Warwick students race across the UK and Europe to fundraise for disability charity Sense
Warwick RAG’s legendary ‘JAILBREAK’ challenge returns this weekend, giving students 24 hours to get as far from campus as possible without spending a penny, all to support disabled people with complex needs.
Students from the Raising and Giving (RAG) society at the University of Warwick are preparing to take on their boldest fundraising challenge yet – a 24-hour ‘JAILBREAK’ race to get as far away from campus as possible in just one day, without spending any money or planning their route in advance, to raise funds for the disability charity Sense.
Working in collaboration with adventure events company Hardest Adventures, teams of students will set off from campus with zero cash and no pre-booked travel on Saturday 7 March and see how far they can travel across the UK and Europe in 24 hours.
Past Warwick JAILBREAK teams have reached destinations including France, Spain and even Turkey, making it one of the most anticipated and unconventional events in the Warwick RAG calendar.
Because students are not allowed to spend any money or plan their route in advance, the challenge depends entirely on the kindness of strangers - from drivers offering last-minute lifts, to people helping teams navigate unfamiliar cities. Along the way, teams will also complete a series of fun mini-challenges set by the organisers, adding extra twists, tasks and photo opportunities as they race.
Warwick RAG – the university’s biggest fundraising society since the 1960s – has chosen Sense as its charity partner for this year’s JAILBREAK, helping to fund Sense’s work supporting disabled people with complex needs, including those who are deafblind, to communicate, connect and experience the world. For every pound Sense receives, 76p is spent directly supporting disabled people with complex needs, with the remainder helping to raise the next pound so the charity can reach even more children, young people and adults.
Participants will be encouraged to fundraise through individual and team sponsorship, with supporters able to donate online and follow the students’ progress as they race across borders in real time. Anyone interested in donating, sponsoring a team or finding out more about the event can visit the JAILBREAK information page at: https://givestar.io/ev/warwick-uni--jailbreak
Reyna, Events Officer for JAILBREAK at Warwick RAG, said: “JAILBREAK is one of the most exciting events in the Warwick calendar – it’s a chance for students to step out of their comfort zone, work together and see just how far they can get in 24 hours with no money at all. It relies completely on the kindness and generosity of strangers, which makes every small act of support feel incredibly special. On top of that, the mini-challenges keep everyone on their toes and add a real sense of adventure to the day. We’re proud to be supporting Sense, a charity that makes an enormous difference for disabled people with complex needs and their families. We’d love people to get behind us, donate what they can and cheer on teams as they race across the UK and Europe.”
Sophie Fletcher, Regional Fundraising Manager (Midlands) at Sense, said:
“We are incredibly grateful for the hard work, determination and adventurous spirit of the University of Warwick students who will be taking part in this event. I'd like to say a huge thank you to the organisers, participants and to everyone who has donated for your support. Every penny makes a huge difference to the work we do at Sense.”
You can still show your support and make a donation here: https://givestar.io/ev/warwick-uni--jailbreak