Skipping Challenge - FAQs

We're asking supporters to raise money for life-saving cancer research by challenging themselves to skip 100 times a day across the month of October. 

Join our Facebook community here.

Click 'Join Group'. Once you're in, you can complete a form to get your free skipping rope, get tips for completing your skips, be inspired by other fundraisers and find out anything you want to know about the challenge. 

Yes! If you don’t have Facebook, you can set up a Cancer Research UK Online Giving Page here and collect sponsorship for your 100 Skips a Day Challenge.

There is no entry fee for this challenge. Participants are required to collect any sponsorship to Cancer Research UK through their Online Giving Page. This will automatically be sent to us once paid onto your fundraising page. 

Yes, under 18s can take part in this challenge, but we do not market to them and any third-party platform forum (e.g. a Facebook forum) is only available to over 18s. If under 18s are taking part, their parent/guardian must consent to the child’s participation, supervise the challenge and accept responsibility for complying with the challenge rules. Currently we are unable to accept registration for a child, so the child’s parent/guardian have to register on the child’s behalf. Similarly, if a child wants to raise money online and/or join a forum, the child’s parent/guardian must register for an online fundraising page and/or join the forum on the child’s behalf. 

Participants register as an individual but can take on the challenge as a team and split the activity up as a group or all complete 100 skips a day across the month. They can also set up a Team Giving Page and invite other registrants to join via the Cancer Research UK online fundraising site. 

To set up a team: 

1. All your team will need to sign up to the 100 Skips a Day in October Challenge so they each have their own Online Giving Page 

2. Once everyone has signed up, log into your account 

3. Hit the 'Create new team' button and follow the instructions 

4. Once you've created your team, you can send the team page URL to friends and family so they can join too! 

https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/get-involved/do-your-own-fundraising/practical-fundraising-help/set-up-a-cancer-research-uk-giving-page/cancer-research-uk-giving-pages-help/fundraising-as-a-team#12341 

Schools can take part but will need to sign up individually, they can make a team page after or sign up under a parent or guardian. 

Remember, if you’ve never skipped before (or not skipped in a long time), then it may take some time to build up to a steady number. Always listen to your body and only push yourself as much as feels comfortable. You’ll be surprised how quickly you will build up your skips! 
 

1. Jump on the balls of your feet: 
   When you skip, try to softly jump up and down on the balls on your feet. Your heels should never touch the ground, which is one reason why skipping is a great calves workout! 

2. Don’t jump too high! 
   If you’re trying to get in a rhythm and skip for more than 30 seconds without burning yourself out, keep your jumps as small as possible without tying up the rope. Just relax and don’t worry if you trip up the rope. 

3. Don’t swing your arms and shoulders too much: 
   Skipping is all in the wrists. If you are using your arms and shoulders while jumping very high, skipping becomes a VERY difficult cardio activity. Just use your wrists in a circular motion. 

4. Hands slightly above waistline: 
   Hand position is important, and this is also dependent on the length of the rope you have. Your arms should be comfortably bent, hands placed about a foot from your sides and about waist level. 

5. Get in a rhythm: 
   You can really jump rope as fast as you want but getting in a rhythm can make skipping easier and more fun. It’s kind of like hitting your stride as you jog, so you can do the same thing skipping.  

For more tips, tricks and variations on how to skip, follow this to 'Builtlean’. - https://www.builtlean.com/learn-how-to-jump-rope-like-a-pro-7-tips/  

Whilst we encourage everyone to complete this challenge in October, this is a personal challenge, and you can start/finish your challenge at a time that is convenient for you. If you can’t complete your skipping count on any day, then you can make up for it at any point of the month. 

You can complete the challenge in a way that suits you. There are people of all levels of fitness doing this challenge. The important thing is that you're doing something that challenges you, whether that’s all 100 skips in one go or split up over the day. However, you choose to complete the challenge and raise money, you’ll be helping us beat cancer. 

Don’t worry you can make up the skips on another day or extend your challenge into the following month if needed. Complete the challenge in a way that suits you. 

The only thing that matters is that you challenge yourself so complete as much of the challenge as you can. Whether you complete the full 100 skips a day for the whole of October or not, the money that you fundraise will allow Cancer Research UK to continue to fund life-saving research and we can’t thank you enough. 

We trust you! You don’t need to provide evidence that you’ve completed the challenge to us. Updating your friends and family on your online fundraising page is important! Make sure you keep them posted on your progress and share videos and photos throughout October – the more updates the better. Supporters who regularly post their progress raise 40% more on average. 

Complete the below form to receive your free skipping rope in the post. Once completed, please allow 15 working days for your skipping rope to arrive: https://activities.cancerresearchuk.org/skip-100-challenge-oct-2024 
 
If you have not received your skipping rope in this time, please contact: supporter.services@cancer.org.uk. In addition, if you’d like to purchase a t-shirt to wear whilst you complete your skips, you can do so here: https://shop.cancerresearchuk.org/product/cancer-research-uk-t-shirt  

We offer the option for supporters taking part to opt out of being sent a skipping rope should they not need one for the challenge. When filling out the form, simply select ‘no’ where it asks if you’d like to receive a skipping rope, you’ll still receive a Giving Page, be able to join the challenge group and take part! To sign up to the challenge, please follow the link here.

If you have any further questions please email supporter.services@cancer.org.uk or call 0300 1231022 (lines open 08:00 – 20:00 Monday to Friday and, 09:00 – 17:00 at weekends) 

Of course, if the skipping rope is unopened and unused, you can return them to the following address: 
 
APS Preston Brook 
Whitehouse 97 
Whitehouse Vale Business Park 
Runcorn 
WA7 3DL 
 
Please only return items which were sent to you by CRUK within the last 18 months and only which are in reusable condition that you would be happy to receive yourself. We ask that you do not return any paper materials or clothing as these items cannot be reused. 
 

Sending out your skipping rope comes at a cost to Cancer Research UK so please only order one skipping rope to ensure as much money goes towards our life-saving research. We ask if you do request a skipping rope that you set up an Online Giving Page and donate to your page. 

The skipping rope we provide is one standard length (L 2.4m). If you want to use a longer or shorter rope of your own better suited to you, please do. 

For the ideal skipping rope length, you should be able to stand on the middle of the rope and pull either side up to your armpits (see below)  
 
If your Cancer Research UK rope is too long you can untie the knot in the handle and shorten it to the length you’d like. If you need a longer rope, then we advise that you purchase one online that is suitable for you.  
 
If you’re still unsure on whether your rope is the right length, see below a table for rope length depending on your height.  
 

skipping-rope-chart.png

There is not a minimum amount of fundraising that we set for participants, but we recommend that supporters set a reasonable target of raising about £150. 

Online Fundraisers are the easiest way to raise money. You can set one up here. 

It's then easy to share the page with your friends and family to gather sponsorship for your challenge. 

We have plenty of fundraising tools and ideas to help you raise life-saving donations. Please visit our fundraising hub to find everything you need from the challenge.

You can use our sponsorship form here to raise money rather than using an online method. Simply download and print off to keep track of all your sponsorship collected or pledged. Once you have completed your fundraising, please send the form with a cheque to: 

October 100 Skips Challenge, Cancer Research UK, PO BOX 1561, Oxford, OX4 9GZ. 

Please note we are currently experiencing a delay in receiving and processing donations so do bear with us if it takes a little longer than usual to receive an acknowledgment.   

This challenge is a fundraising initiative specifically developed by Cancer Research UK, and therefore all fundraising must go directly to the charity.  

Gift Aid is a tax relief allowing UK charities to reclaim an extra 25% on every eligible donation made by a UK taxpayer. This means Cancer Research UK can claim an extra 25p for every £1 donated, without it costing you or your sponsors an extra penny. If the donation is eligible for Gift Aid, sponsors need to fill out the sponsor form, following the guidelines at the top of the page. 

Unfortunately, medals come at a huge cost to the charity so we will not be sending these out. However, we will send all supporters a digital certificate and you can access digital badges to shout about your achievement on your socials. 

Keeping track of your skips as you go can get difficult, you could keep a rough idea in your head, ask a family member/friend to count them for you, open up a counter on your phone or tv or alternatively, there are ropes available that track the number of skips you make pr some wearable fitness trackers also have add on’s to help track your skips. Don’t forget to post about your progress regularly on your Socials and Online Giving Page to encourage donations! 

It’s important you have all the gear to make you feel most comfortable when completing your skips. Whilst it’s more than doable to simply order one of our free skipping rope and complete it with that alone, here are some further tips on equipment you might consider: 

• Suitable exercise trainers 

• Cordless jump rope  

• Hand tally counter  

• Jump rope mat 

• Speed rope (for advanced skippers!) 

Warming up properly before your skips will help prevent injury and should only take 5 or 6 minutes.  

• March on the spot for up to 3 minutes - Start off marching on the spot and then march forwards and backwards. Pump your arms up and down in rhythm with your steps, keeping the elbows bent and the fists soft. 

• Heel Dig for 1 minute - For heel digs, place alternate heels to the front, keeping the front foot pointing up, and punch out with each heel dig. Keep a slight bend in the supporting leg. 

• Knee lifts for 30 seconds - To do knee lifts, stand tall and bring up alternate knees to touch the opposite hand. Keep your abs tight and back straight. Keep a slight bend in the supporting leg. 

• Shoulder rolls for 2 sets of 10 repetitions - For shoulder rolls, keep marching on the spot. Roll your shoulders forwards 5 times and backwards 5 times. Let your arms hang loose by your sides. 

• Knee bends for 10 repetitions - To do knee bends, stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and your hands stretched out. Lower yourself no more than 10cm by bending your knees. Come up and repeat. 

For more information and guidance on these warmups please see this NHS link. 

Stretching after your skips will help relax your body, slow your heart rate, improve flexibility, and minimise the chance of injury. 

• Buttock stretch for 10-15 seconds 

To do a buttock stretch: 

• Lie on your back and bring your knees up to your chest. 

• Cross your right leg over your left thigh. 

• Grasp the back of your left thigh with both hands. 

• Pull your left leg towards your chest. 

• Repeat with the opposite leg. 

• Hamstring stretch for 10-15 second 

To do a hamstring stretch: 

• Lie on your back and raise your right leg. 

• Hold your right leg with both hands, below your knee. 

• Keeping your left leg bent with your foot on the floor, pull your right leg towards you keeping it straight. 

• Repeat with the opposite leg. 

• Inner thighs stretch for 10-15 seconds 

For the inner thigh stretch: 

• Sit down with your back straight and your legs bent. 

• Put the soles of your feet together. 

• Holding on to your feet, try to lower your knees towards the floor. 

• Calf stretches for 10-15 seconds 

For the calf stretch: 

• Step your right leg forward, keeping it bent, and lean forwards slightly. 

• Keep your left leg straight and try to lower the left heel to the ground. 

• Repeat with the opposite leg. 

• Thigh stretch for 10-15 seconds 

To do a thigh stretch: 

• Lie on your right side. 

• Grab the top of your left foot and gently pull your heel towards your left buttock to stretch the front of the thigh. 

• Keep your knees touching. 

• Repeat on the other side. 

For more information and guidance on these stretches, please see this NHS link.  

For safety and optimum comfort, find a surface that’s level and firm — but not too hard. 
 
Also, be sure to check your surroundings before you skip, especially when attempting this challenge inside. You will want to ensure you have enough space around you to jump and swing your rope, without knocking into anything. 

For more guidance on the best surface to skip on please visit: https://www.livestrong.com/article/499643-what-surface-is-best-for-jumping-rope/