The aim of the Big Winter Roam challenge is to ensure accessibility to all, so you’re free to complete your miles however you’d like and wherever you’d like. That could be a treadmill, walks on lunch breaks, and if you want to challenge yourself to do further then we’ll be here to support you. It is always worth scouting out your route in advance to make sure there are no issues, for example private land or unsuitable surfacing. Make sure you have appropriate footwear for your walk and dress for the weather, the rest is up to you.
Of course, you can complete your miles whatever way suits you, for example on a mobility scooter. We want to make sure everyone can get involved in this event, regardless of your abilities.
Registrations are open from 17 December 2024 for the 2025 Big Winter Roam and will close on 26 February 2025. You can sign up for the challenge here.
You can select one of our set challenge distances below, or you can choose your own distance. The choice is yours!
You can choose to walk your miles at any time across any number of strolling sessions throughout the month of February. Whatever works for you works for us.
Of course! You can do your walk whenever you like. However, if you can, we'd suggest joining in during February when many fellow challengers will be stepping out and completing their miles. That way, we can ensure to send you the right information to make the most of your challenge and fundraising for the cats.
No, you can complete the miles at any time over any number of sessions throughout February.
There are lots of apps you can use to track your distance but we recommend Strava. Alternatively, you can map out your route in advance or after your walk and record the distance. You can also keep track of your miles using the downloadable mile tracker which you will find in your registration confirmation email. If you have any questions about tracking your miles, please contact the Events team at events@cats.org.uk or call 01825 741 960.
We want the challenge to be open to everyone, so do whatever you can. You know yourself better than anyone, so please don’t push yourself to complete the challenge if this falls beyond your limits.
You don’t need to provide screenshots of your distance or route as evidence, but if you’re keen to share this with us we’d love to see where you wandered! Feel free to share your Big Winter Roam journey with us by emailing us at events@cats.org.uk or by posting in our Team Cats Facebook group.
Of course, however, if you are under the age of 18, a parent or guardian must register for the Big Winter Roam on your behalf and anyone under the age of 18 participating in the Big Winter Roam should complete their challenge accompanied by a responsible adult. Please ensure that the distance you choose to complete through this challenge is appropriate for you or your child’s age and ability.
No, sorry. To join the Facebook group, you need to be over 18.
Do not undertake this challenge if you have any concerns about your health and wellbeing without consulting a doctor. This is a physical challenge and should not be undertaken lightly.
You’ll feel amazing inside and out as you accomplish your Big Winter Roam challenge. Not only will this challenge get you roaming in the fresh winter air, but importantly, each step you take will be a step towards a better life for cats across the UK.
No, but we would be incredibly grateful if you chose to raise additional funds for us. Your £22 signup fee will go a long way to support our work, but by getting sponsored for your challenge you could have an even greater impact on the cats that need our help.
When you register for the Big Winter Roam, we will share with you a link to JustGiving where you can set up your own Big Winter Roam JustGiving page.
This happens automatically, you don’t need to do anything.
We’d prefer you raise the money through JustGiving but if that doesn’t work for you we would suggest Enthuse.
Unfortunately not, but rest assured that all the money donated on both pages will go to Cats Protection. Alternatively, you can expire one of your pages and then just keep sharing the remaining page.
Yes, you can download and print a sponsorship form. A link to the downloadable sponsorship form will be available on the online Big Winter Roam resource hub which you can find in your registration confirmation email. Once completed, please send your sponsorship form to ‘Freepost Cats Protection’ and write ‘Big Winter Roam 2025’ on the back of the envelope.
Any donations received outside of your JustGiving fundraising page can be logged as an offline donation. Log in to your fundraising page and click ‘Add an offline donation’. There are a few ways you can then pay in any offline donations to us; on our website, by cheque or over the phone.
If you have any questions around paying in offline donations please contact the Events team at events@cats.org.uk or on 01825 741 960.
While you don’t have to prove your miles, it’s always nice to show your supporters your progress.
You can link your JustGiving fundraising page to your Strava account so your supporters can see how you’re getting on with your challenge by following the steps outlined on the information page.
Sharing screenshots from Strava or other tracking apps on your social media pages is another great way of keeping your supporters in the loop.
As this is a ‘virtual walk’ which will be done in your own time and on your own routes, we do not have to pass on the huge costs associated with on-site events and all distances can be priced equally. The money from your signup fee will go towards improving the lives of cats and kittens across the UK.
While we don’t have Big Winter Roam challenge t-shirts available to purchase, you can buy Cats Protection apparel including t-shirts on the Cats Protection Teemill website to sport alongside your Cats Protection beanie while you roam.
Your choice of a grey or purple beanie hat is included in your £22 registration fee. At the point of registration you can choose to purchase a buff which costs £12 on top of your £22 registration fee
Your beanie and/or buff will be sent to you within 14 days of registration. If you haven’t received your beanie after 14 days of registering for the event, please contact the Events team at events@cats.org.uk or call 01825 741 960.
If your beanie and/or buff hasn’t arrived within 14 days of signing up, please contact the Events team at events@cats.org.uk or call 01825 741 960.
If you find there is an issue with your beanie or buff on arrival, please contact the Events team at events@cats.org.uk and include a picture of your beanie showing the fault, or call 01825 741 960.
The beanie is unisex and comes in one size (adult) and two colours (grey and purple).
The buff is unisex and comes in one size (adult) and two colours (grey and purple).
At Cats Protection we stand up for every cat. At the forefront of research on cat welfare we use our decades of experience to help all cats and support owners to keep their pets happy and healthy. Our campaigns change laws to give cats more protection and we continue to call for a better deal for cats. In every corner of the country our passionate volunteers, employees and supporters are using their kindness and expertise to make life better for millions of cats and the people who care for them. You can find out more about our work here.
If you have any comments, questions or queries, please contact our Events team at events@cats.org.uk or on 01825 741 960.