FAQs

Once again, we’re asking Reindeer Runners to take on the challenge of running 24 miles throughout December – that’s one mile for every hour RNLI lifesavers are on call every day, even on Christmas Day. One way of tackling the challenge is to run 1 mile every day for 24 days. However, it is 24 miles over the whole of December, so it’s completely up to you how you’d like to run the challenge.

We are asking everyone that takes on the challenge to run 24 miles throughout December. When you register, a fundraising page will be automatically created which you can share with your friends and family. Then all you need to do is choose how you’d like to tackle the challenge, lace up your hooves, and get running!

No, you decide how you would like to tackle the challenge. Running 1 mile every day for 24 days is one option. You could even walk it - on average, it takes just 20 minutes to walk a mile.

It is up to you how you would like to face the challenge. Running 24 miles throughout December is no mean feat, so make sure to plan your runs so they fit into your lifestyle.

The Reindeer Run Challenge is a virtual event, and you decide when and where you want to complete your runs. Just choose your favourite place to run and get started.

There is no registration fee to take part in the virtual Reindeer Run, however we are asking everyone that takes on the Reindeer Run Challenge to raise funds via their fundraising page to bring us closer to saving every one we can.

When you sign up, you can opt in to receive a medal once you hit your individual or group fundraising target. If you would like to receive a medal, please make sure you opt in. Those that do not opt in will not receive a medal.

Individual adult fundraisers who raise at least £125/€125 will qualify for a Reindeer Run medal. Members of adults-only teams will receive a medal once they have individually raised £125/€125.

Solo children who are registered by an adult will qualify for a medal after raising at least £125/€125. Mixed age groups (with families and children) will be given a group target upon signing up – the target will be based on the number of people in the group. The target for any group that includes a person under the age of 18 is the number of people in the group multiplied by £125/€125.

We will post your medals to the address that you provided when signing up. Group medals will be posted to the address of the adult that signed up on behalf of the group. You will receive your medals from February 2025

Once you sign up, your fundraising page will be automatically created, and all donations collected on your page will come directly to the RNLI. You can add your own profile picture and tell us why you’re taking on the Reindeer Run. You can then share your page with friends and family so they can donate to support you and the RNLI’s volunteer lifesavers.

If you receive any cash donations, you can bank them yourself and transfer the amount to your online fundraising page. Every contribution makes a real, lifesaving difference.

The money you raise will help our lifesavers to save every one they can, so we are asking everyone that takes on the Reindeer Run to try and raise at least £125/€125.

You can track your distance and steps using several different apps, including Fitbit and Garmin.

Your profile page includes your personal distance tally so you can track your distance towards your target. This is a great way to keep your friends updated on your workouts!

If you track your workouts with Fitbit or Garmin, your distances will automatically add to your tally.

Follow these steps to track your km automatically

1. Download the Fitbit or Garmin app and set up your account

2. Log in to your [charity or event name] account.

3. Under the heading Connect your preferred Fitness app, click your chosen app.

• Fitbit: You must start an activity and save it. If no activity is logged, then your cumulative activity will sync at the end of the day. If you are having issues, try syncing through BOTH your Fitbit and the Fitbit app on your smartphone.

• Garmin: You must start your workout, stop your workout and then SAVE your workout.

Manually adding activity

Remember, you can manually add your exercise to the tally in the My Fitness Activity tab within your logged in dashboard. This is a great option if you’re using a pedometer or a different way of tracking your distances, including Strava or MapMyFitness.

Follow these steps to manually add your activity:

1. Log in to your account and select My Fitness Activity.

2. Under Add activity, enter the required fields. Depending on the challenge this may be steps, distance and/duration.

3. The logged activity will now appear on your fundraising page!

• Use the search bar in the top navigation to search for the team
• This will lead you to the 'sponsor' page and will show you all the results for that name
• Alternatively, you can go to the team tab on the sponsor page, and scroll through the teams.
• Once you have found the team you want to join, click on the arrow to view that team page
• Then click the 'join us' button (next to the social share buttons)
• If you are logged in it will ask you to confirm the team you want to join
• If you aren't registered, it will send you down the registration flow and add you to that team

Reindeer Runners can be:

• adults (over 18s) who would like to take part individually
• adults (over 18s) who would like to take part as a team with other adults
• children (under 18s) who would like to take part individually
• families or children who would like to take part as a group
• people (adults and children) from schools or communities who would like to take part as a group.

Absolutely, anyone can take part in the Reindeer Run Challenge. Fitbit and Garmin (mobile applications used to track your distance) can both record distances for wheelchair users.

Please email us at Reindeer_Run@rnli.org.uk and one of the team will be able to help.