#1milechallenge Aims To Get Women Active

Sport England’s This Girl Can campaign has teamed up with social network therunningbug.co.uk to get a million women more active.

The #1milechallenge requires women to move for a mile by walking, cycling, running – or however they want – and record a short 10 second video clip on their phone saying they’ve done the challenge before nominating three friends to do the same.

The videos will be shared on social network therunningbug.co.uk, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

The challenge aims to encourage more women to get active through walking, running or cycling, and adopt a healthy lifestyle.

As well as encouraging more women to adopt an active, healthy lifestyle, the challenge aims to raise money for Cancer Research UK, with participants able to donate £3 by texting MILE to 70200.

Last year’s #nomakeupselfie viral campaign raised £8m for Cancer Research in six days.

The Running Bug spokesperson, James Knock, said: “The whole aim of The Running Bug is to get more people adopting an active, healthy lifestyle, and #1milechallenge can help to achieve that.

“We hope that women, who maybe haven’t exercised in a while, or perhaps ever, will see that they’re not alone and there are thousands of others just like them out there who are not exercising, whether because they don’t see the importance of it, or are too scared to try. The #1milechallenge can be the spark for them try exercising, however they wish to, and as a result we hope to get more women moving up and down the country.”

Tanya Joseph, This Girl Can campaign director, added: “#1milechallenge is a great campaign for This Girl Can to team up with because there is absolutely no pressure to be fast or brilliant at it. Whether you run like Jessica Ennis-Hill or Phoebe from Friends, the fact that you’re doing it is what matters and you can be truly proud of.

“We also know that seeing your friends being active can be a real inspiration, so sharing your achievement and encouraging the girls to get involved is important too.

“We’re really looking forward to seeing lots of #1milechallenge clips which show that these girls really can.”

Rachel Carr, head of event marketing and sponsorship at Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life, commented: “We’re really excited to be a part of this campaign with This Girl Can and The Running Bug. Just like Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life the #1milechallenge unites women to support and encourage one another to do something active such as walk, run or jog a mile whilst also supporting a very important cause. With your help we will beat cancer sooner and we can’t wait to see your miles.”