Charity running programme provider, Realbuzz, is sponsoring a new nationwide movement initiative in the UK, The Nation’s 5K challenge, started by fitness coach and endurance athlete Esmée Gummer.

At 18, Gummer was paralysed after complications arising from a medical procedure and told she would never walk again. However, she did relearn how to walk and has gone on to become an endurance event athlete and a Realbuzz ambassador.

The Nation’s 5K challenge will take place from 27 June to 3 October 2026 and aims to get one million people to complete 5K, whether running, jogging, or walking, to inspire movement, community connection and greater accessibility to physical activity. 

Throughout December, Gummer and Realbuzz are calling on charities and participants across the UK to apply or vote for the official charity partner for the challenge. Realbuzz will manage the charity partnership and participant registration for the nationwide events, providing the option to donate via GoFundMe when signing up.

“The Nation’s 5K challenge is about getting people moving together,” says Gummer. “Running transformed my life and this challenge is about making movement accessible, supportive and fun for everyone. I’m thrilled to have Realbuzz sponsoring the project, their platform will bring this vision to life at a national scale. Now we’re searching for the perfect charity to champion throughout the challenge.”

Realbuzz commissioned UK research into the benefits of group running. It found that 57.4 per cent say group running boosts their drive; 49.3 per cent said it makes runs more enjoyable and 50.9 per cent said they feel safer when running in a group.