From charity swims to gruelling skiing challenges, 2026 looks set to be a year of extreme endurance events for fundraisers. Here are ten unique challenges around the world that you can take part in.
First up is the Scilly Swim Challenge off the coast of Cornwall, where swimmers must complete five sessions of swimming between islands, with walks and breaks included. There's also an Ultra Challenge across the UK, offering treks, trail runs, and even a 100km ultra-marathon for those looking to push their limits.
For those who prefer two wheels, there are several charity cycling events to choose from. The Ride the Route challenge in London takes you on a three-day group cycle ride of over 200 miles along a railway line, with plenty of time to train and fundraising opportunities. Another option is the SupBikeRun, which combines cycling and running for a unique triathlon experience.
On foot, the Lake 24 Peaks Challenge in Cumbria offers an incredible opportunity to climb 24 of the Lake District's highest peaks in just 24 hours. While not for the faint-hearted, it's also a fantastic way to raise money for charity.
Other events include the SuperHalfs series, which takes you on six half-marathon distances around the world, with plenty of fundraising opportunities along the way. And for those who prefer speed and agility, there are several parkrun-style running challenges to take part in.
But why not try something entirely different? The Great River Race is a non-stop boat race from Millwall in London to Richmond, covering over 21 miles of the Thames. It's an incredible test of endurance and teamwork, with plenty of fundraising opportunities along the way.
Last but not least are several unique skiing events, including the Hyrox fitness races and the 24-hour ski challenge at Le Grand-Bornand in the French Alps. Both offer a fun and challenging way to raise money for charity, with plenty of opportunities to get out on the slopes and enjoy some winter sports action.
First up is the Scilly Swim Challenge off the coast of Cornwall, where swimmers must complete five sessions of swimming between islands, with walks and breaks included. There's also an Ultra Challenge across the UK, offering treks, trail runs, and even a 100km ultra-marathon for those looking to push their limits.
For those who prefer two wheels, there are several charity cycling events to choose from. The Ride the Route challenge in London takes you on a three-day group cycle ride of over 200 miles along a railway line, with plenty of time to train and fundraising opportunities. Another option is the SupBikeRun, which combines cycling and running for a unique triathlon experience.
On foot, the Lake 24 Peaks Challenge in Cumbria offers an incredible opportunity to climb 24 of the Lake District's highest peaks in just 24 hours. While not for the faint-hearted, it's also a fantastic way to raise money for charity.
Other events include the SuperHalfs series, which takes you on six half-marathon distances around the world, with plenty of fundraising opportunities along the way. And for those who prefer speed and agility, there are several parkrun-style running challenges to take part in.
But why not try something entirely different? The Great River Race is a non-stop boat race from Millwall in London to Richmond, covering over 21 miles of the Thames. It's an incredible test of endurance and teamwork, with plenty of fundraising opportunities along the way.
Last but not least are several unique skiing events, including the Hyrox fitness races and the 24-hour ski challenge at Le Grand-Bornand in the French Alps. Both offer a fun and challenging way to raise money for charity, with plenty of opportunities to get out on the slopes and enjoy some winter sports action.
And can you imagine having to eat all that fishy protein afterwards? 
Plus, it's awesome that you get to raise money for charity - that's the best part! 
That's definitely on my bucket list now. And I love how they're all about teamwork and having fun - it's not just about the challenge itself.
I'm just thinking, if you're gonna do an extreme endurance challenge, make it worth your while... like doing 24 peaks in one day or racing a boat non-stop 
I think it's awesome that people can come together and push their limits for a good cause. The Scilly Swim Challenge sounds insane, but also super achievable if you train hard enough 
. I'm not exactly the outdoorsy type, but it's great to see people getting out there and making a difference.
All in all, I think these events are super inspiring and I'm definitely going to follow some of them closely 
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or the Lake 24 Peaks Challenge in Cumbria? 
its not 4 the faint-hearted but u can do it & make a diff #MakeADifference
or the SupBikeRun triathlon experience 
. if ur more into speed & agility, parkrun-style running challenges r a great option too! 
! I love that there are so many cool endurance events happening in 2026 - who wouldn't want to swim between islands or run up 24 peaks in one day? 
That sounds like an absolute blast!
I mean, who needs regular exercise when you can just torture yourself with these extreme endurance events? 
so i think its awesome that people are getting more into these crazy endurance events. like, who needs a beach body when you can have a mountains-high one 
. like, we should all be doing more of that right? so yeah, if youre thinking about taking on one of these challenges, go for it! 
It's not just about raising money for charity, it's also about pushing yourself to new limits and meeting like-minded people along the way.
Whether you're in the UK or around the world, these events are the perfect way to get outside, stay active, and make a positive impact on your community. So if you haven't already, mark those calendars and get ready to take on an epic challenge! 
On a more serious note, events like the Lake 24 Peaks Challenge and the Great River Race are truly demanding, but also an incredible way to raise money for charity. I'm particularly drawn to the idea of trying something entirely different – who needs to go back to the usual marathon or half-marathon route when you can do a non-stop boat race on the Thames? It's all about pushing limits and having fun while making a difference, right? 
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. And what's up with the random mix of swimming, cycling, running and skiing? Can we please get some categorization or anything? 
. Maybe they should focus on making the events more accessible and less expensive first? That way, we can actually participate and make a difference.
. or maybe even that 24-hour ski challenge in the French Alps, who wouldn't want to spend christmas skiing for charity? 
i've always thought that endurance events are an amazing way to push yourself out of your comfort zone and raise money for good causes at the same time 
I think it's awesome that people are coming together to push their limits and raise money for good causes. But what really caught my eye is the diversity of options - from swimming and cycling to hiking and skiing! It's crazy how there's something for everyone, whether you're a seasoned athlete or just starting out.
I think its awesome that people are getting creative with their fundraising ideas 
. I think it's amazing that there are so many unique challenges like this out there, each with its own twist and level of difficulty. It really encourages people to push themselves outside their comfort zones and get involved in charity work. Have you ever done anything like this?
But personally, I think I'll stick to my regular yoga practice 
, much more relaxing and less likely to give me a heart attack! 