*Progress update*

The challenge is now completed. We covered 3,660km (more than the diameter of the moon) and have raised over £23,000 and counting.

Read our story on the England Rugby website here:

https://www.englandrugby.com/news/article/sussex-students-tutu-run-helps-samaritans?utm_source=170221Touchline&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=170221Touchline&utm_content=Community&spMailingID=13383655&spUserID=MTU2Mjk2NDE1MzQwS0&spJobID=1751829038&spReportId=MTc1MTgyOTAzOAS2&fbclid=IwAR3w3nhqoQep9I1nFhLkHSgdEXLBOp2HKv97nscgQPlOOQWDCnvt_lJPI94

What are we doing?

The University of Sussex Men's Rugby team will be running on Brighton seafront for 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, between the 1st-7th March. We will be running alongside all of those working in the emergency services and the Samaritans helpline who operate 24 hours a day, in a show of cohesion and appreciation.

Whilst 7 days of having someone from the club running and representing this cause pales in comparison to the months of hardship Samaritans volunteers and NHS workers have faced over the course of the pandemic, it is our way of saying thank you and raising awareness.

Why are we doing it?

The Coronavirus crisis is the biggest challenge Samaritans has ever faced.

Before Coronavirus hit, 20,000 Samaritans volunteers were answering a call for help every six seconds. This could be someone you know, family or friends in urgent need but unable to talk to anyone in the middle of the night.

It is more important than ever for Samaritans to be there 24/7, 365 days a year for those who need us. Samaritans' helpline is feeling the pressure. They're likely to experience more people struggling to cope or in crisis and they may have less volunteers to help answer calls for help.

In times like these, we must come together in opening up the conversation about mental health. By making people aware that help is available, lives could be saved.

Your donation to Samaritans Emergency Appeal will help them reach those who are struggling to cope. It will help Samaritans recruit more volunteers and work faster on different ways to be there, changing the life of someone who desperately needs them.