Running with Refugees Virtual Marathon 2020

Back for the 4th year, it's the Running with Refugees Virtual Marathon!

Use the month of January to challenge yourself to run a marathon. But don't worry - you don't have to run it all at once! Cover the 26.2 miles over the month, log them here on the Etchrock website and earn your bespoke Running with Refugees Marathon medal and goody bag.

We have been alternating our fundraising every year, supporting either UNHCR or a smaller grass-roots organisation. In 2020, your entrance fee will go directly to support the amazing work of Phone Credit for Refugees. 

Phone Credit for Refugees was set up in February 2016 by founder James Pearce. James came up with the idea while volunteering at the refugee camp in Calais known as The Jungle.  After talking regularly to people within the camp he realised that phone credit was a lifeline for many – and something he could help with from his home in Norfolk! 

In the beginning, the process was very simple. James created a Facebook group, and added all his friends and some of the refugees he had met while volunteering. His goal was to have his close contacts provide phone credit to the handful of refugees he had come to know so well.

As time passed, news of the group spread through the camp.  More and more refugees began to request top ups. Simultaneously, new donors joined and the group flourished. 

Today, the group has over 64,000 members, has completed  over 30,000 tops ups, and has raised over half a million pounds. Our support has expanded to cover refugees across Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. 

To read more about this, please click here.