Run 62 Miles Challenge - FAQs

Supporters raise money by challenging themselves to run 62 miles in the month of July.   

Once you’ve signed up, join the Facebook Group dedicated to this challenge and click 'Join Group': https://www.facebook.com/groups/2719733944889231  

Once you're in, you can complete a form to get your free running top, get tips for completing your miles, be inspired by other fundraisers and find out anything you want to know about the challenge.  

Yes! If you don’t have Facebook, you can set up a Cancer Research UK online Giving Page and collect sponsorship for your Run 62 Miles Challenge: https://activities.cancerresearchuk.org/run-62-challenge-july-2025 

There’s no entry fee for this challenge, but we do ask that you fundraise for Cancer Research UK through your online Giving Page. All donations to the page will automatically be sent to us.   

While we encourage everyone to complete this challenge in July, this is a personal challenge and you can start and finish at a time that’s convenient for you. If you have difficulty completing your miles, then you can make up for it at any point of the month and continue the challenge into August.     

There are people of all levels of fitness doing this challenge. The important thing is that you're doing something that challenges you. This will vary from person to person, so tailor the challenge however you like.  It should be tough, but doable. However, you choose to break down the 62 miles, whether you complete them outside or indoors on a treadmill, you’ll be helping us beat cancer.   

There are plenty of free apps that will allow you to track your miles such as Strava, Nike Run Club and RunKeeper.   

We recommend using Strava so you can link your Strava account to your online Giving Page. Posting your progress on your page will help encourage donations!   

Find out how to connect your Giving Page to Strava   

Of course! You can complete your miles whatever way works best for you.   

There are plenty of ways you can hit your weekly target – attempt to make up the miles with a couple of shorter runs or save them all for a big run at the weekend!    

The only thing that matters is that you try your best to complete as much of the challenge as you can. Whether that’s completing all your miles in July or not, the money you raise will allow us to keep funding life-saving research. Whatever you manage to achieve, we can’t thank you enough.      

We trust you! You don’t need to provide evidence that you’ve completed the challenge to us, but your friends and family will want some updates! Make sure you keep them updated on your progress and share videos and photos throughout July – the more updates the better. Supporters that post their progress raise 40% more on average.   

We recommend you connect your Giving Page to Fitbit or Strava so you can track your steps or miles automatically.   

Please note: With Strava there’s sometimes a 48-hour lag in the data being updated. If your miles still aren't showing after this time, disconnect and reconnect to do a hard reset and this will add any miles already on the Strava account.   

Warming up properly before running will help prevent injury and should only take five minutes.    

• March on the spot for up to 3 minutes – Start off marching on the spot and then march forwards and backwards. Pump your arms up and down in rhythm with your steps, keeping the elbows bent and the fists soft.   

• Heel dig for 1 minute – To do heel digs, place alternate heels to the front, keeping the front foot pointing up, and punch out with each heel dig. Keep a slight bend in the supporting leg.   

• Knee lifts for 30 seconds - To do knee lifts, stand tall and bring up alternate knees to touch the opposite hand. Keep your abs tight and back straight. Keep a slight bend in the supporting leg.   

• Shoulder rolls for two sets of 10 repetitions – For shoulder rolls, keep marching on the spot. Roll your shoulders forwards 5 times and backwards 5 times. Let your arms hang loose by your sides.   

• Knee bends for 10 repetitions – To do knee bends, stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and your hands stretched out. Lower yourself no more than 10cm by bending your knees. Come up and repeat.   

Read more NHS information and guidance on these warm-ups.     

Of course you can! Some top tips for running on a hot day include:    

• Wearing a damp, cool bandana    
• Hydrating before, during and after your run   
• Running in the cooler parts of the day and in shade where possible   
• Wearing light-coloured clothes to reflect the sun’s rays and a breathable cap to keep the sun from your scalp  
• Avoiding tight clothes and switching to thinner socks    
• Applying sunscreen to protect your skin   
• Using insect repellent If you’re sensitive to insect bites  

Find more information about sun safety.  
   
Remember to listen to your body and don’t push yourself If you’re feeling fatigued or dizzy. Stop for rests and if urgent, seek medical attention. For more information on running in different types of weather, see these guides:    

Running tips for beginners:   

• https://www.runnersneed.com/expert-advice/training/a-complete-beginners-guide-to-running.html   
• https://www.runnersworld.com/uk/training/beginners/a40088632/running-tips-for-beginners/   

For tips on technique, stretching, resting, cross-training, nutrition and recovery, visit our partners:  

• Running With Us. (Make sure you click the ‘Tips and advice’ tab)   

Running in the sun:   

• https://www.runnersneed.com/expert-advice/training/run-in-the-sun.html   
• https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/seasonal-health/heatwave-how-to-cope-in-hot-weather/    

Safety in the dark:  

• Maximise reflective gear: wear bright, neon or white clothing to help drivers spot you from afar.  
• Think low: car’s headlights are angled down slightly, so try to wear reflective socks or shoelaces.  
• Accentuate your moving parts: try to wear reflective gear on your feet, ankles and wrists.   
• Be bright and flashy: flashlights and headlamps both light your way and alert people of your presence.    

 https://www.runnersworld.com/advanced/a20835863/nighttime-safety-tips-for-runners/     
   

It’s not unusual to encounter bad weather when you’re out running in the UK! It’s important you have the right equipment and approach if you’re running in adverse weather. Alternatively, it’s more than ok for you to complete the miles on a treadmill at home or the gym.   
   
When running in adverse weather, remember to check your route and know your trail – understanding your surroundings will help you avoid difficult terrain and stick to safer, flat surfaces.    
  
Here’s some useful equipment to take with you in bad weather:   

• Waterproof clothing   
• Neck warmer/buff   
• Water and food    
• Mobile phone    

It’s important that you’re well prepared for your run, especially if you’re going to be running a long distance.   

Here’s a list of equipment you might want to consider:   

• Running shorts or tights   
• Sunscreen   
• Running top or light t-shirt   
• Sun hat or cap if it's warm   
• Sunglasses if it's warm   
• Water, along with rehydration and glucose supplements   
• Running trainers   
• Running socks   
• A sports bra   
• A snack to help maintain energy levels   
• Winter-weight running tights or thermal tights if it's cold    
• Long-sleeved jacket if it's cold    
• Waterproof jacket and shoes if it's raining outside     

Complete this form to receive your free running top in the post. Once completed, please allow 10-15 working days for it to arrive: https://activities.cancerresearchuk.org/run-62-challenge-july-2025 

Please make sure you review the size chart before selecting your size, as we won’t be able to send another t-shirt.    

If you haven’t received your t-shirt within this time, please contact supporter.services@cancer.org.uk.   

Unfortunately, returning tops come at a cost to us, so we ask that you keep hold of it for personal use (you could wear it in bed, at the gym or give it to a friend). If you’d like a replacement, you can purchase one from our online shop.   

Sending out your running top comes at a cost to us, so please only order one running top to make sure as much money as possible goes towards our life-saving work. If you do request another running top, we ask that you set up a Giving Page and make a donation.    

If you’d like to order more t-shirts, please visit our online shop.   

You’ll receive a certificate in your completion email at the end of the challenge, and you can access downloadable digital badges to shout about your achievement on social media.   

Unfortunately, medals come at a significant cost to us, so we won’t be sending these out so we can spend more on our life-saving work.   

Setting up an online Giving Page is the easiest way to raise money. You can set one up here: https://activities.cancerresearchuk.org/run-62-challenge-july-2025 
It's then easy to share the page with your friends and gather sponsorship for your challenge.    

We don’t set a fundraising target for participants, but we recommend supporters set a reasonable target of raising around £150. 

You can use our sponsorship form to raise money offline: https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/sites/default/files/downloadable-resources/gs_0035_run_62_challenge_pack_july_2025_r3_11.pdf 

Simply download and print off the form to keep track of all your sponsorship collected or pledged. Once you’ve completed your fundraising, please send the form with a cheque to:    

Run 62 Challenge in July, Cancer Research UK, PO BOX 1561, Oxford, OX4 9GZ.   

Run 62 Miles Challenge is a fundraising initiative specifically developed by us, therefore all money raised must go solely to Cancer Research UK.    

Gift Aid is a tax relief allowing UK charities to reclaim an extra 25% on every eligible donation made by a UK taxpayer. This means Cancer Research UK can claim an extra 25p for every £1 donated, without it costing you or your sponsors an extra penny. For a donation to be eligible for Gift Aid, sponsors need to fill out the sponsorship form following the instructions at the top of the page.   

Yes. If you don’t have Facebook, you can set up an online Giving Page and collect sponsorship for your miles that way.   

https://fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/signup/?fundraising_page_type=a9a5906f-dd94-4e73-965c-ee7e870c2a49&channel=run-62-miles-challenge-july-2025 

Yes, under-18s can take part in this challenge, but we don’t market to them and any third-party platform forums (such as Facebook forums) are only available to people over 18. If under-18s are taking part, their parent or guardian must consent to the child’s participation, supervise the challenge and accept responsibility for complying with the challenge rules. The child’s parent or guardian must register on the child’s behalf and if a child wants to raise money online and/or join a forum, the child’s parent or guardian must register for an online fundraising page and/or join the forum on the child’s behalf.   

Participants must register as individuals, but you can then set up a team Giving Page to take on the challenge and raise money together.   

Here’s how:   

1. All your team will need to sign up to the Run 62 Miles July so you each have your own online Giving Page   

2. Once everyone has signed up, log into your account   

3. Hit the 'Create new team' button and follow the instructions   

4. Once you've created your team, you can send the team page URL to friends and family so they can join too!   

Once you’ve created your team, you can either split up your miles across the group or each complete the 62 miles across the month. You can also invite other people to join via our online fundraising site.   

Why has my Facebook Fundraiser ended early?   
Facebook Fundraisers are automatically set up to only stay open for 10 days. To make the most of your fundraising efforts, you need to change the end date to keep your fundraiser open throughout and after the challenge. To change the end date, simply click ‘More’ under the invite button, then click ‘Edit Fundraiser’. We recommend setting this date to at least a month after your challenge has ended so you can continue to collect vital donations and be rewarded for your efforts.   

If my Facebook Fundraiser has closed, can I reactivate it?   
Unfortunately, once your Facebook Fundraiser has finished you can’t reopen the same fundraising page. However, you can create a new page and set the end date for at least a month after your challenge, so you can continue receiving donations once you’ve finished.   

How do I find my previous Facebook Fundraisers?   
To see your past fundraisers, go to the Facebook homepage on a desktop and look underneath your name on the left-hand side. Click ‘Fundraisers’ then ‘Your activity’ and scroll down the page until you reach ‘Your past fundraisers’.   

Is it safe to donate on Facebook?   
Donating on Facebook is safe and secure and there is no fee taken from Facebook to set up a Facebook Fundraiser. If you’ve seen any suspicious charges, we recommend speaking directly to your bank. If you have any questions about your Facebook Fundraiser, please contact Facebook.   

How do I connect my online Giving Page to my Strava account?   

Read our full instructions

I’ve connected my Strava account to my online Giving Page, but my miles haven’t published   

It sometimes takes a little while for miles to be published onto your page. If they haven’t shown after a few hours, please get in touch.   

Your settings will also automatically be set to only show miles throughout September, but if you’d like your training miles to show you can adjust these settings on your online Giving Page.   

Why aren’t my Strava activities appearing on my online Giving Page?   

This could be due to any of the following:  

• The date ranges you’ve set. You can change these in 'Manage Strava Settings'.   
• There can sometimes be a short delay between completing your activity and your activity appearing on your page. Please check your Giving Page again later.   
• Your Strava activity doesn’t match the activity types you’ve selected in your Strava settings. For example, you completed a bike ride but your Online Giving Page Strava setting only has ‘Walk/Run’ selected. You can update the activity types that appear on your online Giving Page in 'Manage Strava Settings'.   
• Your Strava privacy settings aren’t set to 'Everyone'. You can change privacy settings in Strava.   

My Strava activities on my Giving Page aren’t as expected?   

We will only show Strava activities on your page from the date ranges and activity types you have selected in your settings. These activities also need to be public for Strava to share them with CRUK.   

Changes to settings that will affect what Strava activities will show on your page:    

• Changing the date range   
• Changing the units of measure    
• Changing the activity types   

How can I delete an activity from my page?    

You can delete any activity you don’t want to appear on your online Giving Page by using the delete option below the activity post.    

Cancer Research UK will never delete activities from your online Giving Page. If you update the ‘Timeframe’ section in the Strava setting from your online Giving Page, you’ll still need to manually delete unwanted activities from your online Giving Page.    

Note for advisors: There’s no automated process to delete Strava activities from online Giving Pages, as we want the user to have as much control over their page as possible. As an OFP admin user, you’ll be able to manually delete Strava activities from pages.    

I feel uncomfortable sharing my route. What should I do?   

That is totally understandable and in the interest of safety, we ask that you don’t share the beginning or end of your routes. If you’d like to share then feel free to post the middle/main part of your walk.    

Strava allows you to set a privacy zone around your address to hide the start and end of your routes. In the Strava app, head to Settings > Privacy Controls > Map Visibility.   

Read more about protecting your privacy on Strava.  

If you post screenshots of your running routes and running information to the Facebook group, remember that your location could be visible to others in the group. Please be careful with what you’re posting.   

Why is the total on my activity tracker wrong?   

• Your activity types selected – Your target is calculated from all activities on your online Giving Page. If you only want one type of activity to count towards your target, please remove the other activity types from your online Giving Page via the Settings section.   
• Your date ranges selected – Your target is calculated from all activities in the timeframe you've set. If you want your target to only reflect your challenge progress, set your start date to the day you started your challenge.   
• Your Strava privacy settings – If your Strava activities are set to private they won’t count towards your target.    

Can I link my Apple Watch to my online Giving Page?    

If you track your miles using the Strava app on your Apple watch, then you can link this to your Giving Page. Click here for guidance on how to set up the Strava Apple watch app.     

How do I connect my page to Fitbit?     

Please follow the step-by-step process from your Giving Page to connect to Fitbit:   

1. You’ll need to have a Fitbit device and account already set up.     

2. While logged into your Giving Page account, find the Giving Page you’d like to connect to Fitbit.     

3. Click the link to connect to Fitbit.     

4. You’ll be asked to log in to your Fitbit account if you’re not logged in already.      

5. Next, you’ll need to accept permission for Fitbit to share your activities with Cancer Research UK. This will complete your connection.    

6. Once connected, you’ll be able to choose your settings for Fitbit. You can update your settings at any time.    

How do I set or change my Fitbit step target?     

You can set or change your Fitbit step target at any time by going into your Fitbit settings directly from your Giving Page.     

Why aren’t my Fitbit activities appearing on my page?     

This could be due to the date ranges you’ve set for Fitbit to share your activities with Cancer Research UK. You can view or edit the date range from the ‘Change Fitbit Settings' section on your Giving Page.    

Alternatively, it could be because you haven’t recently synced your Fitbit device to the Fitbit app. Cancer Research UK receives activity data from the Fitbit app, not directly from your Fitbit wristband. Visit Fitbit help for details on how to sync your device.     

Can I delete an activity from my Giving Page?    

You currently can’t delete individual activities from your Giving Page.    

If you’d like to be able to delete individual activities from your Giving Page in future, please let us know.  

How can I disconnect Fitbit from my Giving Page?    

Disconnecting from Fitbit will stop Fitbit sharing new activities to your Giving Page and will delete all existing Fitbit activities from your Giving Page.     

You can disconnect from Fitbit by following the ‘Disconnect Fitbit’ process from the Fitbit setting section on your Giving Page.     

If you’d like Fitbit to stop sharing activities to your Giving Page, review the date range you have in your Fitbit settings. This dictates the date range in which Fitbit will share activities with Cancer Research UK.    

Why is my activity tracker wrong?    

The activity tracker on your Giving Page shows a total of all Fitbit activities on your page.     

If you change your activity date range, this will update your activity tracker to show a total for your new date range.     

Can I link my Fitbit to my online Giving Page?    

If you connect your Fitbit to the Strava app then you can link this to your Giving Page. For guidance on how to connect your Fitbit to Strava, visit:    

https://help.fitbit.com/articles/en_US/Help_article/1742.htm?Highlight=Strava   

https://strava.fitbit.com/