Cancer Research UK’s January abstinence campaign, Dryathlon, has so far raised £5m, with individuals’ fundraising pages set to close at the end of this month.

Last year was the first year that CRUK ran the fundraising challenge and raised £4m from 35,000 participants. This year more than 50,000 people took part.

Alcohol Concern also runs a January abstinence campaign, which saw its number of participants almost quadruple from 4,300 in 2013 to more than 17,000 in 2014. The charity does not yet have a fundraising total.

Macmillan also launched an alcohol abstinence mass participation event in 2013 and raised £2.4m from its 31,703 participants. People can currently register their interest in taking part in Sober October this on year on the event’s website.