What is the Around the World in 7 Days Challenge?

The RAF Police Rugby team has nominated Atlas as a charity to benefit from a global lockdown challenge. The challenge is to travel as far as you can around the world under your own steam, and for friends and family to donate online. The collective mileage target is 25,000 miles i.e. the earth’s circumference.

 

Why are we taking part?

The RAF Police Rugby team want to show their support and raise money for rugby and forces charities doing great work to support kids and families in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.

 

In the UK, Atlas will be one of 5 charities (NHS Charities Together, The Atlas Foundation, Rugby For Heroes, RAF Benevolent Fund, Scotty’s Little Soldiers). In the USA, Atlas will be the sole charity.

 

It is also a great opportunity to pay tribute to the men and women of the forces who lay down their lives to keep us safe. We are privileged and humbled to be nominated by the RAF Police Rugby Club.

 

How can you get involved?

With varying lockdown and social distancing restrictions across the world, the team has chosen a physical challenge that can be done in your garden, your living room or as far as local restrictions allow.

 

Run, walk, cycle or row your distance each day, then post your distance on social media using the hashtag #ATW7, or email Rory at [email protected]. For those on Strava, there is a club set up: https://www.strava.com/clubs/atw7. The RAF team will log the overall mileage and share daily our collective progress Around the World!

 

Nominate your friends and family to get involved as well then donate here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/around-the-world-in-7-days

 

E.g. under the theme of supporting children, some of our supporters are proposing to carry their kids on their shoulders, push babies in prams or even their adult children in a wheelbarrow. Atlas is not promoting this, as some people won’t want their children on social media, however, the idea of carrying a heavy weight plays on the Atlas theme which might be fun and visual! Lots of others are doing their distances in fancy dress or national costume

 

This is the main fundraising: https://www.gofundme.com/f/around-the-world-in-7-days

For those in the USA - to gain your tax advantages - please use this global giving link: https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/around-the-world-in-7-days-against-covid-19/

 

When does the challenge take place?

Challenge starts at 1300 hrs 19 May and finishes at 1300 hrs 26 May.

 

 

What does Atlas intend to do with funds raised?

The money raised from the Around the World in 7 Days Challenge will help support kids and their families around the world who have been affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

 

Initially we were terribly worried about what Covid-19 would do when it hit the slums and shanty towns. What has actually devastated our kids was the loss of income; crime from people desperate for money and food, and the risk of disease and starvation.

 

We need your help to support our teams out delivering food vouchers and masks to the kids in our rugby projects. The last distribution helped nearly 60 children in South Africa and cost 8,000 Rand which is roughly £500/$600. We want to increase these food drops to locations across Africa, Asia and the Americas where kids are in need.

 

What is Atlas’ goal through taking part?

Our aim is to raise funds to help our leaders around the world support our vulnerable kids and their families in this difficult time. The Challenge initially aimed to raise £25,000 through supporters collectively travelling 25,000 miles in 7 Days, but this target has been hit even before we start!

 

What are we asking of the Atlas Family?

We are asking Atlas Teams and supporters to participate, share their stories, donate and encourage others to join in too: https://www.gofundme.com/f/around-the-world-in-7-days

Team Leaders

If you are organising a club or team, please email and we will add you to the ATW7 Atlas Leaders Whatapp Group. Contact [email protected]