Canalathon challenge launched
PEOPLE across England and Wales are being urged to put on their trainers and take to the towpaths in a new challenge.
The Canal & River Trust, which celebrates its 10th anniversary in July, is asking people to walk or run 26.2 miles along their local canal or river over the whole of the month in a Canalathon to raise money for the canals and the green corridors they provide.
Hamish Shilliday, head of individual and legacy giving, said: “Canalathon is about getting people active outdoors and enjoying pure escapism by their favourite stretch of water.
“From helping us fight plastic pollution in our waterways to protecting the future of our historic network of navigations, the money people raise by taking part in Canalathon will do so much for our canals and rivers, for the communities who enjoy them and for the wildlife that depends on them.”
Almost nine million people live less than a mile from one of the trust’s waterways, making them popular and accessible places to exercise. In towns and cities they provide vital blue and green spaces where people can escape the hustle and bustle of daily life.
During the pandemic the popularity of canal towpaths in towns and urban areas increased as people discovered the waterways on their doorsteps as places to exercise and spend time enjoying nature. The Canalathon is an opportunity for people to now raise money to help the trust protect and preserve the nation’s historic waterways.
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There are lots of ways to get involved; it isn’t a race or a competition and participants can walk or run the 26.2 miles all in one go or in bite-sized chunks, working at a pace that suits them, over the course of a month. The challenge can be completed alone or in a team of family, friends or colleagues.
Canal & River Trust ambassador, entrepreneur, broadcaster and author Saira Khan added: “Canalathon is a fun and exciting challenge to get people moving and discovering the massive health and well- being benefits of exercising along the trust’s waterways this summer.”
The Canal & River Trust has a Strava Club www.strava.com/clubs/ Canal_River_Trust where people can meet fellow participants and get updates as they progress through the challenge.
People can sign up to the challenge on the Canal & River Trust website canalrivertrust.org. uk/canalathon then create a Just Giving page and track their miles through Strava.