BBC Children in Need is asking local businesses to take part in Gung-Ho!, a 5K run incorporating a giant inflatable obstacle course which will bring its UK tour to Sandwell Valley, West Bromwich on 18th June 2016. Participants are challenged to take on their colleagues and go head to head with other businesses whilst they run and take on the enormous obstacles for the charity as part of Team Pudsey. Those who pledge sponsorship will receive a discounted ticket for £30 via www.bbc.co.uk/Pudsey, as well as a free t-shirt and training support.
A race like no other, the 5K Gung-Ho! run course contains 10 giant inflatable obstacles that participants have to run, crawl and climb over to complete the challenge. These include gigantic ball pits, super-sized 5 storey high slides and a 5,000 square foot inflatable moon walk. The course is completely unique and runners don’t have to be an elite athlete to take part!
Speaking of the event Jonathan Rigby, Director of Marketing at BBC Children in Need, said: “We’re so excited to be visiting the West Midlands with the first ever Gung-Ho! for BBC Children in Need. It’s a fun way for local businesses and colleagues to challenge themselves – and each other, whilst raising money to help change the lives of disadvantaged children and young people right here in the UK. There’s nothing wrong with a bit of friendly competition – especially when it’s for such a good cause!”
Gung-Ho! co-founder, Alex Winters, added: “We’re so happy to have BBC Children in Need on board as exclusive national charity partner. Whether people participate as part of a group or individually, these events are all about having fun. By encouraging people to pledge their sponsorship to charity though, we’ll be helping people do good whilst they’re at it.”
The Gung-Ho! tour is visiting 12 towns and cities in total during the spring and summer months. Following the Sandwell Valley event, the tour will travel to Newcastle, Milton Keynes and Liverpool throughout July before the event lands in Windsor and finishes in Nottingham on 17th September.
BBC Children in Need now funds 144 projects in the West Midlands with over £6.6m hard at work to benefit young lives in the area. One of the local projects currently receiving funding is Parks for Play. Based in South Birmingham this project provides inclusive holiday play sessions for disabled children and young people. Accessing the activities will increase the children and young people’s confidence, as well as reducing any isolation they might experience and provide them with an opportunity to make friends.
BBC Children in Need currently supports some 2,400 projects, all working with disadvantaged children and young people across the UK. Each and every penny donated to the Charity will go to projects working with young people who need it most, including those affected by illness, disability, poverty or abuse. For more information on the Charity, please visit bbc.co.uk/pudsey.