36
New Year, Fresh Start Charities, Wills & Legacies Giving it your all
Pegging your fi tness goals to a charity fundraiser is a smart way to motivate yourself, stay trim and show everyone what a thoroughly good egg you are. But where to begin? Words: Andy Hill
P
ersonal trainer Monty Simmons says the appeal of tying exercise or fi tness goals to a charity lies in
the fact that we bind these goals to “something greater than ourselves” — but he warns against overreaching. People, he says, tend to make a challenge “loftier or bigger than it needs to be”, when the real aim is choosing something “meaningful to you” and “manageable” around work, kids and everyday life.
Getting started If you’re unsure which cause to support, he suggests looking to “your immediate network, the people that are one person away from you — what have they suff ered from or what do they care about?” T at, he says, is often helpful in fi nding motivation. Beginners, meanwhile, often
“worry about doing the wrong thing in front of people and looking like they don’t know what they’re doing”, but in reality “most people in fi tness see someone who doesn’t know what they’re doing and will try to help them.” His practical advice is to keep early training simple: “Pick a handful of exercises that you do over and over again for a good three to four weeks, until you feel confi dent.”
From there, the fi rst month can
stay gentle. For a spring 5k, he suggests “walk, run, walk, run for 15 to 20 minutes”, keeping the pace light. For a hike, he recommends “a 45-minute to a one-hour walk” with hills. “You don’t need to go and do anything crazy,” he says. Whatever you choose, “add a bit of stretching into your routine and allow a habit to establish itself.”
Going the distance Once the initial spark of enthusiasm fades, Monty sees one pattern repeated again and again: “T e wobble points that I see most often are where people miss one or two sessions and then it turns into a whole week off .” Life won’t always cooperate — “some days we’re really motivated, other days we feel sluggish” — but he warns against slipping into that all-or-nothing mindset, which can demotivate. Instead, he encourages people to
“zoom out” and consider the bigger picture: “Maybe you’ve done seven or eight workouts across two weeks — that’s actually pretty good.” If running or the gym isn’t your
thing, he’s relaxed about alternatives: concentrate on steps (your phone measures them) or even just daily
stretching. T e goal is simply to “get your body moving more frequently”. And if your challenge is tied to
a loved one or personal cause, he advises keeping the pressure in check. “Doing something is better than doing nothing,” he says. “T is is about making something meaningful, not about martyrdom.”
Raising your game Once you’ve committed to a challenge, loop the charity in early. London Marathon fi nisher Fran Mapp ran for the British Hen Welfare Trust and says the support she had was “indispensable”. For her, the foundation was “having a cause that you really connect to — that’s your motivation to train.” After that, the charity gave her everything she needed — tips, tricks, professional donation forms. “T ey even helped set up my JustGiving page and sent material to share on socials.” T e charity also supplied bake-
sale materials — posters, invites, cupcake toppers — plus a running vest. Fran’s top tip? “Put your name on it.” On race day, and even during training, strangers shouted it from the sidelines. “It just gives you such a boost, being carried along the route by people you’ve never even met.”
Promotional Content • Saturday 24th January 2026
PERSONAL TRAINER MONTY SIMMONS/MONTY SIMMONS
Fundraise for those facing encephalitis
Encephalitis is infl ammation of the brain. It’s caused by an infection invading the brain or through the immune system attacking the brain in error
Around 77% of people worldwide have never heard of encephalitis, yet it aff ects someone every 20 seconds. It is a thief that takes lives, and
for those who survive, it takes away the everyday abilities we all take for granted. Maisie (pictured right) ran the
London Marathon following her dad’s encephalitis diagnosis. Here, she shares her story to inspire others: “He had every treatment off ered
but devastatingly, the damage on his brain was already done. His life prior to encephalitis consisted of racing historic cars and running an interna- tional company. His new life involves severe memory loss — dad now has around a two- to fi ve-minute mem- ory — and he’s reliant on us to help him walk and cope. He can never race again. I continue to fundraise to raise the profi le of this condition and help fund research so people like my dad may have a better future.”
Sign up for free now!
Take on the challenge this February and help us end youth unemployment.
Save lives,
rebuild futures. Fundraise for Encephalitis International in 2026
01653 692583
encephalitis.info
REGISTERED CHARITY NO. 04189027
Walk, run or roll 10,000 steps every day this February in the Future Steps challenge. Boost your own health and wellbeing, whilst helping The King’s Trust to transform young lives.
Sign up for free and download our app for easy step tracking. Find out more:
events.kingstrust.org.uk/event/futuresteps
DSN 7155 © The King’s Trust 2026 – all rights reserved. The King’s Trust is a registered charity, incorporated by Royal Charter in England. Registered number RC000772. Registered office: King’s Trust South London Centre, 8 Glade Path, London SE1 8EG. Registered charity number in England and Wales: 1079675 and Scotland: SC041198.
Headline Partner
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48
