Discover the transformative power of ALIVE Virtual Challenges, a modern approach to fitness and fundraising that supports veterans in need and promotes personal growth and community engagement.
In today’s fast-paced world, virtual challenges have emerged as a dynamic and flexible platform for individuals to engage in fitness activities. By overcoming geographical limitations and time constraints, virtual challenges empower participants to seamlessly integrate fitness activities into their daily lives. These challenges offer a flexible and accessible way for individuals to stay active and healthy, regardless of their schedules or locations.
Virtual challenges foster a sense of community and support through online engagement and interaction. Participants can connect with fellow challengers, share their progress, and motivate each other to achieve their fitness goals. This virtual community serves as a supportive network that celebrates each individual’s achievements and encourages them to push their boundaries, creating an inclusive and motivating environment that transcends physical boundaries.
Additionally, virtual challenges offer a unique way to combine fitness activities with charitable fundraising. Participants can dedicate their fitness pursuits to raising funds for meaningful causes, adding a philanthropic dimension to their personal fitness journeys. This dual purpose not only enhances participants’ motivation to stay active but also empowers them to make a positive impact on the lives of others. The combination of physical fitness, community support, and charitable giving makes virtual challenges a holistic and impactful approach to promoting health and supporting important causes.
The ALIVE Virtual Challenges program prides itself on its inclusivity and accessibility. Individuals from all walks of life, regardless of their fitness levels or geographical locations, can participate in these challenges. Whether walking, jogging, or cycling, participants have the freedom to complete these challenges at their own pace and in their own surroundings. This flexibility not only caters to different lifestyles and schedules but also fosters a sense of inclusivity and community among participants.
The ALIVE Virtual Challenges are more than just fitness challenges; they are a platform for positive change. Participants have the opportunity to support veterans in need, adding a philanthropic dimension to their fitness journeys. The program’s focus on making a difference for both the participants and the veterans in need sets it apart as a truly impactful virtual challenge experience. By intertwining fitness and philanthropy, the ALIVE Virtual Challenges offer participants a unique opportunity to contribute to a larger cause while pursuing their personal fitness goals.
The ALIVE Virtual Challenges program offers a diverse array of challenges, each with its unique goals and milestones. Among the most popular challenges are The Cambrian Way, Land’s End to John O’Groats, and The National 3 Peaks Virtual Challenge. The Cambrian Way Virtual Challenge is a 264-mile journey from Cardiff to Conway. Participants can embark on this virtual journey from the comfort of their homes or their surrounding areas, transforming their everyday environments into a virtual fitness adventure.
In addition to promoting physical activity, The Cambrian Way Virtual Challenge also encourages participants to raise funds for veterans in need. For every mile they cover, participants aim to raise £1, directly contributing to supporting veterans. This amalgamation of fitness and fundraising gives participants a unique opportunity to make a tangible impact while achieving their fitness goals.
Similarly, the Land’s End to John O’Groats Virtual Challenge and The National 3 Peaks Virtual Challenge offer participants the opportunity to embark on extensive virtual journeys while making a difference for veterans. By participating in these challenges, individuals not only improve their physical well-being but also contribute to a noble cause, creating a rewarding and fulfilling experience for all participants.
Tracking progress is a crucial part of participating in the ALIVE Virtual Challenges. The program provides a range of tools to help participants monitor their progress effectively. One of these tools is Strava, a platform that allows users to record their fitness activities, set personal goals, and connect with a community of fellow participants. By integrating Strava with the ALIVE Virtual Challenges, participants can automatically track their progress, making it easier to stay motivated and celebrate their achievements.
In addition to Strava, participants have the flexibility to manually enter their mileage on a personal page provided by the ALIVE Virtual Challenges program. This option allows participants to use their preferred fitness tracking devices or apps, ensuring that everyone, regardless of their tech-savviness, can participate and track their progress. The program encourages participants to break down the challenges into manageable chunks and monitor their daily progress, fostering a sense of accomplishment and motivation throughout their fitness journey.
Participants can keep a chart of their daily mileage, steps, and calories burned, enabling them to visualise their progress and stay motivated. This tangible record of their achievements not only enhances their motivation but also creates a sense of fulfilment as they witness their progress towards their fitness goals. Whether reaching a new personal best or hitting a fundraising milestone, the ability to track and celebrate progress adds depth to the participant experience, making the ALIVE Virtual Challenges a rewarding and fulfilling journey for all participants.
The ALIVE Virtual Challenges program stands out for its unique approach to fundraising. Participants are encouraged to raise funds equivalent to the mileage they complete, creating a direct link between their personal efforts and the support provided to veterans. This innovative fundraising model sets the ALIVE Virtual Challenges apart from other virtual challenges, adding a philanthropic dimension to the fitness journey.
Additionally, the program offers a unique reward system where participants receive merchandise created by the veterans they are supporting, instead of traditional medals. This personal touch not only serves as a token of recognition for the participants’ achievements but also embodies the direct impact of their fundraising efforts on the lives of veterans. The merchandise serves as a constant reminder of their contribution to a noble cause, fostering a sense of pride and accomplishment in participants.
The ALIVE Virtual Challenges program’s emphasis on supporting veterans in need underscores its commitment to making a meaningful difference. By intertwining fitness challenges with fundraising, the program enriches the participant experience and amplifies the impact of their efforts. This unique approach to virtual challenges not only fosters personal growth and well-being in participants but also supports veterans in need, making the ALIVE Virtual Challenges a truly impactful and meaningful experience.
Beyond promoting fitness and fundraising, the ALIVE Virtual Challenges serve as a transformative platform for veterans. The program provides a unique opportunity for veterans to regain confidence, find a sense of purpose, and learn new skills. By engaging in these challenges, veterans can overcome social isolation, find a sense of belonging, and develop new skills, contributing to their overall well-being and personal development.
For instance, a veteran struggling to adapt to civilian life can find a sense of purpose and accomplishment by participating in an ALIVE Virtual Challenge. The challenge provides a goal to work towards and a supportive community to engage with, fostering a sense of belonging and achievement. This can significantly impact their mental and emotional well-being, helping them establish a new sense of purpose and regain confidence.
The impact of the ALIVE Virtual Challenges extends beyond the participants and contributes to the broader mission of Veterans In Action to support veterans in need. The program is a testament to the transformative power of community engagement, fitness, and philanthropy, underscoring the potential of virtual challenges to make a positive impact on the lives of veterans.
Joining the ALIVE Virtual Challenges is a straightforward process that empowers participants to make a meaningful difference while achieving their fitness goals. By signing up for challenges, participants not only commit to a fitness goal but also pledge to support a meaningful cause. This dual commitment enhances the participant experience, promoting physical activity, mental well-being, and philanthropy.
The registration process is designed to seamlessly integrate fundraising efforts, amplifying the impact of the participants’ endeavours. Upon registering, participants can start their fundraising journey with Enthuse, an online platform that facilitates fundraising for various causes. This integration of registration, monthly challenges, and fundraising underscores the program’s commitment to fostering a community of individuals dedicated to fitness, well-being, and the support of veterans in need.
The ALIVE Virtual Challenges program’s commitment to promoting fitness and supporting veterans in need sets it apart from other virtual challenges. The seamless integration of fitness activities, community engagement, and fundraising makes the program a unique and impactful platform for individuals to pursue their fitness goals while making a meaningful difference. If you are looking for an opportunity to stay fit, connect with a supportive community, and support a noble cause, the ALIVE Virtual Challenges program is the perfect fit for you.
Veterans In Action is a non-profit organisation dedicated to supporting veterans through various programs, including the ALIVE Virtual Challenges. By participating in these challenges, you not only improve your own fitness and well-being but also contribute to the well-being of veterans in need. Join the ALIVE Virtual Challenges today and empower yourself while making a positive impact on the lives of veterans.
I needed focus I needed something to fill my time, well maybe not fill my time but something to focus on like a target, a needed to get back my drive.
I started to help VIA ‘Veterans In Action’ and found something that I could do, use the old skills that I learnt in the army and more since I left which I did not register I had.
I had been missing that motivation to do something that I wanted to do and gain that level of self-gratification and achievement.
Everybody has a skill set, but it’s the motivation to use it we can lose, VIA have various projects on the go all the time, hopefully I have found my niche to help them and myself to gain personal gratification by being a member of a team again and a job well done.
After discussions I realised that it’s this which advances my mental well-being and my ongoing fight against depression and the feeling of worthlessness.
I have woken up, helping hand in hand with fellow soldiers suffering from labelled disorders finding strength from weakness, realising what helps them generally does helps me, the recognition has been an awakening.”
Ian ‘Chalky’ White former 17th/21st Lancers and B Sqn 22 SAS
Veterans In Action have been filming our expeditions for many years for our YouTube Channel, Veterans Expeditions Overland, and through this experience of not only running the expeditions but also capturing footage that enables veterans who have taken part in a place of reference to recapture how they felt by taking part.
The Veterans In Focus project enables veterans to learn new skills and record not only the expeditions we run but also the day-to-day work on all projects connecting them all together so everyone feels involved in all aspects of the work we do.
VIA take a long-term approach to helping veterans who suffer to enable them to grow within a project working alongside their peers. All this can be achieved within this project which can be ongoing and would allow veterans to learn new skills or to pass on skills learned during their time in the services
Some of the outcomes of the project are a sense of purpose, regaining confidence and working in an environment alongside other veterans where they can instantly feel relaxed, chilled-out, secure, and safe.
Veterans can work at their own pace, stop thinking negatively, concentrate, learn new skills, be part of building something, and most importantly where problems are understood this will positively impact mood and stress levels.
For those involved in the project, they can also get involved on an expedition HERE
I became involved with VIA in 2010 after my life took a turn for the worse and was invited along to do some fundraising with them. This helped me no end and in time my life got back on track. I completed a Union Flag Walk with them from Cape Wrath to Land’s End which again helped as walking and talking with other veterans with similar stories was a great help in understanding how I was feeling. I gained control of my life again.
In 2019, I took part in an overland expedition travelling through the Spanish Pyrenees and whilst away my life took a turn for the worse again due to family problems back in the UK. On my return I had to start again and rebuild and focus on the future and with the help of Veterans In Action I got back on track and took control.
I now own and run my own courier business.
Mark Colman former Royal Engineers
To date, we have travelled 25,000 miles travelling through 30 different countries and some of them several times both on overland expeditions for humanitarian aid through the pandemic and more recently supplying medical humanitarian aid to Ukraine.
It is important to note that to take part in one of our overland expeditions we insist that veterans get involved in the BUILD IT part of the project. The reason for this is part of the Post Traumatic Growth process which is our method for helping veterans so that veterans can grow within a team of their peers, learning new skills and relearning old skill sets that may have been forgotten after service.
Leading up to an expedition involves expedition training which will include off-road driving, navigation, camp setups, camp cooking and daily maintenance, something most veterans will understand from their time in the services.
It would be unfair for any individual to turn up on the day of an expedition who hadn’t previously been involved as everyone else would have been working together over a long period of time so due to the very nature of the mental health problems of those we take out on expedition turning up on day 1 for any individual could become very difficult to find where they fit in no matter how welcoming everyone was.
It is the involvement long-term on building the vehicles that enable veterans to grow that gets them to a place where they fully enjoy all aspects of the expedition experience starting from the minute that an overland expedition sets off.