Walk, fetch and explore your way through October with your faithful friend! Join us in covering 100km to help families facing dementia.
Give your daily dog walk a purpose this autumn. Every step you take and every pound you and your pup raise will help to ensure that no one faces dementia alone.
You can complete the October Dog Walking Challenge at your own pace and in your own way, and getting started is easy!
Once you’ve done that, start spreading the word about your challenge to family and friends.
In the run-up to the challenge and throughout October, you’ll be able to connect with thousands of other dog-walkers in our Facebook Group – and feel an incredible sense of achievement when you reach 100km 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 determination.
Kellan took on the Dog Walking Challenge in 2023“My mum was diagnosed with vascular dementia after having a stroke. With every walk and each step, there was a feeling of joy – not only to be having fun with my dog but also raising money for a wonderful cause, to help people and families.”
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.
The next step is to join the October Dog Walking Challenge Facebook Group. Once you’re in, you can register for your free dog bandana, set up your fundraiser, meet your fellow walkers and find out anything else you’d like to know about the challenge.
Creating a Facebook fundraiser is the quickest and easiest way to raise money.
Once you’ve logged into Facebook and joined our Facebook Group, click on our featured post to register and create your fundraiser.
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.
Prefer to fundraise offline? Download a sponsorship form to get started today.
Taking part in the October Dog Walking Challenge for Dementia UK is free!
There is no fundraising target for this challenge – we just ask you to raise as much as you can for families affected by dementia.
The easiest way to send cash donations to Dementia UK is by donating to your online fundraising page. Alternatively, you can:
Dementia UK
7th Floor
One Aldgate
London
EC3N 1RE
You certainly can. We’ll send you a sponsorship form with your dog bandana, but if you need more than one form, simply download and print more copies here.
Please ask your sponsors to fill out all the columns so we can claim up to 25% Gift Aid.
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.
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.
If the problem persists, please email virtualevents@dementiauk.org so we can investigate further.
You can complete your kilometers wherever you like, however you like! Just make sure you record your walks and keep your sponsors updated on your progress.
Strava is a free, easy to use app that can track your kilometers throughout October. We highly recommend downloading it for this challenge. You will also receive an October Dog Walking Challenge tracker with your dog bandana, which you can use to tick off your kilometres.
Of course! Our Facebook Group is active in October, when the majority of people are likely to take part, but you can do this challenge whenever is best for you. The more participants we have, the more families can receive the life-changing support of our dementia specialist Admiral Nurses.
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.
Safety should be the top priority when taking part in the October Dog Walking Challenge. You know your dog best and we encourage you to think about the distance you walk at one time and whether it is appropriate for your dog, especially if they are still a puppy. If you have any concerns about your furry friend, please consult a vet.
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.
Visit our Facebook Group and fill in our October Dog Walking Challenge registration form with your details. It will take up to two weeks for your pack to arrive, so please be patient.
We’re sorry to hear you haven’t received your pack yet. If you have waited two weeks since completing the registration form, please email virtualevents@dementiauk.org and we will investigate.
If you would like to buy some additional Dementia UK branded items, please visit our shop, where you can buy extra bandanas, cosy beanies and other Dementia UK merchandise.
1st January - 31st January 2025 We are challenging you to take 10,000 steps every day in January. Where and how you chose to walk each day is up to you!
25th January - 26th January 2025 A great event to walk off the Christmas celebrations, and to kick start your New Year fitness regime! Join our London Winter Walk.
29th March 2025 Challenge yourself to walk, jog or run a 10km, 29km or 50km Ultra Challenge in the elegant Georgian city of Bath.
