West Midlands UW Partner Jez Tromans going ‘Around the world in 79 days’
What can a cliched phrase achieve when said to the right person? In the case of ‘charity begins at home’ the answer is a fast-expanding community-led wellness and fundraising initiative. (79days.co.uk)
The initial concept was based on creating a free-of-charge virtual challenge, where participants can improve their fitness, well-being, and connection with others – whilst helping to alleviate lockdown anxiety and pandemic related stress. Along with this, to create a channel that helps others to recognize that this pandemic must be tackled on a global basis and that when people express this cliched view of ‘charity begins at home’, they are quite right and for humankind to win this pandemic ‘war’, we must all recognize that this world, in all its beauty, is our home. When shared with friends, the idea quickly evolved and 300 people have joined so far.
‘Around the world in 79 days, is a virtual community-led fitness/wellness challenge, intended as a unifying and fun way, to de-stress, connect with others and improve health and well-being – as well as offering an opportunity to raise funds for a worthy cause (Unicef). A simple yet empowering community concept of counting daily exercise, whatever the format, converting it to miles and traveling virtually around the world as a team. Along the way, visiting and connecting with countries more significantly affected by the coronavirus pandemic, than ourselves.
From bin men to barristers, students to solicitors, parents to children, couch-potatoes to Olympic athletes – anyone of any age can join ‘Around the world in 79 days.’ Through our combined miles, we have an opportunity to help our world – one day at a time, one step at a time, one vaccine at a time.
Globally we are all unified by the challenges of this pandemic. No nation is exempt. Our struggles and suffering are universal. This community-led initiative was born out of a sincere motive to do something to help – through fun and connection, whilst helping those who suffer to overcome their lockdown blues and pandemic related stress.
With their international efforts to help vulnerable health workers and children, UNICEF perfectly aligns with the focus of this initiative and affords the perfect opportunity to raise much needed funds towards their ‘Generation Covid’ efforts.
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Unicef, 10th February 2021 – “Of the 128 million vaccine doses administered so far, more than three quarters of those vaccinations are in just 10 countries that account for 60% of global GDP.
“As of today, almost 130 countries, with 2.5 billion people, are yet to administer a single dose.
“This self-defeating strategy will cost lives and livelihoods, give the virus further opportunity to mutate and evade vaccines and will undermine a global economic recovery.
“Health workers have been on the frontlines of the pandemic in lower- and middle-income settings and should be protected first so they can protect us.
“COVID-19 has shown that our fates are inextricably linked. Whether we win or lose, we will do so together.”
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Will you take part? Help yourself and others? Choose to donate or sponsor? Help us to link hands and travel ‘Around the World in 79 days.’
Join via: 79days.co.uk
Facebook: Facebook.com/groups/79days
