Guildford, 27 July 2026 – Raccoon Media Group, organiser of leading trade events across sports, outdoors, animal health and accessibility sectors, will take on the South Downs Way in a gruelling 100-mile relay challenge this September, raising funds for Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity.
A team from Raccoon will run and walk in stages across one of England’s most iconic trails, starting in Winchester and finishing in Eastbourne. The relay begins on Friday 18 September 2026 and continues through the night, with the team aiming to complete all 100 miles by lunchtime on Saturday 19 September.
Birmingham Children’s Hospital cares for some of the most seriously ill children in the UK, and funds raised will go directly towards improving facilities and supporting families during difficult times.
“Over the years we have taken on many challenges for Birmingham Children’s Hospital as part of our commitment to give back to the community in and around the NEC. To date we have raised over £42k and add another £10k to the pot for them with this latest idea. This one is a real team effort as we incorporate as many Raccoons as possible to run, walk, hike, crew and even DJ our way along the South Downs.” said Jo Tyler, Group COO at Raccoon Media Group.
The team has already raised over £1,000 towards their fundraising goal, with donations open to the public via JustGiving.
Members of the press interested in following the team’s progress, arranging interviews, or covering the event on the day are invited to get in touch.
n.b. image is not entirely without AI generation – https://www.dropbox.com/t/g1EQ7gNYM0VeQHCH
Media contact: Jo Tyler, jo@raccoonmediagroup.com
About Raccoon Media Group Raccoon Media Group organises a portfolio of international trade events spanning sports, outdoors, animal health and accessibility markets, including ISPO, IRX (International Running Expo), BETA International, PATS and Snowbound Expo.
About Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity raises funds to enhance the experience of patients at Birmingham Children’s Hospital, providing state-of-the-art medical equipment and facilities and creating a child-friendly environment for young patients and their families.