Sports relief

Running from 19-21 March, you can take part in events across the country to do your bit for Sports Relief.

From David Walliams’ inspiring swim across the English Channel, Adrian Chiles and Alan Shearer’s 335 mile cycle ride from Newcastle to London, James Cracknell rowing, cycling and swimming his way to Africa and, more recently, Eddie Izzard’s truly amazing 43 marathons in 51 days around the UK, Sports Relief has a unique history of dedicated people doing extraordinary things to rise money for charity.

The Sports Relief Mile

As well as a host of celebrity challenges, Sunday 21 March will see thousands of people get together to run the Sainsbury’s Sport Relief Mile, with 16 flagship Mile events happening in major cities across the UK, as well as hundreds of other events taking place across the length and breadth of the country. Participants can even choose how far they go – one, three or six miles.

Sports Relief socks and T-shirts

This year’s Sports Relief T-shirt has been designed by David and Victoria Beckham, along with their sons Brooklyn, Romeo and Cruz. You can buy the T-shirts, and the Sports Relief socks, which are back by popular demand, online or in TK Maxx and Sainsbury’s from 20 January.

Celebrity challenges

Adding to a host of celebrity achievements so far, Sports Relief 2010 will see celebs cycle a non-stop relay through day and night from John O’Groats to Lands End – that’s a bunch of celebrities, one bike and over 1,000 miles of wind, rain, and rough terrain to tackle.

The team will consist of David Walliams, Jimmy Carr, Fearne Cotton, Miranda Hart and Davina McCall, among others. One celebrity will be on the bicycle at a time, while the others will cheer them on from the tour bus, which will be their home for four days.

Blue Peter presenter Helen Skelton will attempt to paddle her way into the Guinness Book of Records by kayaking 2010 miles down the Amazon River, The One Show presenter Christine Bleakley will water ski across the English Channel and retired England rugby captain Lawrence Dallaglio will cycle 2,800km from Rome to Edinburgh.

Fundraising ideas

Whether you want to run the Sports Relief Mile or organise your own fundraising event, there are loads of different ways that you can raise money for the charity. From a sponsored tug-of-war to fancy dress or simply something up in order to raise money, you'll be able to find a fun way to raise funds.

Where your money goes

Every little really does help; just £1 could provide nine street children in Tanzania with the school books they need to get an education and work towards a brighter future, while £2.50 could pay for a personal safety alarm to help protect a woman in the UK from being attacked.

£5 could pay for a mosquito net to protect a mother and child from contracting life-threatening malaria while they sleep, £10 could pay for 50 calls to the Child Trafficking Advice and Information Line to help stop child trafficking into the UK and £50 could pay for an isolated older person to attend 12 tea dances a year at Nottingham Forest Football Club – providing them with a vital chance to get out of their home, socialise with friends and feel less alone.