RNLI Reindeer Run asks Cornwall to find 24 miles this December

Christmas Day included, the RNLI‘s volunteer lifeboat crews never really clock off. So the charity is asking the rest of us to put in a few miles on their behalf this December.

One mile for every hour

The Reindeer Run challenge asks people to cover 24 miles across December. The number isn’t random. It’s one mile for every hour RNLI volunteers are on call, every single day.

You can run it, jog it, walk it, hop it or roll it. The pace is up to you and so is the plan. One mile a day for 24 days is one way to do it, but a few longer outings work just as well.

It’s a virtual event, so there’s no start line to get to. Miles can be clocked up wherever you like, which means a winter stroll along your nearest Cornish beach counts just as much as laps of the park.

And if 24 miles sounds a lot, the RNLI points out it takes around 20 minutes on average to walk one.

Where the money goes

Every pound raised helps pay for the training, kit and equipment the charity’s lifeboat crews rely on, so its volunteers can keep saving lives at sea through the toughest winter conditions.

Signing up automatically creates a fundraising page you can share with friends and family. Any cash donations can be banked and then transferred over to that page.

The beanie, the medal and the deadline

The first 980 people to sign up will get a Reindeer Run beanie, while stocks last.

Complete the 24 miles and raise at least £150 (or €150) and an exclusive Reindeer Run medal will follow in the post. Everyone taking part also gets a certificate for finishing the challenge and a toolkit to help with fundraising and getting the miles done.

To qualify for the medal, the £150 needs to be raised by 10 January 2027. Medals go out once the challenge is over, and the RNLI asks people to allow up to four weeks from 11 January 2027 for delivery. There’s one medal per registration.

Who can take part

There’s no age limit. Registrations must be made by someone aged 18 or over, but that adult can sign up on behalf of children and name them on the fundraising page. The registering adult doesn’t have to take part or fundraise themselves. They just look after the page and the account.

Sign-ups are open now on the RNLI’s Reindeer Run registration page. After that, as the charity puts it, it’s time to lace up your hooves.

📷The RNLI Reindeer Run medal and beanie. Credit: RNLI