Walk 1K a Day in February
Date: 1st – 28th February
Cost: Free to sign up and no minimum fundraising target
Location: Anywhere!
Take on 1K every day this February and raise funds to support families facing dementia.
Join us to make walking a habit – and make a difference.
This challenge is designed for you to do at your own pace and in your own way, and will give you motivation to get out and about in the colder weather. So lace up your trainers or walking shoes and head out with friends and family, a good podcast or some catchy music!
How do I sign up?
- Join our Walk 1K a Day in February Facebook Group.
- Request your free Dementia UK t-shirt (you can do this in the Facebook Group).
- Set up your Facebook fundraiser or JustGiving page.
Once you’ve done that, be sure to spread the word about your challenge to family and friends.
In the run-up to the challenge and throughout February, you will be able to connect with thousands of other walkers in our Facebook Group and feel an amazing sense of achievement when you reach 28K at the end of the month!
Once you’ve completed the challenge, we’ll send you a virtual medal and certificate to thank you for your hard work and dedication.
Jane took on a virtual walking challenge in 2022. Here’s what she had to say about her experience:
My father died 10 years ago. He had Lewy body dementia and Parkinson’s disease. My dad was my world, and I needed to do something to kickstart a new habit and to also make him proud.
Initially I found it tough to walk each day, but the support from my friends was a highlight – even if it was just a like or comment on my Facebook page. Spending time alone with nature was also pretty special.
FAQs and resources – Walk 1k a day
We have tried to answer all your commonly asked questions below. If you can’t find the information you are looking for, please email virtualevents@dementiauk.org
I’ve just signed up – now what?
The next step is to join the Walk 1K a Day in February Facebook Group. Once you’re in, you can register for your free t-shirt, set up your fundraiser, meet your fellow walkers and find out anything else you’d like to know about the challenge.
How do I fundraise?
Creating a Facebook fundraiser is the quickest and easiest way to raise money. Once you’re logged into Facebook, you can set one up in a few seconds by following this link.
Want to create a JustGiving page instead? Head to the JustGiving website to create your fundraising page.
Once you have created a fundraising page, be sure to share it with your family and friends via social media, text, email and WhatsApp.
Is there a registration fee?
Taking part in the Walk 1K a Day in February Challenge for Dementia UK is free!
Is there a fundraising target?
There is no fundraising target for this challenge – we just ask you to raise as much as you can for families affected by dementia.
How can I send in sponsorship money I’ve collected offline?
The easiest way to send cash donations to Dementia UK is by donating to your online fundraising page. Alternatively, you can:
- Donate via our website by clicking here
- Send in a cheque made payable to Dementia UK. Enclose a note including your full name, the email address that you used to register for your t-shirt, and an explanation that you raised the money for the Walk 1K a Day in February Challenge. Post it to us at:
Dementia UK
7th Floor
One Aldgate
London
EC3N 1RE
- Make a bank transfer: please email virtualevents@dementiauk.org for our bank details
- Make a payment by phone by calling 020 8059 4400
Can I raise money without setting up an online fundraising page?
You certainly can. We’ll send you a sponsorship form with your t-shirt, but if you need more than one form, simply download and print more copies.
Please ask your sponsors to fill out all the columns so we can claim up to 25% Gift Aid.
Where do donations to my Facebook fundraiser or JustGiving page go?
All donations made to your fundraiser will be sent directly to Dementia UK by Facebook and JustGiving. These vital donations will help support families facing dementia.
What if I set up two Facebook fundraisers by mistake?
If you have started two Facebook fundraisers, don’t worry: you can check and edit them here. You can then close the one you no longer need, which will focus your fundraising onto one page.
What happens if donations don’t appear on my Facebook fundraiser straight away?
Normally, if donations don’t appear on your fundraising page immediately, they will within 48 hours. However, if your donation hasn’t appeared after this time there are a few different possibilities.
- Donations from other countries can take a lot longer to come through to Facebook and then to Dementia UK. This could take as long as several weeks
- The donation didn’t go through. Please ask your donor to check if the money has left their account
- PayPal takes up to three days to register to your Facebook fundraiser
- Your sponsor didn’t donate to your fundraising page, but instead clicked the ‘Donate now’ button which links directly to Dementia UK. Ask your sponsor to check the receipt they were emailed directly from Facebook – this will say whether they donated to your Facebook fundraiser, or straight to Dementia UK
If the problem persists, please email virtualevents@dementiauk.org so we can investigate further.
How do I get my free t-shirt?
Visit our Facebook Group and fill in our t-shirt registration form with your details. It will take up to three weeks for your t-shirt to arrive, so please be patient.
I still haven’t received my t-shirt – where is it?
We’re sorry to hear you haven’t received your t-shirt yet. If you have waited three weeks since completing the registration form, please email virtualevents@dementiauk.org and we will investigate.
Can I get more than one t-shirt for the challenge?
We send out one t-shirt per participant. If you would like to buy some additional Dementia UK branded clothing, please visit our shop.
Where and how can I complete my kilometres?
You can complete your kilometres wherever you like, however you like! Just make sure you record your walks and keep your sponsors updated on your progress.
How do I record how many kilometres I have walked?
Strava is a free, easy to use app that can track your kilometres throughout February. We highly recommend downloading it for this challenge. You will also receive a Walk 1K a Day tracker with your t-shirt, which you can use to tick off your kilometres.
Can I start early or late?
Of course! Our Facebook Group is active in February, when the majority of people are likely to take part, but you can do this challenge whenever is best for you. The more challenge participants we have, the more families can receive the life-changing support of our specialist dementia nurses.
Can I do more or less than 1K a day?
Absolutely. This is your challenge, and you can tailor it to suit you. Just be clear with your supporters about how far you are intending to go and keep them updated regularly with your progress.
What if I don’t complete the challenge?
The only thing that matters is that you challenge yourself and enjoy raising awareness and funds so our dementia specialist Admiral Nurses can support families. Do as much as you can. Update your sponsors regularly, be clear about how far you’ve come in your challenge, and make sure they are still happy to donate to Dementia UK.