There have been many requests over the years for us to choose as mascot for the charity, so in celebration of Challengers’ 45th birthday this year, we’re thrilled to introduce the newest member of the family…our new octopus mascot Inka!
Why we’ve chosen an octopus
You might be wondering, why did we choose an octopus as our mascot? Well, apart from the sea creature being a nod to our charity heritage (Challengers started as a swim club for disabled children), we have 3 very good reasons why…
- The octopus embodies some of the personality traits we value the most, such as playfulness, curiosity and resilience. Just like the incredible children and young people who come to Challengers, they explore their environment with enthusiasm and boundless curiosity.
- Octopuses are known for their intelligence and adaptability. They remind us that every challenge can be met with creativity and a difference of thought, no matter how complex it might seem. We try to take a similar approach at Challengers, and always look for creative ways to make the impossible possible!
- Much like an octopus has 360-degree vision, our incredible staff members have eyes everywhere to make sure everyone is safe and happy, and while they don’t have 8 arms, they’re brilliant at juggling multiple tasks.
We would like to say thank you to everyone who participated in our mascot naming competition and helped us come up with a name. It has been amazing reading your fun suggestions (all 160 of them… phew!).