When I came on board Choose a Challenge, as part of the role I agreed to write a blog every few weeks. 40 weeks later, I’d say now’s as good a time as any to start.

We’ve all bore witness to the worldwide spread of a new coronavirus, COVID-19, which originated in China and has now proliferated exponentially across the globe, beyond almost everyone’s initial expectations. As one shrewd wall street pundit put it early on: “China coughed, and the world caught a cold.” That could well turn out to be the understatement of the century!

The disease, now labelled a pandemic, has already taken thousands of lives, spreading across six continents, reaching even the smallest and most remote island nations, bringing economies to their knees and wreaking havoc on global stock markets. Last week, investment managers faced the scarcely-believable prospect of negative yields on government bonds, the safest of bear market investments.

It seems just yesterday we were learning of a reported outbreak in this largely unknown Province of mainland China called Hubei. Now, a mere ten weeks on, the UK is preparing to shut up shop and enter a sustained period of social distancing, with the sort of draconian measures typically reserved for dystopian fantasy. One thing’s for sure - my hand hygiene has never before met this level of scrutiny!

Phenomena of this magnitude are leapt upon nowadays by a heavily-partisan British Press, packed full of excitable journalists on looming deadlines, eager to exert their subversive influence over an audience left craving objectivity. With our current system of tabloid ownership, where we are forced to consider both the content and source of information, widespread dissonance prevails over an increasingly-misinformed proletariat. Social media is worse: Who knew we were living in a nation of 70 million experts in epidemiology?

Today, access to information is at our very fingertips. Right now, we turn on the TV or open our news apps, and at once we’re subjected to a barrage of misleading headlines, quotes taken out of context, provocative images and panels of industry experts often lacking any form of collective consensus. I mean, if they can’t agree, it’s no wonder that society can’t!

Prolonged exposure to these media outlets can fuel fear and anxiety, preying on our uncertainties and insecurities. These, we have attempted to overcome, during this past fortnight, by desolating supermarket aisles across the country. Toilet roll and dry pasta aside, the stockpiling of nappies and SMA is, in my opinion, inexcusable, and shows just how morally-impaired we have become. Of course, the media stands to capitalise on a nation panicked. Our actions provide the setting for their next news story, after all, which we’ll all be home in time to tune in to. Worst, still, is that this reinforcement through mass consumption actually leads to us rationalising these incongruent behaviours; and the cycle continues.

So how do we combat this storm of misinformation and manipulation? Well, for starters, try not to spend hours on end watching the news. (Easily said than done when the majority of us are inseparably-attached to our devices.) This, as the period of social isolation extends, will likely become more difficult, but it’s important not to overwhelm ourselves! Try catching up on the headlines each morning, over breakfast, and perhaps then tune into the evening news, for the days’ updates. The 6 o’clock news, as it happens, immediately follows The Chase on ITV: I write this with profound sincerity, as a daily dose of Bradley Walsh will prove even more beneficial during these troublesome times.

Another sage piece of advice here is to always check the source of what you’re reading. This is particularly pertinent for articles shared on social media. For instance, if you want up-to-date guidance on coronavirus and its symptoms, rather than checking out a post from an old college mate that’s just appeared on your facebook feed, instead, go to the NHS website, which is undoubtedly the source of any reliable information anyway! Similarly, if you want up-to-date travel advice, check with the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office, rather than reading independent blogs written by travel agents.

With the impending imposition of stricter social distancing measures, people will of course feel the effects of these in different ways: The more introverted among us will likely cope better, for instance, while those who are typically more outgoing may struggle from the outset. Make no mistake, a fortnight of social isolation would affect any of us, and I speak from the position of many, being that I live with my family. Now, imagine if you will, the plight faced by our millions of elderly, retired citizens, many of whom will be confined to self-contained apartments or care homes across the country, some without the technological means to communicate to their loved ones, or indeed the outside world. What a terrible burden this will be on them!

Luckily, we live in an age of incredible digital capabilities, where we can now connect freely with friends and family online. Often we take technology for granted, probably because of its simplicity and ubiquity, but we should certainly take a moment to marvel that, even a generation ago, none of this existed.

Another sign of the times is the amazing work done by an increasing number of charitable causes. Again, the digital world helps to raise awareness, but it’s the work of individuals within these organisations that pays testament to their cause. We at Choose a Challenge are humbled to work alongside a number of worthwhile causes, and the main aim of our business model is to instil the spirit of generosity in our young audience of predominantly-student fundraisers.

As our elderly and most vulnerable members of society prepare for this prolonged period of isolation, I ask that you consider them, above all. This social group is deemed ‘at risk’, not only from the clinical effects of the virus itself, but from the social distancing measures put in place. Let’s ensure they remain well stocked - medicines as well as habitual provisions - and reassure them that they have our support. Mind is a mental health charity that many of our participants support, which has recently published an informative guide on wellbeing, in light of the measures aimed at curbing the spread of coronavirus. For some helpful advice on how to cope, you can read the full article here.

It’s important, too, to remember that you’re not alone in feeling anxious about coronavirus. We are an entire nation (or rather, an entire species) currently united in a common cause, and with so much conflict across the world today, to some this will no doubt be an added comfort.

When I first became aware the disease had spread to the UK, my first thoughts were about protecting my two-month old son. It’s only natural, of course, so let’s not forget that, whilst rightly deemed selfish in the grand scheme of things, at the heart of those people’s perceived need to stockpile supplies lay that same parental instinct. As more information came to light, I began contemplating how long it would likely be before we next saw our families in person, and whether that week-long trip to Greece we booked for May would be going ahead.

Next, I got to thinking about work: What if this thing goes on for months? Perhaps, then, we’d be forced to postpone some of our trips this year. Fortunately for us, the majority of our 2020 departures are at the end of Summer, by which point it is expected that the travel disruption associated with the outbreak will have eased. For our fundraisers, though, the weeks ahead now present an even tougher challenge. Luckily, we work with some of the most supportive charities, whose competent staff are 100% dedicated to their cause, and whom we’ve no doubt will remain on hand to offer their expert guidance and suggestions on how to keep those donations coming in.

While some may attempt to make it so, in truth, national politics has very little to do with the current epidemic. I am by no means a supporter of this particular government, but ultimately we are a sensible and civil democracy, and we need a coordinated, international response to what has swiftly become a global crisis. This means each of us taking responsibility for our individual actions and decisions, heeding the advice of central government and following their explicit direction. If ever there were a pivotal moment to set aside social divisions and come together as one nation, now is that time!

Indeed, over the coming weeks, we all face a varied degree of disruption to our daily lives. For many, this will lay manifest in the inconsequential inconvenience of having to postpone vacations and potentially work from home for a relatively short period of time. Rather than the economic downside, though, we should concern ourselves far more with the plight faced by our elderly and most vulnerable citizens: Not only are these folks at higher risk of serious infection, but they face longer than others in isolation. Daily living, for them, is going to be exceedingly difficult over what is currently an uncorroborated timeframe. My deepest worry is that this could drag on for longer than anticipated, and lead to a full-blown social welfare crisis. I wonder, then, if those who had stockpiled unprecedented quantities of basic provisions would look back in remorse?!

What I think will actually happen is that people, in the midst of a complete ‘lockdown’, will have a chance to reflect on what matters most to them. Don’t forget - the majority of us will be isolating with our loved ones, with continued access to the world at their fingertips. Without the means to consume goods and services as they normally would, many will start looking for other means to spend their time, and perhaps even their money. Charity starts at home, don’t forget, so let’s not lose faith in humanity just yet; rather, let’s rekindle our nation’s spirit of togetherness personified 80 years ago on the shores of Dunkirk. Only collectively can we defeat this!

Team spirit plays a huge part in our challenges, from the early charity work to the trek itself, so we implore everyone now to focus on being there for one another, as this is truly the time when it matters most. Wash your hands regularly, catch your coughs and sneezes, stay in where possible, and follow government advice. These actions will literally save lives!