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Questions?
We’ve answered the most common ones below. If anything’s missing, the team is here to help.
What is the 457 Challenge?
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The 457 Challenge is a fundraising workout honouring the 457 British military personnel who lost their lives during the Afghanistan war.
It’s a structured workout completed individually or as part of a team, designed to bring people together through shared effort, and to raise vital funds for the Army Benevolent Fund.

Two Ways to Take Part

Take Part Individually

Ready to take on the challenge yourself? Click Register Now, follow the sign-up process and pay the £15 registration fee.

Your registration includes:

  • Entry to the challenge
  • An exclusive 457 Finisher Tile
  • A donation to the Army Benevolent Fund

Want to raise a bit extra while you're at it? Even better!

The first 250 people to raise £50 or more will receive an exclusive 457 Challenge T-shirt and pair of 457 Challenge socks.

Take Part as a Community

Whether you're part of a gym, fitness group, sports club, workplace, Army unit or just a collection of mates, you can register as a team.

Simply create a team during registration, then get everyone else to sign up and join it. Any fundraising will be tracked together, giving you a collective total.

Do I need to be super fit to take part? 
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No. The challenge is designed to be scalable. You can adjust weights, pace and movements to suit your ability. It’s about taking part, not finishing fastest.
Is it a race or competition?
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No. There's no podium or fastest time - it's a shared experience, not competition.
Can I take part as part of a team?
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Yes. You can enter as an individual, and either create your team to do together, or join an existing one. 

Your local gym may already have a team set up for you to join. 
What do I get for completing it?
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All registrants will get a 457 Challenge finisher tile.

The first 250 registrants to raise £50 will also receive a 457 Challenge T-shirt & socks.
I want to get my local gym involved and/or run my own 457 Challenge day - can you help?
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Yes! We can. Your local ABF office can get you buckets, banners, card readers (first come, first served), T-shirts and more. 

You can create a team for your gym/event, and direct individuals to join when they register. Velcro 457 Challenge finisher tiles will be provided only to those who have registered with us.

Find your local ABF Office here: Local offices - Army Benevolent Fund
Where does the money raised go?
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All funds raised will go to the Army Benevolent Fund, the Army's National charity, who provide lifelong support to soldiers, veterans and their immediate families when they are in need through grants to individuals and funding to charities and specialist organisations that support the wider Army family.

Last year, the charity supported over 80,000 members of the Army Family, in 52 countries spending £68,000 per week on grants to individuals, ensuring those who have served, and their families, receive vital support when it’s needed. We’ve helped with injury recovery, elderly care, bereavement, transition to civilian
life, and more.

In addition to individual grants, we provided over £3 million in funding to 93 charities and organisations. Ranging from major contributions such as £275,000 to Combat Stress and £295,000 to the Forces Employment Charity, to smaller but equally meaningful grants supporting specialist groups including Veterans Outdoors, Climb2Recovery, Mission Motorsport, and others.

You can find out more about the charity here: www.armybenevolentfund.org

Is there meaning behind the numbers in the workout?
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The structure of the challenge is built around the numbers 4, 5 and 7, representing the 457 British personnel who lost their lives during operations in Afghanistan.

Alongside this, the number 2188 is carried within the reps/secs/etc across the workout. This reflects those who were physically wounded. It is intentionally not obvious within the challenge itself. That’s part of the point. Not all injuries are visible, and for many, the impact of service continues long after the event. The workout is designed to quietly hold both.
Where and when does the challenge take place?
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The 457 Challenge takes place throughout October – you pick the date and do it at home, or in the gym.

Alternatively, you can find a local participating gym across the UK and beyond, to join a community taking part. Maybe convince your gym to take part too!
Can serving soldiers take part as a unit or during organised PT?
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Yes. The 457 Challenge is well suited to group participation within units. It can be delivered as part of a CO’s PT session, organised phys, or unit-led challenge day. Units can take it on collectively, adapt it if necessary, and run it in a way that fits their operational duties.

Local Army Benevolent Fund offices can provide additional support, including equipment, branded materials and guidance to help you run your own 457 Challenge event.

Find your local ABF office here: Local offices – Army Benevolent Fund
What equipment do I need?
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The challenge uses a mix of simple functional fitness equipment such as:
  • Sandbags or weighted carries
  • Dumbbells or kettlebells
  • Cardio machines, or running
  • Bodyweight movements
Alternative options are provided so it can be adapted to available equipment, or ability.
How long does the challenge take to complete?
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Completion time will vary, but most participants will finish within 45-90 mins.
What if it's easy for me? Where's the challenge?
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It’s not designed to be a competition, but we all know how these things go - and respect to those who push a little further!

If it sounds or feels easy, no one's stopping you taking the challenge one step further. Make it heavier. Wear full kit - body armour/helmet. Do it again (and again).

Some will keep it simple. Others won’t.

The framework’s there. What you do with it is entirely up to you.