This week we highlight how Marie Curie is using social media to keep supporters up to date with Sir Ranulph Fiennes' fundraising challenge and how Scope is using video to recruit shop volunteers.

Marie Curie #RunRanRun

At 71 Sir Ranulph Fiennes is the oldest Brit to participate in the Marathon de Sables this week. He is taking part in the gruelling challenge which involves crossing 156 miles of the Sahara desert in in over 50 degree, to raise money for Marie Curie. 

The charity’s social media team has been providing progress updates and via the charity’s Twitter feed using the #RunRanRun and short video clips YouTube account, as well as posting blogs on its website. Marie Curie is also urging people to show their support by taking a photo of their socks and posting it online at the same time as donating.

There’s a also a data widget that people can use to track Sir Ranulph’s progress and vital statistics such as number of steps, heart rate, speed and altitude.

As Sir Ranulph enters last day of the six-day challenge he has raised more than £68,000 through his JustGiving page.

Ahead of the challenge he said: “I’ve been training for six months and although I may be 71, I’m not ready to stop anytime soon. I hope, if I become the oldest Brit to complete it, I’ll raise lots of money for Marie Curie.”

Why we love it: Marie Curie has used every tool at its disposal to keep Sir Ranulph’s story in people’s minds.

Choose Scope – Volunteer Today

Disability charity Scope has enlisted the support of Game of Thrones star Joe Dempsie to front the YouTube film to recruit more volunteers for its charity shops.

The video showcases the range of opportunities within charity shops and promises prospective volunteers flexibility and support.

Why we love it: the film has a fresh, clean feel – ideal for attracting younger volunteers. It also caught our eye this week when a link was posted on Twitter with a picture of some baby rabbits, proving once again that people will click on anything with a picture of a cute animal.