Every day we smile, laugh, and are heartened and inspired by the fundraising that people do in the name of human rights.
Here are a few that we couldn't not share! Thanks to everyone who has raised money for Amnesty International.
This year's heroes
Our amazing Team Amnesty people have set themselves some incredible challenges in 2012 to help raise funds and awareness for our work. Here are a couple of heroes-in-the-making who've inspired us.
Nicholas Howden-Steenstra and Alex Hutchison's 4,000km Torch Triathlon
"During the 40 days of Lent, starting 22 February 2012, Alex and I will be cycling, rowing and running our way from Athens in Greece back home to London, finishing on 7th April 2012.
"We'll be celebrating the natural, historical and cultural beauty of the regions we pass through, the coming of the Olympics to Great Britain whilst raising funds and awareness for the work of the two charities we are fundraising for (which include Amnesty International) and the 'citizens of this world'; the people that Alex and I meet along the way, those that follow us, those that inspire us to continue and those that support us..."
- Nicholas Howden-Streenstra, Amnesty supporter (left)
If you'd like to join us in supporting Nicholas and Alex in their tremendous challenge you can visit their Amnesty Just Giving page to donate or follow their progress on the Torch Triathlon website.
We'll report back on how this incredible event goes!
Ben Hammond Dances Britain for Burma
Ben Hammond has been inspiring us since he led the world's longest ever dance (5 days, 15 hours and 15 minutes of constant dancing!) which culminated in 6,000 people joining him on the banks of the River Thames in October 2011, for an incredible silent disco - all in the name of freedom for Burma!
This year Ben will be spreading the love of dance, and the freedom to do so, even further by dancing all the way from John O' Groats to Lands End, from August to October 2012, in support of five charities focused on Burma, including Amnesty International.
The project will also raise awareness, through education projects for young people in the UK, of the situation in Burma.
Ben is inviting the brilliant and the brave to join him for one of his 'Super Saturday' dance marathons in major cities he passes through along the way.
If you'd like to find out how to join him, see Dance Britain's website.
The Longest Climb
Tom Lancaster and Jonny Briggs have set two new World Records and raised over £5,000 money for Amnesty International, Heart UK, and Mountain Rescue England and Wales through an incredible climbing challenge.
They raced against each other to become the first person ever to climb the height of Mount Everest from sea level on an artificial wall, making 1,210 ascents each of the 24ft high wall in one day.
Tom completed the task first, after 13.5 hours of continuous climbing, setting a new Guinness World Record. Jonny completed 1,211 ascents of the wall, setting a new record for the furthest distance ever climbed in one go.
Their climb is dedicated to the memory of Rupert Rosedale, who was tragically killed in an avalanche on Ben Nevis in December 2009.
'He was an amazing man, who taught me how to climb,' says Tom, 'And it seemed appropriate that his memory and his life should be celebrated in this way'.
If you would like to donate in honour of their fantastic achievement, please visit their Justgiving page
Chris Jackson: 12 marathons in 12 months
In 2010, Chris Jackson took on the incredible challenge of running a marathon a month to raise awareness of the conflict that is happening in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Chris decided to raise money for Amnesty International as well as a local charity in the Congo called Women for Women International.
The marathons included London and New York, a marathon on the treadmill in the Asics store in central London, and a gruelling marathon through Eastern Congo.
Chris has managed to raise a fantastic £8,028, with a further £2,000 coming from Gift Aid. For every mile that Chris has run this year, £31 has been donated. If you would like to donate to Chris Jackson then you can do so via his Just Giving page
Our hero of the hour
Like a challenge? Read what lengths Tony Othen went to, all in the name of Amnesty
'It was a great challenge and I really enjoyed it. Why did I do it is a question that people ask - after all... it was my 62nd birthday the day we set off ... and my previous journey on a bike was 16 years ago.
The reasons were twofold - I have been a member of Amnesty for quite a few years - although inactive - so it was about time to do something and the second was a medical history that has recently included cancer, open heart surgery and a brain tumour and I needed to prove to myself and others that I had been fortunate in receiving the skilled care from the NHS that had healed me.
When times got tough grinding up hills in France or in winter training in London by the river (and finding icicles in my beard) - I was very clear that the discomfort that I felt was nothing compared to the abject misery suffered by those throughout the world for whom Amnesty holds up a candle of light and through its members campaigns to effect change.
Yes it was great fun, good company, a pleasing challenge (smugly overtaking lovely people half my age) but also, I hope, worthwhile for others given the wider picture that justice, care and communication must be preserved if society is to have any future.'
- Tony Othen, Amnesty member
Inspired?
To do your own challenge - no matter how big or small - and raise money for Amnesty, simply email us.