31 Miles in August

Challenge yourself by completing 31 miles across August in support of people living with and affected by diabetes.

There is no participation fee. Taking part in our 31 Miles in August challenge is free!

1. Sign up

2. Set up your fundraising page and receive your tracker.

3. Join our 31 Miles in August Facebook Group and connect with others taking part.

*please note the tracker can take up to 10 working days to arrive.

The challenge starts on 1st August and finishes on 31st August.

Take on the challenge your way! Whether you’re at home or getting outdoors in your local park, every mile you cover throughout the month will count towards your total.
The challenge is simple: Cover 31 miles between 1–31 August.
However you choose to take part, what matters most is that you’re involved, everyone is welcome, and every mile counts.
 

This is a self-led challenge, no need to submit proof.
It’s all about coming together as a community to support a cause that matters to you. It’s not a competition just a chance to challenge yourself, have fun, and make a real difference by fundraising for Diabetes UK! 

Just be sure to keep your sponsors posted on how you're getting on with the challenge.

We recommend using the paper tracker that can be coloured in! This will be sent in your welcome pack.

Pin it somewhere you’ll see it every day, a fridge, noticeboard or wall and use it to track each day and record the number of miles you’ve completed. It’s a great way to stay motivated and keep track of your overall progress.
 

The only thing that matters is that you challenge yourself and enjoy raising awareness and funds to help us support those living with and affected by diabetes. Do as much as you can. Keep your sponsors updated and be clear about how far you've come in your challenge, and make sure they are still happy to donate to Diabetes UK.

When participating in our 31 Miles in August Challenge, your safety is our top priority. Here are some precautions we recommend you consider:
Keep these tips in mind:
•    Plan your route: Stick to well-lit, familiar areas and avoid isolated paths.
•    Be visible: Wear bright or reflective clothing, especially if out early in the morning or evening.
•    Stay aware: Stay alert to traffic and surroundings.
•    Listen to your body: Stop if you feel pain, dizziness, or unusual fatigue.
•    Stay hydrated: Bring water and fuel properly before and after exercise.
•    Check the weather: Dress appropriately for rain, sun, or heat, and adjust your pace, if needed.

Want to find out more about exercise and diabetes click the attached link.

If it’s been more than 10 days since you set up your fundraising page, and you’ve registered and received a welcome email from us, but still haven’t received your pack please get in touch.

You can message us in the Facebook Group or email us at Facebookchallenges@diabetes.org.uk.
Be sure to include your full name, email address, and the date you registered so we can help you as quickly as possible.

If you or your family members feel unwell or are unable to continue at any point during the challenge, it’s important to prioritise your health and seek guidance from a medical professional.

You can pause your challenge, adjust your distance goal, or resume at a later time, whichever works best for you, so you have the chance to rest and fully recover while still participating safely.

We love seeing your photos and updates from your 31 Miles in August challenge
Sharing your journey can inspire and connect us all but it’s really important we keep everyone safe too.

Here are a few simple tips to help:

Ask first: Before sharing a photo or story that includes someone else (especially a child), check you have permission from a parent/carer.
Everyone should feel comfortable with what’s shared about them.

Think before you post: Once something is online, it can be copied or shared beyond your control  even in private groups.
Take a moment to decide if you’re happy for it to be seen more widely.

Keep personal details private: 

Avoid sharing things like:
Full names
School or location details
Regular routines
Small details can sometimes add up and identify someone.

Be mindful of tagging: We recommend not tagging children in photos, to help protect their privacy and safety. 

There is no fundraising target for this challenge - The default amount on each fundraiser is set at £100 but you can edit this amount, we just ask you to raise as much as you can to help us support those living with and affected by diabetes.

Creating a Facebook Fundraiser is the quickest and easiest way to start raising money.

Prefer to use JustGiving instead? you can indeed. All you have to do is on signing up, click Submit & activate your fundraiser on JustGiving instead.

Once your fundraising page is live, start sharing it on social media, text, email, or WhatsApp to help spread the word and boost your donations.

Be sure to add a photo and tell your story, let people know why you're taking part in this event for Diabetes UK.

Every penny donated online through your fundraising page goes directly to Diabetes UK, so you can focus on your challenge without any extra admin.

Yes, absolutely you can still take part!

You’ll just need to register for the event as usual. 

You can do this here.

If you don’t have Facebook, you can choose to fundraise on JustGiving instead.

To do this, simply select the option to set up and activate your JustGiving page at the bottom of the registration form.

All donations made online to your fundraising page will be sent directly to Diabetes UK by Facebook and JustGiving. These vital donations will help support people living with and affected by diabetes. 

Yes, you can. We can send you out a sponsor form. Please email us at facebookchallenges@diabetes.org.uk, but if you need more than one form, simply download and print more copies. 

The easiest way is to donate the money into your bank account and donate it directly onto your online fundraising page. 

If this is not an option:

1. If you have a cheque to send in, you can make it payable to Diabetes UK and send to:

31 Miles in August - Events Fundraising

Diabetes UK

Wells Lawrence House

126 Back Church Lane

London

E1 1FH

Please include your sponsorship form or a cover letter with your name, forwarding address and the challenge name so we can accredit this to you. 

2. Or over the phone by credit/debit card to the number on the form. Just give us a call on 0345 123 2399, Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm. 

3. Or if you would like to do a Bank Transfer, please email us at facebookchallenges@diabetes.org.uk to request the details.

There are a few things your friends and family can try to make sure their donation goes through:

1. Try a different device or browser: sometimes a quick switch can solve the issue.
2. Enable two-factor authentication on their Facebook account:
   • Tap the menu (top right of Facebook)
   • Scroll down and select Settings
   • Tap Password and Security
   • Scroll to Two-Factor Authentication and tap it
   • Choose a security method and follow the instructions
3. Donate on their behalf: they can give you the cash or transfer it to you directly, and you can make the donation on your fundraiser for them.

If you’d like to make a donation by bank transfer, please email us at Facebookchallenges@diabetes.org.uk  and we’ll provide you with the details to complete your donation.

Yes, there is. You will need to opt in or out to receive these on the registration form for the challenge. If you opt in to receive these on the registration form, we will be sending out an exclusive Diabetes UK water bottle to anyone who has raised £50 or more and a medal for those who have raised £100 or more. These will be sent throughout the challenge once you have hit each target.
Terms and Conditions apply for the rewards. 
 

If you opted in to receive rewards, you’ll receive an exclusive Diabetes UK Water Bottle once you’ve raised £50 or more. 
Please allow up to 10 working days for delivery.
 

If you opted in to receive rewards, you will receive a Diabetes UK medal once you’ve raised £100 or more.

Please allow up to 10 working days to receive yours.

Please contact the team at facebookchallenges@diabetes.org.uk to opt out. Please give your full name, so we can update this for you.