Join us on our Journey to the Moon
On 3rd February 1966, Luna 9 made history as the first spacecraft to achieve a soft landing on the Moon.
This anniversary has inspired a journey of our own. A challenge to walk, run, cycle, swim, row, wheel or scoot to the Moon in celebration of Luna’s 9th birthday on 29th November this year!
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We understand how important it is have a focus and a purpose following loss and we hope this year, this is just what you need. Including all abilities, busy schedules and ages, we've created a fun way to track your steps, connect with nature and enjoy a new challenge this year.
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Invite your friends and family members to join the fun as we start tracking our steps on 3rd February 2026 to reach 384,400 km the distance from Earth to the Moon by the end of November when Luna turns 9.​​
How it works
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Sign up individually or as a team.
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Track your steps, runs, rowing, cycling or swimming kilometres from 3rd February until 29th November.
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Together, we aim to cover 384,400 km, the distance from Earth to the Moon!
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Watch our collective journey progress on our social media platforms as we provide monthly updates showcasing the milestones we reach on our journey to the Moon.
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Connect with a community of likeminded walkers, runners, rowers, swimmers and cyclists all striving toward the same goal.
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Celebrate the journey, your personal progress and the collaborative astronomical effort until Luna’s 9th birthday on 29th November.
Tracking your steps
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Strava is a free app that helps you track your movement and feel part of the shared journey. It’s completely optional, but many people enjoy using it.
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Download the free app to your phone on Apple Store or Google Play
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Open the app and sign up using your email address (or Apple/Google login)
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Choose the free version
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In the Strava app, tap Groups
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Search Luna's Fund and then click on club events where you will see Steps to the Moon
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Once you’ve joined, your activities will appear in the club feed, helping us share the journey together.
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Before you walk, run, row, swim or cycle, open the Strava app
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Press record and track your activity
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Press finish when you’re done and save the activity
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You can also connect Strava to a smartwatch or fitness tracker if you already use one.
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Strava doesn’t automatically combine everyone’s kilometres into one total, but we’ll regularly share updates showing how far we’ve travelled together on our journey to the Moon.
Going the extra mile
If you’d like to support Luna’s Fund further, you can:
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Set up your own fundraising page and ask friends and family to sponsor your journey
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Donate to show your support to this out of this world challenge
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Fundraising is completely optional
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Taking part and being part of the community is just as important
All you need to know
​​Do I have to use Strava?
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No. Strava is optional. If you don’t use it, you can email your weekly kilometres to fundraising@lunasfund.com and we will include them in our total.
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How does the challenge “distance to the Moon” work?
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Strava can’t combine everyone’s distance automatically, so we regularly add up all kilometres and share monthly progress updates on our social media platforms.
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Will my kilometres still count if they don’t automatically show in a group total?
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Yes. Every kilometre counts, whether logged on Strava or shared to us via email.
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Can I take part if I live outside the local area?
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Yes. You can join from anywhere in the world.
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Do I need to be a runner or cyclist to take part?
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Not at all. All movement counts! Walking, running, cycling, pram walks, swimming lengths, wheelchair miles, treadmill sessions, and short daily steps.
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Is there a minimum distance or daily target?
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No. There’s no minimum and no pressure. This challenge is designed to fit around real life.
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Is it a fundraising challenge?
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Fundraising is optional. You’re welcome to simply take part and support the journey, or you can choose to fundraise above.
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Why does the challenge start on 3rd February?
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The challenge launches on 3rd February, marking the anniversary of spacecraft Luna 9’s historic Moon landing in 1966. It felt like a meaningful and hopeful date to begin a journey that ends on Luna’s 9th birthday, 29th November 2026.