How a Double Layer Wooden Medal Supported Ovarian Cancer Action's Walk 100 Miles Challenge

Charity challenge medals need to be handled differently from standard race medals.

The participant may be fundraising for a cause that is personally important to them, completing the challenge in support of somebody close to them, or simply wanting to contribute to the charity's work.

For Ovarian Cancer Action's Walk 100 Miles challenge, we created a custom double layer wooden medal with engraved artwork and a turquoise ribbon.

The aim was to create an award that clearly connected back to the charity and the scale of the challenge without making the design unnecessarily complicated.

About Walk 100 Miles

Walk 100 Miles is a fundraising challenge organised by Ovarian Cancer Action.

Participants complete 100 miles across October at their own pace while raising money to support the charity's work and ovarian cancer research.

Because the challenge takes place over a longer period rather than on one single event day, the medal needed to work as a clear completion award for participants taking part in different places around the country.

The Design Challenge

This was not simply a case of putting the charity logo onto a standard medal.

The design needed to reflect both the cause and the effort involved in walking 100 miles.

The medal needed to:

• Clearly connect back to Ovarian Cancer Action.
• Highlight the 100-mile challenge.
• Work well with the charity's turquoise branding.
• Feel substantial enough for a month-long challenge.
• Remain suitable for posting to participants.

Why Double Layer Wood Worked

The double layer construction gave the medal more physical depth than a standard flat wooden award.

A second wooden element is added to the medal face, allowing one part of the design to stand forward from the rest.

The Important Part of Double Layer Design

Adding a second layer does not mean every element of the medal should be raised.

The strongest double layer designs normally select one important feature and use the physical depth to draw attention to it.

For a charity challenge, that could be:

• The charity logo.
• The challenge distance.
• A campaign symbol.
• A central piece of artwork.
• A shape associated with the cause.

Why Engraving Was a Good Fit

The Walk 100 Miles medal used engraving rather than relying entirely on colour printing.

This kept the medal itself natural and understated while still allowing the important text and artwork to remain clear.

Engraving works particularly well for:

• Challenge names.
• Distances.
• Charity logos that translate well into line artwork.
• Dates.
• Simple campaign graphics.

For charities with a strong brand colour, the ribbon can then carry much of the colour without needing to cover the wooden medal itself.

The Turquoise Ribbon Connected the Award Back to the Charity

Ribbon colour is particularly important for charity medals because it can make the organisation immediately recognisable.

For Walk 100 Miles, the turquoise ribbon connected the medal back to Ovarian Cancer Action's visual identity.

That meant the medal could retain a natural engraved finish while the ribbon provided the strongest colour cue.

Why This Approach Works for Virtual and Postal Challenges

Walk 100 Miles is different from a traditional start-line-to-finish-line event.

Participants can complete their mileage over time and in different locations.

That changes what organisers need from the award.

A medal for a virtual or postal challenge should be:

• Light enough to post efficiently.
• Strong enough to arrive in good condition.
• Clearly branded without requiring an event-day presentation.
• Easy to produce consistently across larger quantities.
• Specific enough that participants know exactly which challenge it belongs to.

Wooden medals work particularly well in this format because they can provide plenty of design flexibility without becoming overly heavy or bulky.

What Other Charity Organisers Can Learn

Walk 100 Miles is a useful example for charities planning fundraising challenges that run over several weeks or take place remotely.

Before designing the medal, consider:

• What is the core challenge participants are completing?
• Which part of the charity branding is most recognisable?
• Does the medal need to be posted?
• Would engraving or colour printing suit the artwork better?
• Could a double layer help emphasise one important feature?
• Can the ribbon carry the charity's main colour?
• Does the design still work for somebody completing the challenge away from a physical event venue?

Those questions help create an award that fits the fundraising format rather than simply borrowing a design from a traditional race.

Case Study Summary

The Final Result

The finished Walk 100 Miles medal combined a natural engraved wooden finish with the added depth of a double layer construction.

The turquoise ribbon tied the award back to the charity, while the 100-mile challenge remained the clear focus of the design.

For a nationwide fundraising challenge completed over several weeks, that balance worked well: distinctive enough to feel specific to the campaign, but practical enough to produce and distribute at scale.

Want to Compare Medal Options for Your Charity?

If you are deciding between engraved wood, colour printed wood, double layer medals or slate, request a free sample pack and compare the different materials and finishes in person.

Planning a Charity Challenge?

If you are organising a walking challenge, virtual fundraiser, running event or month-long campaign, send us your branding, quantity and challenge details.

We can suggest a medal style that fits the cause, the format and the way participants will receive their awards.