Cardiff Blue players Xavier Rush and Pippa the Panda won yesterday's WWF Blue Mile challenge through completing a mile on the Cardiff International White Water course in 9 mins and 42 secs, beating fellow Blues Gareth Baber and Macauley Cook who clocked the mile in 10mins and 18 secs.

Cardiff Blues are now challenging their fans and people in Wales to beat their time, or hold their own event on or near water to raise funds for the WWF 'Blue Mile' campaign.

WWF Cymru is asking people to move a mile on or near water in return for sponsorship from family and friends. They can do this any way they want: swim or surf, kayak or water-ski, walk or run. Everyone can get involved, no matter what your age or fitness and all the money raised will go towards WWF's vital marine and freshwater projects.

Cardiff Blues Number 8 Xavier Rush said:

"It was great fun and energetic but completely different from being on the pitch! I love the idea behind the Blue Mile campaign - doing something you enjoy with your mates and raising money for WWF to help the environment at the same time. And as it's called the 'Blue Mile' we're kicking things off with a 'Blues Mile' of our own! I hope our fans will follow our example and organise their own events too."

From protecting the habitats of endangered species like whales and turtles to making clean drinking water accessible to everyone on the planet, all money raised will go towards our work to protect the world's water. For example:

£10 could pay for 10 turtle friendly fishing hooks to reduce the amount of turtles that are accidentally caught on traditional hooks in Mozambique
£100 could pay for two hours of fuel to run an air boat to monitor illegal activities like poaching and fishing in the Ihefu swamp - an important wetland in the Ruaha National Park, Tanzania
£350 could pay for a researcher to monitor the impacts of climate change on Adélie penguins in Antarctica

WWF will provide support and advice - to take part, people just need to register with us, download our fundraising pack and start collecting sponsorship.

Ruth Bates, WWF Cymru Communications Manager said:

"It's brilliant to have the Cardiff Blues supporting the campaign and encouraging other people in Wales to organise their own Blue Mile events. A huge array of wildlife lives in our rivers, oceans, lakes and wetlands and they also provide us with food and drinking water. Sadly they're also under threat from dangers like climate change and pollution, so through the Blue Mile we're raising money to protect them. Taking part could be as simple as a sponsored walk on the beach, so we hope that people across Wales will join the Cardiff Blues and get on board!"

For more information and to register your Blue Mile event, visit bit.ly/bluemilecymru