Bummit

Bummit (hitchhiking group) is a student-run hitchhiking society at the University of Sheffield Students' Union, which raises funds for local charities by organizing several annual hitchhiking events, both within the UK and across Europe. It is the world's largest student organised hitchhiking group^[1][2] consisting of approximately 600 people per year, and is run by an elected committee under the umbrella of the university's RAG society. The aim is to travel to the chosen destinations without spending any money on transport, solely relying on the kindness and hospitality of strangers. The trip's main destination is known in advance, but the halfway point is kept secret until the morning of departure.

Bummit began 2003 as a fundraising initiative by a group of RAG committee members who traveled to Bognor Regis, and the success of the trip led to the formation of a new committee and a regular event was established, eventually split into two trips because of its size, and a second smaller event, Baby Bummit, was added in 2009.^[3] The total money raised has risen every year since its inception and now surpasses the rest of the university's RAG efforts put together; in 2012/13 the total from both events was over £88,000 with 85 percent pledged to charities in the South Yorkshire area. The participants wear matching brightly coloured hoodies throughout the trip, and as such the word Bummit is now a brand recognized throughout Europe. Participants are helped along the way by shout-outs from BBC and local radio stations, and truck drivers will often communicate over CB radio to organize further lifts for people they have picked up.

In 2013, Bummit won Best Event at the FIG national RAG awards, beating 12 other British RAG societies to the award.^[4][5]

In 2015, Bummit won Best Challenge at the FIG national RAG awards, again beating off competition from universities around the country.

Previous destinations^[6]

References