Bath Rag Launch ‘Race to Paris 2024’

Pairs of students will journey to Paris with no phones or money in aid of Rag's Top Two!

Bath RAG the SU Bath student fundraising group is gearing up to launch the most unique fundraiser of the year, "Race to Paris 2024."commencing on Friday 25 October. This challenge will see 26 teams of two students racing from Bath to Paris, inspired by the BBC’s hit series Race Across the World. Students will not have any money or use of phones, forcing them to rely on creativity, quick thinking, and the generosity of strangers.

It won’t be as simple as just getting from Bath to Paris, along the route, teams will be tasked with completing various challenges to earn extra points. These might include taking a selfie with a stranger, talking about their journey on the radio, or trying a classic French delicacy. The first team to arrive in Paris doesn’t necessarily win, the winning prize will go to the team that earns the most points, with bonuses awarded for early arrivals.

Race to Paris 2024 is a fundraising event for two very worthy causes that Bath RAG are supporting this academic year: Voices and the Great Western Air Ambulance. You can find out more about both charities on the RAG webpages. Students will race in pairs and each pair is required to raise at least £250 for these charities before starting their adventure.

Once the teams have been selected, donations can be made via the online donation platform.

While the race is designed to be fun and challenging, safety remains our top priority. Although phones cannot be used for navigation or contacting anyone for help, participants will keep their phones for emergency purposes and regular check-ins with the event team. The university has dedicated staff and volunteers stationed in both the UK and France to monitor the teams' progress, with live location sharing via Google Maps being a key safety feature. In addition, a mandatory in-person safety briefing will take place before the event.

Tickets for Race to Paris 2024 go on sale on 1 October at 13:00, and they are expected to sell out fast. Teams must register together, as tickets are sold in pairs.

For more information, view the event webpage: