Monopoly run raises real money for SSAFA!

19 May 2023

Over the bank holiday weekend, a unique fundraising event took place in the heart of London, organised by members of the Armed Forces and Reserves, to raise funds for SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity.

Inspired by the popular Monopoly board game, participants embarked on a real-time adventure visiting the actual locations on which the board game is based. 

Cpl Hubert Savarin, the event organiser, said: “It’s not just competition, it is about team building, collaboration and using tactical strategies to navigate the capital at speed.”

Savarin came up with the idea after learning that, during World War II, the British Secret Service hatched a master plan to smuggle escape gear to captured Allied soldiers inside Germany inside Monopoly boxes. Escape maps specific to the area could be hidden in each game set. Allied soldiers headed to the front lines were told to look for the special edition game if they found themselves lost behind enemy lines.

Teams had to collect locations and solve cryptic ‘Community Chest’ and ‘Chance’ clues to progress in the race.

This year the event was open to serving members of the Armed Forces and civilian contractors working for the MoD in the Army Recruitment Centre, Victoria. Savarin hopes to open the event up next year to more teams from all over London.

Ceris Granville, winning team member said: “I really enjoyed myself, the event was so well organised that it ran really smoothly. My team had a lot of fun and gained a lot throughout the day.”

The winners of the event were Team Rubber Ducky and the event raised over £400 for SSAFA.