JOIN THE MELLON EDUCATE FITBLITZ

Walk / Run / Wheel 100km with us during the month of May to help support Mellon Educate.

Are you up for the Challenge? Of course you are… It’s only 3km or 4000 steps a day to help equip a child in Africa with an essential tool for life; Education.

The charity’s aim is for all participants to collectively walk 40,000km, the distance of circumnavigating the globe! Last year we had an overall target of 10,000km to bring us from Dublin, Ireland to Capetown in South Africa. Not only did we achieve this but we passed 32,000km. In true Mellon Educate style, when we are given a target we absolutely smash it. So this year we have set a huge overall collective target of circumnavigating the globe, that’s 40,000km. Enjoy the FitBlitz with friends and family and raise funds to ensure no teacher or child loses out to the benefits of the Mellon Educate teacher training support programmes.

How it Works!

  1. Register to take part and we will send you your Fitblitz 21 t-shirt.
  2. To help you fundraise we will send you a fundraising page by email that you can share on social media with your friends and family so that they can support you throughout your challenge.
  3. Walk/run/cycle/swim 100km during the month of May, tracking your activities using the Free Strava app which you can download to your phone.

Prizes

Raise more – Win More… The more you raise for Mellon Educate the more prizes you can win.

  • Raise €75 - Draw for PlayStation 5 + Tv Bundle
  • Raise €125 - Draw for a 55`` Smart TV
  • Raise €175 - Draw for a 3 Night River Shannon Cruise with Carrick Craft worth €700
  • Raise €250 - Draw for a Free place on the next Building Blitz with Mellon Educate worth €4500 or alternatively a cash prize of €1500
  • Raise €500+ 3 entries into the draw for a place on the next Building Blitz with Mellon Educate or the cash prize of €1500

Raise €250 - Draw for a Free place on the next Building Blitz!

Be in the draw for a Free place on the next Building Blitz!

Draw for a Free place on the next Building Blitz with Mellon Educate worth €4500 or alternatively a cash prize of €1500!!

Raise €75 - Draw for PlayStation 5 + Tv Bundle

Be in the Draw for a PlayStation 5 and TV Bundle

Raise €75 during the Mellon Educate Building Blitz and be in the draw for PlayStation 5 + TV Bundle!

Raise €175 - Draw for a River Shannon Cruise with Carrick Craft

3 Night Cruise on the River Shannon worth €700

Raise €175 – Draw for a River Shannon Cruise with Carrick Craft worth €700

Raise €125 - Draw for a 55" Smart TV

Be in the draw for a new Walkers 55" Smart TV

Raise €125 and be in the draw for a 55″ Walkers Smart TV.

Entry Fees

  • Fitblitz Entry: €35
  • Early Bird Offer: €30 (April 2nd to April 16th)
Entry Fees include the new Fitblitz t-shirt. Registrations made before 14th April will receive their t-shirt prior to the event starting, those made after may need to wait up to three weeks for delivery.

Free T-Shirt with registration:

FAQs

What Activity can I do to partake in the challenge?

This challenge is open to walkers, runners, wheelchair users, swimmers and cyclists.

Can I do a mixture of activities?

Yes you can, whatever suits your pace.  Speed does not matter.

How do I track my distance?

During registration, you will be given the option to set up and link to a Strava account which can be used from your smartphone, Fitbit or Activity Tracker.  Your completed KM through your Strava account will automatically update on your individual fundraising page.

Please note you will not be able to view your activities on your fundraising dashboard until the event has started on the 1st of May.

How will the money I raise help Mellon Educate?

As the global pandemic has caused the cancellation of the building blitz in 2020 and 2021 our requirements for funding to ensure our education team continues is greater than ever. The funding raised from Fitblitz will be used to support this vital work.

Can I do more than 100km?

Yes you can, the more the better, to help us reach our target of 40,000km.

When will I receive my T-shirt?

All registrations made before April 14th will receive their t-shirt by the event start date. Afterwards will be up to three weeks for delivery.

Useful Links

Uploading Activities

  • If using Strava for your activity, you must ensure all privacy settings are switched to public. This can be done by following this help guide.
  • If you are uncomfortable with sharing your location, you can add in privacy zones which will make your runs more private. You can find out more information about how to do this in this article.
  • If you did not connect your Strava account while setting up your fundraising page, you can do this at a later stage by logging in to your fundraising page. To log into your fundraising page please follow this link (and select the relevant currency), enter your information and select fundraising page. You will see the option to connect to Strava.
  • If you are not using Strava, you can upload manual activities to your fundraising page. To do this please follow this link (and select the relevant currency), enter your information and select the fundraising page. You will see the option to upload an activity.

About Mellon Educate

Mellon Educate is an Irish-based African development charity founded by developer & philanthropist Niall Mellon in 2002 and established as a charitable company in 2004. Thanks to the enormous collective effort of our volunteers, in conjunction with the South African government, has built houses for 175,000 homeless people in South Africa’s poorest townships. This was only possible because ordinary people took selfless action to do something truly extraordinary, lend a helping hand on our annual “building blitz” in South Africa. In 2012, we proudly celebrated a milestone achievement for the charity with 25,000 houses completed.

Every year our volunteers create new inspiring stories of possibility for children deprived of opportunity in their lives. The legacy of the work accomplished in those 7 days, the skilled labour and heavy lifting of long days, is literally a life achievement. Volunteers are the life-blood of our charity and we value each and every one greatly. A 7 day building blitz in South Africa is an arduous undertaking. It’s no holiday in the sun! What’s more, fundraising to travel and support the construction projects is a colossal challenge before even our volunteers set foot on African soil.

That is why we’re appealing to you, local businesses and people of the community close to our volunteers, to dig deep, to put your hand in your pocket and give our volunteer a dig out so that they can roll up their sleeves and help lift children out of a life of hopelessness to a higher level of education, a level where they can contribute and shape their society. Nelson Mandela once said, “Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world“.

In supporting your neighbour’s volunteer efforts, you are equipping the next generation of Africa’s children with the essential tool for life; Education.

Sat 1st May Mon 31st May 2021

Walk, Cycle or Run in Aid of Mellon Educate

Help us reach our target of

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Sign Up for the Fitblitz

Signup for the Mellon Educate FitBlitz and help raise desperately needed funds Mellon Educate’s programmes in South Africa.