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Students’ 10 hour extreme sports day set to raise £40,000

Participants gather for last year's Ignit10n Chas Breton

Ignit10n is raising money for Above and Beyond Chas Breton

Press release issued: 16 March 2015

Over 1,000 University of Bristol students will take part in an ‘extreme sports day’ – undertaking some tough challenges over 10 hours – in a bid to raise £40,000 for charity on Thursday [19 March].

Participants will be pushing themselves to the limits as they aim to double the £22,000 raised at Ignit10n last year for Above and Beyond – the charity which raises money for Bristol’s city centre hospitals.

Ignit10n is the brainchild of Bristol students and organisers Sophia Sullivan and Milly Belcher, who wanted to unite all of Bristol’s sports teams as a force with the potential to raise a lot of money for a local charity.

Last year the lacrosse group cycled the distance of Bristol to Paris and back again in less than ten hour, while the rugby team completed stair runs in relays to the equivalent distance of running up to the peak of Everest and down again.

All funds raised will go towards Above and Beyond’s Golden Gift Appeal which aims to transform the Bristol Haematology and Oncology Centre (BHOC) and the Bristol Royal Infirmary.

Milly, who’s studying for a Masters in Mechanical Engineering, said: “We live, learn and train in this city and realised that we had the potential to come together and make a real impact. We had seen the Golden Gift appeal buses around the city and knew we wanted to be a part of that.”

After hearing of the success and how fun last year’s Ignit10n event was, enthusiasm and support has grown considerably. This year Ignit10n has doubled the number of sign-ups with over 1,000 Bristol University student athletes participating.

Those taking part in this year’s challenge are members of 23 different sports clubs with the inclusion of the snowsports, kickboxing, trampolining, ultimate frisbee, boxing, squash and volleyball teams.

Each sport club will take part in a different non-stop 10 hour challenge. Some of the more extreme challenges include the American football team lifting over four million kilogrammes in weights; the cycling club’s journey from Cardiff to Bath and Bristol, eating at every Mission Burrito restaurant along the way; and Bristol Jets Cheerleading Squad keeping one of their cheerleading flyers in the air for the duration of the 10 hour period.

Sophia, a former Philosophy and Sociology student, said: “This year promises to be an intense but brilliantly enjoyable day. It is a rare occasion where all of the University’s different and diverse sports clubs can come together in one event. It is a wonderful opportunity for everyone to use their sporting skill and competitive rivalry which is championed on the pitch to brilliant effect as they support a worthwhile local cause.”

You can show your support online by sponsoring a student as they take on their incredible 10 hour challenges. Or come along to the Bristol University sports centre on Tyndall Road and the grounds of the new Life Sciences building on Thursday to cheer on the teams.

The event has been supported by sponsors Brand on the Box, TV advertising specialists based in Exeter, and local Bristol businesses who have donated some raffle prizes.

Further information

Above & Beyond

Above & Beyond is the local hospitals’ charity that raises funds for all Bristol’s city centre hospitals.  Each year, they invest around £3 million in projects that make a real difference to patient care.  The charity fundraises to improve the hospital environment, fund innovative research, support and train hospital staff, and provide state of the art equipment. Working with inspirational local people, Above & Beyond aims to make a difference to every patient and every condition. 

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