,000.
#Marathon 401 is open to people of all running abilities as participants can choose their distance, location and pace. Individuals can complete their virtual challenge as part of #Marathon 401 by spreading the distance over the eight days or incorporating their virtual challenge into official races or park runs. Tickets can be purchased for the virtual challenge from this link: bit.ly/2doBxFb or via The 401 Challenge website: the401challenge.co.uk.
Stuart King, co-founder of EtchRock UK says: “EtchRock are extremely proud to be supporting Ben Smith & the Final 401 Marathon with what is set to be one of the UK’s biggest virtual challenges yet! With the release of our new ticketing feature for virtual challenges, we hope to help raise as much as possible for Ben’s great cause!”
Over the course of the challenge Ben has run with more than 8,000 people, from experienced runners to beginners. The youngest runners have been children as young as five years old, the oldest 80. Running with Ben has brought together running clubs, schools, businesses, parent groups and service personnel, individuals from the Army, RAF and Fire & Rescue. The 401 Challenge has created a 401 community with over 36,000 likes on Facebook. The ambitious team behind The 401 Challenge hopes to unite and inspire anyone who has been touched by Ben’s incredible story of overcoming bullying, to get involved and make history with him.
To date, The 401 Challenge has raised in excess of £140,000 for charities Stonewall and Kidscape via the official fundraising page on Virgin Money Giving. The project has vowed to raise a total of £250,000 to help fund the vital work these charities do to support victims of bullying, homophobia and discrimination. Virgin Money Giving has developed a special API that makes it easy for anyone purchasing a ticket for #Marathon401 to set up a Virgin Money Giving fundraising page linked to The 401 Challenge page.
Jo Barnett, Executive Director at Virgin Money Giving explains “Virgin Money is delighted to have supported Ben throughout his epic 401 Marathon Challenge. We’ve worked closely with EtchRock who have used our APIs to allow people to run a virtual marathon alongside Ben and donate to his cause. He aims to smash his fundraising target of £250,000 and I’m sure he will receive many more donations to his Virgin Money Giving page as awareness grows for his truly impressive challenge.”
Participants will receive a limited edition 401 challenge medal, goodies from our sponsors and a letter from Ben once they have completed their virtual run.
Ben has inspired thousands of young people by delivering motivational talks in more than 88 educational institutions across the country. Ben and The 401 Challenge team have been commended for the their charity work by the likes of former Prime Minister David Cameron, Stephen Fry, Dame Kelly Holmes and Stonewall founder and former MEP Lord Baron Cashman.
