Sport Relief is back and for the first time ever is asking the entire nation to take on a huge collective challenge – beating a billion steps a day, every day, from 17th-23rd March. A host of famous faces including Zoe Ball, Greg James and Alex Jones (pictured above) will lead the charge and take on their own epic challenges to raise money and inspire the public to make their steps count as part of Team Sport Relief.
Running, dancing, dog walking or Zumba-ing all count towards the step total as the nation comes together to raise money and help vulnerable people, across the UK and the world, to live happier, healthier and safer lives.
As Sport Relief 2018 officially launches, Jonnie Peacock is urging the nation to download the new Sport Relief App and get behind its brand new Billion Steps Challenge to the Great British Public. Photo; James Cannon
To help the nation keep track of their hard earned steps and ensure they count towards the national total, the brand new Sport Relief App will be available to download for free. Packed with innovative challenges, exclusive celebrity content and a national step tracker* to keep count towards the billion, it will also include countless ways to get active and raise money for Sport Relief.
Liz Warner, CEO of Comic Relief, said: “Sport Relief gets us all donning our trainers and taking on all types of sporty challenges or running a mile at school to help raise funds.
“In 2018 we have more British celebrities than ever pushing themselves to the limit to help us raise money for Sport Relief, which gives fifty percent of funds to the UK and the other fifty percent to the most desperate communities in the world.
“This is the first time we have asked the nation to take up a collective challenge and we can’t wait to see how many steps we can all do – let’s hit a billion steps and get more donations and sponsors coming in to help others.”
BBC Radio 1 DJ Greg James gets back on the saddle to show he’s always ready for Sport Relief. Greg is urging the nation to download the new Sport Relief App and get behind its brand new Billion Steps Challenge to the Great British Public. Photo: Steve Schofield
Whether taking part for fun or fitness, the public can show their support for Sport Relief by getting kitted out in the limited edition merchandise, available from 15th February, from official partner Sainsbury’s and at sportrelief.com.
Last time around, for Sport Relief 2016, people across Wales raised and donated more than £896,000. This money has been hard at work in across the country, with nearly 220 projects funded across the region.
Coming up this Sport Relief:
Kicking things off with a bang, BBC Radio 1’s Greg James will take on another incredible challenge. Can Greg beat his last Sport Relief achievement of five triathlons in five days? Watch this space for more details of an unprecedented challenge that will push the DJ to his limits.
He said: “My last challenge was unbelievably difficult but I think we’re about to top it. At the end of the fifth triathlon I said “never again” but after seeing the huge amount of good it did in raising over a million quid for truly deserving projects and people, I have been inspired to push myself harder. This challenge is even more ridiculous.”
Zoe Ball has her training gear with her in a stroll on Brighton beach to show she’s always ready for Sport Relief. She is urging the nation to download the new Sport Relief App and get behind its brand new Billion Steps Challenge to the Great British Public. Photo: Steve Schofield
Next up, broadcast queen Zoe Ball will be taking on a very special BT sponsored Sport Relief challenge – a cycling feat with a difference, while raising awareness of mental health issues.
Zoe said: “I feel honoured to be taking on such an epic challenge for Sport Relief and it means so much to me to raise awareness of mental health issues – a topic close to my heart. This will be an awesome adventure, with miles to cover, hills to climb and a lot of chafing!”
Zoe will then hand the baton to The One Show’s Alex Jones who has teamed up with four inspiring mums for ‘The Mother of all Challenges’, with a focus on maternal health. Taking place across six days, it promises to push them to their limits with the support of Sport Relief legend Professor Greg Whyte.
Alex said: “Over the years I’ve done a number of things for Sport Relief, some more dangerous than others, but I think this one’s got a really different feel to it. It’s a gang of us, a group of mothers and we’re doing it as a team. I’m really looking forward to meeting the mothers, and being part of another Sport Relief – it’s going to be a good one, it always is!”
Tom Daley is urging the nation to download the new Sport Relief App and get behind its brand new Billion Steps Challenge to the Great British Public. Photo: Lucille Flood
On Friday 23rd March, TV fans can also look forward to the night of TV action, live from Salford on BBC One. The night will include incredible boxing bouts, as celebrities take to the ring and go toe-to-toe after months of hard-hitting training. Spencer Matthews, Wayne Bridge, Vanessa White and Hannah Spearritt are getting ready to rumble, with plenty more names and exciting telly treats to be announced.
Everyone has to start somewhere right? Airing in March, BBC Two’s ‘Famously Unfit… for Sport Relief’ will see Les Dennis, Susannah Constantine, Tameka Empson and Miles Jupp put through their paces in a series of gruelling tasks to regain their fitness and kick-start a new healthy lifestyle, before taking on a muddy and exhausting obstacle course in freezing temperatures.
- For more information on how to get involved with this year’s Sport Relief campaign, download the Sport Relief App or go to sportrelief.com.