The first ever York Sport Union Challenge Week 2023 unlocks over £30,000 for student sports at York!
Posted on 29 June 2023
In 2023, the University of York’s 60th anniversary year, we launched the first ever ‘York Sport Union Challenge Week’ to support 10 sports clubs at York, which took place from the 19th - 25th June 2023.
Sports are an important part of university life for many, providing a strong community and having a positive impact on physical and mental wellbeing. However, with growing costs, ambitious club-led initiatives and increasing demand, coupled with the cost of living crisis, clubs were in need of additional ways to raise money to support their activity. York Sport Union Challenge Week was an important initiative to help York ‘Raise our Game’. One of the great things about sports is that they can draw people together for a shared purpose, and this was especially true throughout York Sport Union Challenge Week.
Challenge Week unlocked a total of just over £30,000 from 796 donors.
This funding came from generous donations, in addition to YuFund providing a one off contribution. This money from YuFund was used in two key ways:
- To match the first £1,000 donated to each club.
- To set the clubs various challenges throughout the week to help fundraising and create competition.
The students themselves took on various challenges to encourage donations throughout the week, ranging from a 24 hour danceathon, to hiking Hadrian's Wall, to walking a total of one million steps as a club, and many more.
The funds raised during Challenge Week will make a massive difference, allowing more students to access and enjoy a higher quality of sport at York, including those from less advantaged backgrounds.
Thank you so much to those who donated and made a kind investment in student sport, and a massive well done to all of the students who took on amazing challenges.