The 24-Hour "No Sleep" Run: Help Me Send Our Scouts to Switzerland!

I am about to do something genuinely ridiculous, and it is going to hurt.

To help raise funds for our local Scout troop's [29th Swiss Rollers] Summer Expedition to Switzerland, I am going to run 1 mile, every single hour, for 24 hours straight.

That means setting an alarm for 1 AM, 2 AM, 3 AM, and 4 AM, dragging myself out of the door, running a mile, coming back, and waiting to do it all over again.

But because sleep deprivation clearly isn't enough of a challenge for me, I’ve decided to make it even harder. To fill the 40-minute gaps between each of those hourly runs, I’m going to be jumping on back-to-back "virtual cuppas" with people around the clock.

I'll be chatting about business, you, The Funpreneurs BIG Day Out, our upcoming Morocco Experience, and online visibility while desperately trying to keep my eyes open. It is 24 hours of absolute physical and mental endurance.

Why on earth am I putting myself through this?

Because I have been in the Scouts since I was 6 years old, and I know exactly what this organization does for young people. I am incredibly proud to be the Expedition Leader for this upcoming Switzerland trip, and I know firsthand that this isn't just a holiday.

We live in a world where it is so easy for kids to just sit behind a screen. But travel, true adventure, and getting out into the wild—that is where real resilience is built. That is where you learn who you are when things get tough.

By taking these young people to Switzerland, we are actively developing the leaders, the achievers, and the brilliant minds of tomorrow. We are giving them an experience that will permanently change how they see the world and what they believe they are capable of.

But an expedition like this takes serious funding.

So, I am willing to completely wreck my sleep schedule, batter my legs, and talk through the delirium of a 3 AM virtual coffee to make sure these kids get the adventure of a lifetime.

If you value youth development, if you believe in the power of the great outdoors, or if you just want to sponsor my 24 hours of suffering, please consider donating. Every single pound makes that middle-of-the-night alarm clock slightly more bearable.

Let's get these young people to Switzerland.

Thanks loads, and have fun always.

Alan (Volunteer Expedition Leader & Very Tired Runner)