This year’s Big Give Christmas Challenge has raised £7.6m so far from 43,000 donations.
More than 750 charities are taking part in the challenge, a quarter more than last year.
The challenge runs for another four days. The Big Give raised £15.6m in total in 2019, and £13.3 in 2018.
Individual donations made to The Big Give are doubled, thanks to match-funding from philanthropists and businesses.
Celebrity backing
Celebrities including comedian Stephen Fry, rugby player Will Greenwood and actress Emilia Fox lent their support to the campaign on social media.
£1m was raised for charity within 20 minutes of the challenge launching on 1 December, according to a statement.
Organisers said that the average donation so far has been £142.
'Happy Christ-moss'
One charity which benefited from the challenge was the Peak District National Park Foundation.
The charity’s fundraising co-ordinator Claire Barlow said: “We are delighted at the response our Big Give Christmas Challenge has had with our supporters.
“We are a relatively small charity, and this is the first time we have taken part in the challenge. But we smashed our £4,000 fundraising target after only 48 hours.
“With the money raised we will fund planting of a climate change superhero, Sphagnum Moss, on the Peak District Moors.
“Happy Christ-moss!”
Help after a turbulent year
Nearly two-thirds of charities have lost income during 2020, according to a survey of 1,000 organisations conducted by The Big Give in October and November.
Martha Wood, the fundraising and marketing officer at another participating charity, The Bendrigg Trust, said: “The Big Give Christmas Challenge really did start off with a bang for Bendrigg Trust this year.
“Within just three-and-a-half hours we had already smashed our £10,000 target. It was just unbelievable.
“The generosity of donors this year has blown our minds. After such a turbulent year we were worried that people may not be able to afford to donate as much, but the way the challenge has gone so far shows that people who are able to help are giving more than ever before.
“Donations made to Bendrigg will enable disabled people to have life changing outdoor adventures of a lifetime at our specialist outdoor centre. Without this financial aid, our participants would simply not be able to experience these amazing adventures.”
Wood added that she hoped the funds raised would help the charity plan for after the coronavirus crisis.
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