A million steps in 100 days to help brain tumour charity

Sunday 18 April 2021

A charity dedicated to supporting those affected by brain tumours is challenging islanders to walk a million steps in 100 days - the equivalent of walking 20 marathons.

For its fourth annual 'Count Your Steps' challenge, which coincides with its 10th anniversary, the Jersey Brain Tumour Charity (JBTC) is offering three challenges: 100,000 steps in 10 days, 50,000 steps in 50 days and one million steps in 100 days.

All will start on 23 April.

The charity, which supports anyone in Jersey affected by a brain tumour diagnosis, as well as their families and friends, is encouraging supporters to sign up via a dedicated link to help raise awareness of the impact of a brain tumour and raise funds to keep its services going.

The team said that if someone signs up to the 10-day challenge, there is nothing stopping them if they wish to carry on to complete the 50-day challenge. All they need to do is to contact the team so they can continue to record their steps. Likewise, anyone who signs up to the 100-daychallenge but finds it is too much can stop at any time. 

"Every single step that is sent in will make a difference," the team said. "It is after all the taking part that counts."

JBTC is  encouraging all participants to adhere  to  the social  distancing guidelines  set  out  by  the  Government  and to  keep  themselves  hydrated. 

After last year’s challenge saw the walker's steps reach the Hawaiian Island of Kauai, the charity is this year hoping to "walk around the world".

"As ever, the challenge for JBTC was to find an idea that can raise awareness, raise much-needed funds and also encourage its clients and supporters to keep active," the Charity Chairman, Warren Simmons, said.

"This is definitely a fun event as we realise that with a lot of us living increasingly busy lives, it can be harder to keep active. It's always easier to do these things together, so we hope as many people as possible will get involved –and also keep up the amazing walking/cycling etc. that we have all done over the last twelve months of lockdowns."