Citizens Advice Cornwall

Citizens Advice Cornwall is issuing a challenge to the public to shed Christmas calories by walking or running the distance of a marathon over January while raising money to help their local community.

People are invited to walk or run 26.2 miles over the month – either in one go or bit by bit.

Launching the fundraising initiative, Citizens Advice Cornwall Chief Executive, Gill Pipkin, said:

“Exercise has proven benefits for people’s mental as well as physical health and the New Year is a great time to make a resolution to increase your activity.

“Whether it’s just walking a mile or less a day to the shops, walking the dog or running a marathon distance in one go, it’s a great way to start the year and banish the winter blues.”

Community Fundraising Officer, Tamsin Chapman-Gunner, said:

“Your efforts will help support our vital services providing advice for everyone in the community. Demand for help with debt, benefits, housing, employment and consumer problems in Cornwall is increasing and we need more funds to meet this growing demand.”

Last year Citizens Advice helped almost 9,000 people in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly writing-off debt worth a total of £1.8 million and gaining income worth £5.3 million. In our latest survey, 96% of the people we helped in Cornwall said they had a positive or very positive experience with Citizens Advice.

Members of the public can sign-up for the January Challenge by visiting www.justgiving.com/citizensadvicecornwall and selecting the “fundraise” option, by emailing Tamsin.chapman-gunner@citizensadvicecornwall.org.uk or by downloading a pack from www.citizensadvicecornwall.org.uk