The BDO organized Get BACk Challenge is now in its fifth year of operation having started in 2006.  An annual charity cycle and walk are the main fundraising drivers in addition to attracting corporate support from businesses throughout the region. The BDO Get BACk Challenge was initially developed to bring businesses and their associates together to raise funds in tackling cancer using a ‘top down’ (care) and ‘bottom up’ (prevention) approach.  
 
                      

The top down ‘care’ approach is designed to fund palliative home care programmes run by local hospices across the Mid West for those unfortunate to be affected by Cancer.  The bottom up ‘preventative’ approach is funded on adopting a proactive approach to living a healthy and active lifestyle particularly among young people and counteract the growing issue of obesity and its associated problems. 

The idea is that encouraging activity among kids and a healthy lifestyle will reduce their risk of contracting life threatening illnesses later in life and that they will carry through a healthy focus with them in life.  The principal target groups are those living in the social disadvantaged areas of the region who are most affected by the problems of obesity through a combination of a lack of sport participation opportunities.  

The key objectives of the BDO Get BACk Challenge are:

• Contributing to the development of health and activity programmes for young people as the first proactive steps in preventing illness in later life. 
• Contributing to Mid West Hospices Palliative Home Care Programmes
• Creating a campaign of awareness around the problems of childhood obesity and how its potential impact on ill health - encourage an energy-balanced lifestyle based on healthy diet and physical activity

• 2008 – give children and young people a smoke-free environment
• 2009 – encourage an energy-balanced lifestyle based on healthy diet and physical activity