If the pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that the smallest things can make the biggest impact and there’s no better example of that than Run For Heroes.

That’s the charity which started the infamous 5km running challenge – Run 5, Donate 5, Nominate 5 – during the first lockdown.

What started as a plan to raise £5,000 for NHS charities at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic went completely viral on social media, becoming a major fitness motivation and fundraising tool for more than a million people.

Since its humble beginnings in 2020, Run For Heroes has raised more than £7 million for NHS Charities and founder Olivia Strong has been awarded an MBE.

After the success of the original fundraiser, the nation is once again being encouraged to get active in the name of charity as lockdown restrictions continue to ease.

Run For Heroes is launching its latest challenge by turning the month of May into a celebration of physical activity with their 5kMay campaign.

As the name suggests, it’s all about getting fit and hitting that 5km target. It’s not just about running though – you could walk, roll, skip or even swim your 5 kilometres if you wish! All that matters is getting your body moving and raising vital funds for a charity of your choosing.

Olivia Strong MBE, Founder of Run For Heroes says: “After the success of the original 5km challenge, we want to encourage everyone to get active and raise money for their favourite charities as lockdown restrictions ease. At Run For Heroes, we are big advocates of the incredible benefits of fresh air and physical exercise on our mental wellbeing. We hope to see the nation unite once again and support each other during 5kMay.”

You can take part on your own or as a group, donate your £5 to a charity of your choice, then nominate 5 friends or family members to complete their own 5km challenge.

With famous faces like Mo Farah, Ellie Goulding and even Prime Minister Boris Johnson backing previous Run For Heroes challenges, you may even spot a celebrity while out on your 5kMay journey.

This year, Gordon Ramsay, Chris O’Dowd, Pixie Lott, James McVey, Paul Collingwood and plenty more big names are getting behind 5kMay in support of their chosen charities.

Run For Heroes has partnered with a host of other charities for 5kMay, such as Great Ormond Street Hospital, Choose Love, Alzheimer’s Research UK and NHS Charities Together.

When participating in 5kMay you can choose to support any of the partner charities or make a donation of £5 to any others that are close to your heart.

JustGiving, HelloFresh and Zipcar have also partnered with Run For Heroes to support 5kMay.  

Sign up to the challenge at www.runforheroes.org.uk now!