Event Description

The race is on! IUGA Across the World Challenge teams will walk, run, swim, or cycle the distance equivalent to traveling from Auckland, New Zealand (home of the IUGA Past President) to London, England (home of current IUGA President). That’s 16,440 miles (25,450 km) covered by a team of just 12 people in 6 months or less!

Participants are encouraged to have their friends, neighbors, colleagues, family members and anybody else they know sponsor their participation in this Challenge. All funds raised will support IUGA's Foundation - the Foundation for International Urogynecological Assistance (FIUGA). Specifically, funds will aid the FIUGA-supported urogynecology fellowship program in  Nepal, where we are working to establish the subspecialty of urogynecology to provide desperately needed specialty treatment to a population of women with one of the world's highest rates of pelvic organ prolapse.

Rules:

1.      Each team must have 12 people (open to all IUGA members)

2.      There must be a mix of members from at least 4 countries per team

3.      Each team must have at least one male and one female member

4.      Teams must include at least one trainee / fellow / resident

5.      You can cover the distance by walking, running, swimming or cycling (*1 mile (1.6 km) = 2,000 steps)

6.      Steps / distance can be measured using a fitness watch, pedometer or step counting app on your phone.

7.      The nominated Team Leader is responsible for updating the team spreadsheet and ‘checking in’ at the end of each leg

8.      No cheating! This is based on honesty.

Check points:

Leg 1: Auckland (New Zealand) to Sydney (Australia) = 1,340 mi (2,155 km)

Leg 2: Sydney to Perth (Australia) = 2,285 mi (3,677 km)

Leg 3: Perth to Singapore = 1,515 mi (2,438 km)

Leg 4: Singapore to Hanoi (Vietnam) = 1,960 mi (3154 km)

Leg 5: Hanoi to Tashkent (Uzbekistan) = 4,135 mi (6,654 km)

Leg 6: Tashkent to Baku (Azerbaijan) = 1,710 mi (2752 km)

Leg 7: Baku to Athens (Greece) = 1,760 mi (2,832 km)

Leg 8: Athens to London (UK) = 1,735 mi (2,792 km)

Total distance: 16,440 miles (25,450 km)

*1 mile (1.6 km) = 2,000 steps

If you would like to take part in this IUGA initiative, please complete the Survey Monkey form at https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/TJMQH3J with a few details and we will put you in touch with your team!

The teams will be allocated by the IUGA Wellness Special Interest Group to ensure teams have global composition and promote networking. If there are specific members you would like to race with, please detail it in your Survey Monkey response.