Organisers of some of the UK's largest mass participation sports events – including the London Marathon – have joined forces in an attempt to recoup some of the billions of pounds charities face losing due to coronavirus.

Thousands of fundraising events across the UK have been cancelled due to the Covid-19 outbreak, dealing a devastating blow on charity income. As a result, some charities are now facing closure.

It is estimated that the UK charity sector is set to lose around £4bn in income as a result of the pandemic.

In response, mass-participation sports events across the country have launched a campaign to raise vital funds to help save the UK’s charities.

The campaign, The 2.6 Challenge, will launch on Sunday 26 April, the original date of the 40th edition of the London Marathon – which has now been moved to October.

From the date, the public will be asked to dream up an activity based around the numbers 2.6 or 26 and fundraise or donate to Save the UK’s Charities via twopointsixchallenge.co.uk.

The 2.6 Challenge is open to anyone of any age – the only requirement is that the activity must follow the Government guidelines on exercise and social distancing.

The hope is that the campaign will inspire people to create their own athletic activities, which trigger donations from themselves or others.

“For many of the UK’s charities, the day of the London Marathon is the biggest fundraising day of the year,” said Hugh Brasher, Co-Chair of Mass Participation Sports Organisers group (MSO) and Event Director of London Marathon Events.

“One of the founding pillars of the London Marathon was ‘to show how the family of mankind can be united’. We hope that The 2.6 Challenge, which starts on the day our 40th Race should have taken place, will embody that spirit and inspire people, families and communities to fundraise for their chosen charity to help Save the UK’s Charities.

"Right now, our vulnerable members of society need the help of charities more than ever before. We are asking everyone to create a 2.6 Challenge of their own and raise funds or pledge a donation.”

The events organisers taking part in the 2.6 Challenge are: Human Race, parkrun, The Great Run Company, Run 4 Wales, Grounded Events, London Landmarks, Virgin Sport, Limelight Sports, Threshold Sports, Running High and London Marathon Events.

The campaign is supported by the Charities Aid Foundation, the Institute of Fundraising, the Small Charities Coalition, the Office for Civil Society, Sport England, sportscotland, Sport Wales, Let’s Do This, Virgin Money Giving and JustGiving.