30 for 30 Challenge: Looking back at the impact

In the leadup to World Bipolar Day, our community came together for Bipolar UK’s 30 for 30 Challenge, prioritising their wellbeing while raising an incredible £6,467 for Bipolar UK.

What is 30 for 30?

The 30 for 30 Challenge took place from the 1-30 March 2026 and asked participants to choose an activity and commit to doing it for 30 minutes every day in March in the lead-up to World Bipolar Day.

People could choose any activity – walking, running, painting, baking, yoga – that helped people embrace routine, wellbeing and self-care.

Alongside developing healthy habits, participants asked friends and family to sponsor their challenge, helping to raise vital funds for Bipolar UK’s life‑changing support services.

Thanks to the dedication of our incredible community £6,467 was raised, beating our £5,000 target.

How did people take part?

A total of 50 people took part in this year’s 30 for 30 challenge, choosing activities that worked for them, including crochet, reading, pilates, weaving and many others.

Here are just a few of the people who took part:

Geoff

Geoff is a former Mayor of Warrington and the founder of our Warrington Bipolar UK support group, which he set up in 2016. Speaking about his support group:

"There is no cure for bipolar, it’s with you for life, but there are things you can do to help your condition and at Warrington Bipolar UK Support Group, we talk about them as a group and share advice, hopefully putting a smile back on your face.”

For his 30 for 30 Challenge, Geoff pledged to write every day throughout March, reflecting on his experience as a support group facilitator. His writing explored themes including health and wellbeing, sleep, research and medication.

As part of his challenge, Geoff raised an impressive £233 and was featured in the Warrington Guardian speaking about his fundraising challenge.

Find Geoff’s page here

Holly

Holly was diagnosed with bipolar at the age of 19 and has been attending one of our online peer support groups. Reflecting on her experience, she said:

‘Being able to talk to people who get it without overexplaining or feeling judged has made a big difference. Bipolar UK hasn’t just supported me either. They’ve also supported my family through phone calls, which has helped them understand what bipolar actually is rather than just being scared of it.’

For her 30 for 30 Challenge, Holly committed to painting or walking for 30 minutes a day, sharing updates on her Instagram to raise awareness and encourage others to get involved.

Over the course of her challenge, Holly raised an amazing £130.

Dom

Dom was diagnosed with bipolar in 2020, finding support through our Online Community and support groups. For Dom, the challenge had a clear goal: to help fund more peer support workers, so that others could access the same support that had helped him.

Throughout March, Dom walked or cycled for 30 minutes every day, raising an incredible £380 for Bipolar UK’s support services.

Rosamund

Rosamund was diagnosed with bipolar in 2017 following a referral to a perinatal mental health team. After taking time off work to focus on her mental health, she went on to secure her dream role as a lecturer in art at a local college in 2024.

‘Bipolar UK has helped me by explaining my condition, providing an app for me to track my moods, and I sometimes attend support groups. It has a been a lifeline for both me and my husband, who has contacted them for advice and support’.

For her 30 for 30 challenge, Rosamund committed to painting every day for at least 30 minutes, raising a brilliant £135 - and creating some beautiful artwork along the way.

Thank you

A huge thank you to everyone who took part in this year’s 30 for 30 Challenge, as well as to those who donated or supported participants along the way.

If you haven’t had a chance to donate yet, fundraising pages are still open, and every contribution, no matter how much, helps us continue our life‑changing work.