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 now for the 2024 Big Winter Roam and will close on 10 February 2024.
You can decide which of the following distances best suits you:
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.
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 (15, 50 or 100 miles) 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 £20 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 here. A link to the downloadable sponsorship form will also be included in an email sent to you once you’ve registered for the Big Winter Roam. Once completed, please send your sponsorship form to ‘Freepost Cats Protection’ and write ‘Big Winter Roam’ 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 beanie 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 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 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 one colour (purple).
Cats Protection is the UK's largest cat welfare charity. We help around 157,000 cats and kittens every year thanks in no small part to our network of around 200 volunteer-run branches and 34 centres. You can find out more on our website.
If you have any comments, questions or queries, please contact our Events team at events@cats.org.uk or on 01825 741 960.