Comic Relief Sack Races
Howard Lake | 2 March 2011 | News
JUMP IN THE SACK WITH CAFÉDIRECT
And raise sackloads of money for Comic Relief
Cafédirect, the ethical hot drinks company, is calling on the nation to do something funny for money and ‘Jump in the Sack’ for Red Nose Day 2011 (18th March 2011). The public is being encouraged to get sponsored to take part in special coffee sack races across the UK, designed to raise pulses, bags of money and a lots of laughs!
Everyone is invited to Cafédirect’s retro fundraising events, complete with village fête-style stalls and entertainment, which are organised by Cafédirect and are taking place across the country in Edinburgh, Brighton, Bristol and London. Plus, there’s the opportunity for neighbourhoods and communities to get together and host their own fun-fuelled sack races, with free Jump in the Sack kits available to order online at www.cafedirect.co.uk/rednoseday packed with ideas, tips and coffee sacks!
Whilst many Britons jump to conclusions about sack races only being for kids, according to some sources as recently as 1904 sack racing was a fiercely competitive Olympic event. Top athletes trained hard to hone their technique, whereas today the most invaluable skill is a good sense of humour!
For those with a competitive streak, Cafédirect has brought on board personal trainer to the stars Matt Roberts to give some top training tips. Matt explains, “Anyone can be a champion sack racer, the key is preparing properly for the event with an all over body workout. From tricep dips to get your elbows ready for fending off the opposition to burpees that will help you to regain ground should you take a fall, the secret to success is leaving no muscle unprepared.”
To spring into action and take up the Red Nose Day gauntlet to ‘do something funny for money’, you can order a free Jump in the Sack kit and sponsorship form from the Cafédirect website. You might want to do a sponsored marathon style challenge or get your friends and family to hop, skip and jump their way around the office or on their way to school – there’s a sackload of choice.
The Jump in the Sack kit also includes five coffee sacks and a limited edition Red Nose Day pack of Cafédirect handpicked Tea for that essential post race cuppa. The website will also host details of the sack race fundraising events around the country, so you can upload your event to the site or find one to join. Plus there’s an online game to help you practise your jumping technique.
All funds raised will help Comic Relief support communities in need both in the UK and Africa. This is a commitment that Cafédirect shares through the reinvestment of profits to directly improve the lives of more than 1.6 million people around the world.
“Here at Cafédirect we are proud to be involved with an incredible organisation that shares our commitment to improve lives across the world. This is why we are also donating 10p from every limited edition Red Nose pack of tea and coffee we sell. Our “Jump in the Sack” campaign is a great way to bring communities together to share a few giggles and help Comic Relief make a difference,” Anne Maccaig, CEO Cafédirect.
To hop, skip or jump into Red Nose History, sack racing kits are available at www.cafedirect.co.uk/rednoseday from the beginning of February 2011 – get yours while stocks last. Limited edition Red Nose Day packs of Cafédirect tea and coffee are on shelf nationwide from the beginning of February 2011.
ENDS
For more information about Cafédirect and its award-winning hot drink products, for product samples and high resolution images please contact Katreena Dare or Paul McNicholl at Unity. Email pa**@he********.com or call 020 7440 9810.
Notes to editor:
Sack Racing Tips from Matt Roberts
1. Tricep Dips- these will be particularly good for getting your elbows out and fending off the opposition! Sit on a bench or a step with your hands beneath your shoulders. Lower yourself of the bench flexing your elbows to 90 degrees; push yourself back up for one repetition. Perform 3 sets of 15 repetitions.
2. Jumps Over a Hurdle- these are great for developing the ability to bound to the finishing line. Put a hurdle or marker on the floor (it only needs to be a couple of inches high) bound over it repeatedly for 30 seconds and repeat 5 times.
3. Plank- keeping yourself standing up straight is pretty vital for lasting to the end of the race so having strong abs will definitely help. Lie face down and place your elbows on the floor, push yourself off the floor and hold a straight line through the legs, hips and back. Hold for 30 seconds 3 times.
4. Burpees- sack racing is a full body exercise so this pulse raiser helps develop your cardiovascular ability, also if you fall over
About Howard Lake
Howard Lake is consultant editor of UK Fundraising. He founded the site in 1994 and successfully sold it in 2022. As director of Giving X Ltd he is exploring growing giving on a massive scale.
He is the founder of Fundraising Camp and co-founder of GoodJobs.