Walk 80km for Mencap's 80th anniversary: How to get involved

Across the month of September 2026, we're asking you to get sponsored to walk (or...cycle, run, row, or another challenge of your choice!) using 80km as your target. 

You could do your challenge on your own or with friends, family, work colleagues or even with your furry four-legged friends.

How to get started in 4 easy steps

Visit our sign up page to register.

After signing up your fundraising page will automatically be set up ready for you to send to friends and family.

We recommend walking 80km across September, but you could run, cycle or swim the distance.

Once you've received your first donation you'll be sent a free pair of pink laces to proudly wear.

Get your fundraising merchandise

We have a range of fundraising merchandise including: dog bandanas, friendship bracelets, water bottles, and buckets hats, you can order, wear, and use on your walks.

Every penny you raise will help us support people with a learning disability to live their lives to the full.

A purple background with two images one of a dog wearing a pink Mencap bandana and a close up photo of a Mencap beaded friendship bracelet

Other ways to celebrate our 80th birthday

Organise your own fundraiser using the number 80:

  • Aim to raise £80. 
  • Get sponsored to do 80 press ups or squats a day.
  • Learn 80 new dishes and host a dinner party for friends and family
  • Bake 80 cakes.

Organise a fundraiser themed around either the 1980s or 1946:

  • Karaoke night with 80s songs
  • 80s movie marathon
  • 80s fancy dress.

Order an (80th) Anniversary Card

What will you be doing?

Whatever you decide to do to fundraise for Mencap and celebrate our 80th anniversary we'd love you to tell us about it.

Tell us about your fundraising idea

Celebrating 80 years of Mencap

80 years after Judy Fryd founded Mencap, we are proud to continue the work she began - Because everyone with a learning disability deserves the chance to live their life to the full.

Judy Fryd with her husband and baby daughter

Benefits of fundraising for Team Mencap

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Access to exclusive fundraising resources and guides

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Make a difference to the lives of people with a learning disability

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One-to-one fundraising support from our team

Questions and answers about this event

If you can't find what you are looking for on our event page please contact our team who would be happy to help.

Our fundraising ideas page carries a downloadable resource which holds lots of inspiration for fundraising.

JustGiving pages are the easiest way to start fundraising, as you can set them up quickly, share them across social media immediately, and all money comes directly to us. 

JustGiving also takes care of all Gift Aid!

You can get started by reading our guide to setting up your JustGiving page and then sign up to JustGiving.

If you prefer we also have a handy sponsorship form which you can download to collect your fundraising.

We have a secure Mencap website which helps you easily pay in your fundraising.

Take a look at our stories pages to find out what it's like to fundraise for Mencap.

Mencap support the 1.5 million people in the UK who have a learning disability and the money you raise will go towards fulfilling our vision for a world where all people are listened to, valued and included, and not discriminated against because of their learning disability. 

Our dedicated team are always on hand to help advise you about your fundraising goals.

How your money helps

£100

could help provide access to sport and recreational activities so people with a learning disability can socialise and break the loneliness and isolation they face. 

£250

could help us influence utility companies and banks so they provide vital information in a clear and simple way so people with a learning disability understand the impact the cost of living crisis will have on them. 

£500

could help us create mental health resources in a format that is accessible for people with a learning disability who are struggling with their wellbeing.