GLL has been announced as the official health and fitness partner for Sport Relief 2016 – the first time a not-for-profit has partnered Sport Relief in the category.

The leisure operator has set its sights on raising £500,000 by helping Britons to walk, run, swim and cycle their way to fundraising glory across its 230 venues. GLL is now mobilising staff for the biggest fundraising challenge in its 23-year history.

“As UK’s largest leisure charitable social enterprise, we share Sport Relief’s mission to use sport to change lives for the better,” said GLL managing director Mark Sesnan.

“We are aligning our staff and communications to raise as much money as possible while offering existing members and non-members some first class venues for their training challenges and enthusiastic staff to lend moral support.”

Up to half a million customers and staff at GLL’s pools, trampoline parks, leisure centres, spas, libraries, children’s centres and playgrounds will be invited to play their part in the corporate fundraising challenges. The operator also hopes to reach out to the community at grassroots level and encourage more people to take up exercise in the run up to, and including, the Sainsbury’s Sport Relief Games (18-20 March 2016).

“The partnership with GLL is a very natural fit, with the organisation helping us encourage the nation to get together to get active, raise cash and change lives,” said Kevin Cahill, CEO at Comic Relief, the charity which oversees Sport Relief.

‘We’re very grateful to all of our partners, including GLL, for helping to make what is set to be the biggest and best Sport Relief yet, with more ways than ever for everyone to take part and feel proud.”

Sport Relief has announced a number of other partners for 2016 linked to physical activity, including The Premier League, Sport England, Premiership Rugby, England Netball, the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) and Tennis Foundation.