March Plank Challenge
About the Macmillan Plank Challenge
Want to make a difference this March? We’ve got the challenge for you.
Take on a Plank Challenge and plank every day throughout the month, aiming to increase your time each day working up to a 3-minute plank by the end of the month. A traditional plank, a side plank, or mix it up; it's totally up to you. Read our guidance on performing a plank to get your technique right.
This event is hosted on Facebook. Join the group to meet thousands of fellow challengers and get updates as you progress through the challenge.
How to take part in our plank challenge
Step 1: Join the Facebook group
Step 2: Set up your Facebook fundraiser and register for your free t-shirt. We recommend setting your fundraising pledge at £100, but the goal is to raise what you can! Check out some of our fundraising tips to get you on a roll.
Not on Facebook? No problem
If you're not on Facebook and would like to take part don't worry. Just email us on fundraising@macmillan.org.uk and we'll get you sorted. You can also go to JustGiving and set up your JustGiving page.
Why should I join Team Macmillan?
By registering in the Facebook group following the steps above you'll receive:
- A free Macmillan t-shirt
- Access to our friendly Facebook group and your fellow challengers
- Fundraising support and updates
Most importantly we'll provide you with a reason to keep going because you'll know that you're helping improve the lives of people living with cancer. Donations make up 98% of our annual income so we simply couldn't do what we do without you. Find out more about the impact of your donations.
By taking part in this challenge, you accept that you must, as least, be at a basic level of fitness in order to participate. You also must be over the age of 18 to take part.
Kickstart your fundraising
In this current climate, we understand it might be hard to collect money for your fundraiser. To get you started on your fundraising journey, we’ve compiled a list of tried and tested tips to help you boost your fundraising and smash your target in no time!
- Get the fundraising ball rolling: Kickstart your fundraising by self-donating £5 to your Facebook Fundraiser. This will cover the cost of your free t-shirt.
- Keep your support network updated: Did you know you can invite your Facebook friends to follow your page? This means they'll get updates whenever you post about your challenge progress!
- Share, share and share some more: Social media is a great way to promote your fundraising page and motivations for taking part. You can even add your page to your email signature. Share photos and videos daily to let supporter know how you’re getting on. You can tag us at @macmillancancer on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter! Check out some more of our top social media fundraising tips.
- Small donations for the win! In a time where people may find it harder to give larger donations, remind your support network that a small donation can go a long way here at Macmillan Cancer Support. Just £4 could pay for 50 copies of our credit-card sized resource explaining graphically the signs and symptoms of some common cancers. This has become one of our most popular resources and is particularly popular with men, who are often reluctant to pick up other materials.
- Boast about your challenge achievements: Use the downloadable badges below to share every key moment on your fundraising journey. From signing up to finishing the challenge, let your friends and family know how you’re coming along to help drum in the donations.
Download your Fundraising Pack
By taking part in this challenge, you accept that you must, as least, be at a basic level of fitness in order to participate. You also must be over the age of 18 to take part.
Top tips and fun facts
Did you know that there are a variety of ways in which you can plank? From traditional to side plank, check out our guidance on how to take on this challenge.
If planking for 3-minute sounds like a piece of cake to you, why not try and beat your own record? Daniel Scali from Australia holds the Guinness World Record for longest abdominal plank, managing to last for a whopping 9 hours, 30 minutes and 1 second. How long can you hold a plank for?
Plank Challenge FAQs
General questions
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What is ‘The Macmillan March Plank Challenge’?
The challenge is to plank every day during the month of March to meet your own personal goal. The challenge will help to raise vital funds for Macmillan.
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Can I complete the planks at my own pace during the month of the challenge?
The challenge is a plank every day during the month of March, so you can choose whatever time of the day to complete this challenge.
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Can I start the challenge late or early?
We will be encouraging everyone to start their challenge on 1 March and continue for 31 days. However, if you are joining the challenge later or you have missed a few days, you can continue into April.
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How can I keep track of the number of planks I am doing throughout the month?
We will also share a daily tracker for you to mark each day as you complete the plank. You can also use any activity tracker app that you find on the app store.
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Do I need to provide evidence to the charity that I have done the challenge?
No, you do not need to provide any evidence.
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What level of fitness do I need to have?
A reasonable level of fitness is required to complete this challenge, but it should be accessible to most. That said, each participant should go at a pace that’s comfortable for them.
Taking part
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How do I sign up?
To take part in the challenge, join the Facebook group to meet the community of people taking on the challenge with you, fill in the registration form linked in the group to order your t-shirt and set up your fundraising page. Then you are set to go on 1 March!
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How do I join the Facebook group?
Follow this link to the private Facebook group.
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Can I invite my friends to join the group?
Yes, absolutely! Just send them a link to the Facebook group to join.
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I don’t have Facebook, can I still take part?
Unfortunately, this challenge is designed to take place on Facebook. If you would still like to take part, get in touch to let us know and you can set up a JustGiving page.
T-shirt questions
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How long will my t-shirt take to arrive?
We expect your t-shirt to arrive around two weeks after you complete the t-shirt registration form.
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How do I order a t-shirt?
Complete the t-shirt registration form in the Facebook group.
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What do I do if my t-shirt doesn’t arrive after two weeks?
Contact fundraising@macmillan.org.uk and the support team will look into this for you and order a new one if necessary.
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What do I do if my t-shirt doesn’t fit?
There is a returns label in the t-shirt pack. Please return with details of the new size you would like and our mailing house send out a replacement.
Fundraising questions
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How do I fundraise?
Fundraising will be completed on the March Plank Challenge Facebook fundraiser page. Details on how to set this up can found in the Facebook group. There is no minimum fundraising amount. If you would like a suggested amount to aim for, then we suggest starting with a target of £100 for your challenge – you can always increase this once you reach it.
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How do I set up a Facebook fundraiser?
Once you fill in the t-shirt registration form in the Facebook group, you will be able to set up your Facebook Donate page – it’s really quick!
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How much of the donations go directly to Macmillan?
100% of the donations from your Facebook Donate page will come directly to Macmillan.
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Can we fundraise as a group?
Yes. If you would like to fundraise as a group then the lead fundraiser should complete the registration form and set up a Facebook Donate fundraiser as directed in the Facebook group. This page can be shared on behalf of the group.
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How do I get people to sponsor me?
Once you have set up your fundraiser, make sure to share it on your social media channels with your friends, family, and colleagues. Let them know how important this challenge is to you and how vital the money raised is to Macmillan Cancer Support. Stuck for what you will say in your first message? If you’re not quite sure what to say, here is a suggestion to get you started. The most important thing is to tell people what you’re up to, why the challenge is important to you and what you’re raising money for: "From the 1 March, I’m going to be completing the Macmillan March Plank Challenge for Macmillan Cancer Support. This challenge is really important to me. Everyone who gets cancer deserves life-transforming support and so I’m doing whatever it takes to help Macmillan to be there for everyone with cancer. Any donation amount will be greatly appreciated. And I’ll share updates as complete the challenge. Thank you!"
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How can I be thanked for my fundraiser?
Please get in touch with fundraising@macmillan.org.uk and SCH will pass on the request to Supporter Donations.
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How can I get a refund for my donation?
If one of your donors needs a refund, you can guide them to the following Facebook Help page.
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I don’t want to use Facebook fundraiser - how else can I fundraise for the plank challenge?
You can fundraise offline using a sponsorship form, or you can set up a JustGiving page.
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How can someone donate who is not on Facebook?
You could ask them to give you the donation and then to add this to your fundraising page yourself.
Ready to join?
By joining us you'll know that you're helping improve the lives of people living with cancer in the UK today.