By Rachael Grealish

In the ever-growing world of online competitions, there’s a new player on the scene: Change Competitions. 

But what sets them apart from the rest? Inspired by the incredible journey of Cumbria’s Marathon Man, Gary McKee and the hospice he works with, Change Competitions has made it their mission to use the popularity of online competitions to make a real difference in the lives of those less fortunate.

Set up by Nicholas Bragg and Grant Hocking, both 39 from Whitehaven, Change Competitions has a unique approach and a commitment to donating 50% of its profit margin to local charities.

Nicholas told The Herdwick News: “The venture has been in the pipeline for some time (18 months or so) but with me having a newborn and Grant running kids’ football teams as well as being up and down the country with Tapout Knockout MMA Workington, we just didn’t have the time. Now we’ve got a bit of time to focus, we’ve got set up.”

He went on to explain some of his biggest inspiration came from the hospice and charities Cumbria’s Marathon Man works with and in 2022, completed a marathon a day for the whole year to raise money for.

“Seeing Gary McKee and what he did was really inspiring,” he continued, “We will never be anywhere near what that man achieved, but if we can do our bit, we’ll be happy. We’ve been best mates for 25 years or so now and thought it was time to have a go.”

Unlike other online competitions that may offer token donations or occasional acts of charity, Change Competitions has pledged to donate a significant portion of its profits from every single competition they run. 

This is not a one-time gesture; it’s a fundamental part of their business model. By participating in a competition on their site, players can take solace in the fact that they are directly contributing to a good cause.

“What sets us apart is that for EVERY SINGLE competition that we run, we are going to donate 50% of the profit margin to a good cause in our local area, EVERY SINGLE ONE,” Nicholas, explained.

He is adamant this ‘is not a promotional pull or a token donation; it is the essence of what Change Competitions is all about’.

The best part? Change Competitions lets the winner of each competition decide where the donation goes as Nicholas believes ‘empowering the winners in this way ensures that the causes supported are close to their hearts’.

In their inaugural month, Change Competitions has selected the Eden Valley/Jigsaw Hospice in Carlisle and the Carrie-Anne Callan fundraiser for The Little Princess Trust as their recipients.

But the choices don’t end there. Change Competitions is also open to suggestions from winners for future donations, as long as they are deemed worthy and the purpose of the funds is clear.

To ensure transparency, the company promises to provide evidence of each and every donation made on its site and Facebook page, allowing participants to see the impact they are making firsthand.

As Change Competitions embarks on its journey, they acknowledge that they are starting small. But with the support of the community, they hope to grow and expand their reach over time. They invite everyone to join them on this journey, not only to make a change in people’s lives but also to have some fun along the way.