Builders' merchant sector helps smash two million step milestone set by Rainy Day Trust.
The Rainy Day Trust’s Mad March Million campaign has delivered a standout success story for the home improvement and builders merchant sector, with participants collectively exceeding two million steps across the month of March.
Launched as the charity’s first major campaign of 2026, the plan was to encourage individuals across the industry to commit to just ten minutes of additional movement each day. The response has been both immediate and sustained, with strong engagement from businesses, trade associations, and individuals across all levels of the sector.
From national organisations to independent merchants, the campaign has brought together a diverse cross-section of the industry in a shared commitment to wellbeing.
Anna Skeats, CEO of the Rainy Day Trust, said: "We set out with an ambitious target, but what we’ve seen go far beyond that is the level of engagement and the quality of participation across the sector.
"This campaign has shown that wellbeing doesn’t need to be complex to be effective. Ten minutes a day has created real change, in habits, in conversations and in how people support each other."
Activity logged throughout the campaign has ranged from walking meetings to personal and family-based movement, reflecting the campaign’s inclusive and flexible design.
Alongside its wellbeing impact, Mad March Million has also raised vital funds to support individuals within the sector facing financial hardship, illness, and life-changing circumstances, reinforcing the Rainy Day Trust’s role as the industry’s charity.
Skeats added: "As the campaign concludes, it leaves behind more than a milestone. It marks a shift in how the sector approaches wellbeing — with greater awareness, stronger connections, and a clear demonstration of what can be achieved when the industry moves together."
