Miles More Together Challenge

From 8th – 14th February, in a 7-day challenge, the Leicester-Shire & Rutland Sport team will be setting out to walk, run, cycle, and wheel the equivalent distance of the combined perimeters of our 9 local authorities, a total of 505 miles (from their doorstep and in line with government guidance on outdoor exercise).

But that's not all! We will also be joined by our partner local authority teams who are also taking up the Miles More Together challenge and will be covering the distance of their own locality border or seeking to complete as many laps of their border as they can.

Why? To raise awareness and funds to tackle hunger.

2020 was a record year for visits to food banks across the country. Over the last year FareShare Midlands has distributed almost 25 million meals via local organisations to vulnerable people. This shows the vital role they play in supporting those in need within our communities.

In order to join in will the Miles More Together challenge, each team member will donate a suggested £5.00 entry fee through our just giving page in support of Fareshare Midlands. We are also looking to encourage friends, family, and colleagues for sponsorship throughout the week as we set out to see if we can reach our target of 505 miles, equivalent to the perimeter of our 9 local authority districts combined, in 7 short days.

FareShare Midlands works in partnership with the UKs largest food redistribution charity, FareShare, to source and redistribute quality, in date surplus food which would otherwise have gone to waste. They turn an environmental problem into a social solution. After being sorted, the food is redistributed to 450 charities and community groups across the Midlands, including community centres, homeless shelters, refugees, children's breakfast/school holiday clubs and more.

£1 enables FareShare to distribute 4 meals to vulnerable people

£100 could provide 400 meals for homeless people

£200 could provide 800 lunches at a school holiday club

£500 could provide 2,000 meals at a centre supporting elderly people and tackling isolation and loneliness.

We also want to raise awareness of the fantastic work our local foodbanks do and the unrelenting challenge they face every week in supporting families and vulnerable people. Team members may alternatively decide to use their daily exercise to collect and drop off food donations to a local foodbank.

• LRS staff members and Castle Donington residents Geoff Maltby and Luke Green will be running around the streets of Donington from Monday 8^th – Friday 12^th February, collecting any donations of food or household products. These will then be donated to the local village foodbanks at Orchard Primary School and St Edwards Church. Live in Castle Donington? Check out the Spotted: Castle Donington Facebook Page for the route details!

We have also attached details on how and where you can donate to your local foodbank. The spreadsheet attached outlines drop off points, types of produce needed and opening times for drop off and when they are open to the public.

You can keep up to date with the team's progress as we make our way around the county on foot and wheel through our social media accounts. If you wish to donate and sponsor LRS and its partners along their (virtual) journey, please visit our Just Giving page.