Step Up for NF is a virtual fundraising challenge, run throughout the month of March 2026, beginning on the 1st of the month, with the goal to raise funds for support programs and bring more awareness to the lifelong genetic condition, neurofibromatosis (NF).

NF is a genetic disorder that affects 1 in every 2,000 people and causes tumours to grow on nerves throughout the body, including the brain and spine. It is unpredictable, progressive and there is currently no cure. 

Expert knowledge is lacking, as well as coordinated care. More needs to be done to improve care.

We are aiming to reach 13,000 km's in the month of March, so we need you to Step Up and help us reach our collective goal to highlight the 13,000 Australians impacted by NF.

Previously, our Step Up Challenge has been held in May in conjunction with NF awareness month. However this year we decided to bring the challenge forward so that we can give it the focus and attention it deserves. We will still be bringing fun events and fundraising opportunities in May, NF Awareness month as well.

Funds donated to Step Up for NF will go to the Children’s Tumour Foundation to invest into support programs, like a national helpline, camps and NF Clinics, as well as advocacy work that leads to improved healthcare support and more research into the condition and possible treatments.

Absolutely! Starting a team is a great way to fundraise with friends and family. You can create a team when you sign up, or find and join a team when you register.

It's free to register! Sign up and let your friends and family know you're taking on a challenge to step up for NF in March.

No, you can make a move in a way that suits you best! You could bike, swim, scoot, stretch, take part in team sports, golf, do yoga or take any other creative approach, it's totally fine. We have a guide that helps you calculate your chosen movement into kilometres, so you can manually add your activity and track your progress. Check it out below...

No worries! If you can't commit to 150km this March, choose a distance of your own. Take part however it works best for you, and you'll still be part of the impactful journey towards better care for NF!

Once you've registered, you can connect your Strava account to your fundraising page. Simply log in to the website, view your fundraising page and click the ‘Connect Strava’ button. This will open a Strava window prompting you to login and connect.

How does Strava track activity?

You must use the ‘record’ button in the app to the activity type that will sync with your fundraising page. The activity types that will sync to your fundraising page includes: Ride, Run, Swim, VirtualRide, VirtualRun and Walk.

Can you manually add activity to strava?

Yes – if you forget to hit record, you can manually add your activity. Select the plus sign icon in the bottom right-hand corner of the home page and select ‘manual activity’ from the drop-down list. Ensure you scroll down to make the visibility 'everyone'. Activities that are not visible to everyone will not be synced to your fundraising page.

How does strava work if i am in a team?

Connect your individual fundraising pages to Strava and your activity will sync to your individual page, with the team page showing a roll-up of all activity across all pages linked to the team.

What if I don't have a strava account?

You can manually add activity from your fundraising page! Click the ‘Add my activity’ button on your fundraising page and fill out the form before submitting via the ‘Add activity’ button. Refresh your page after manually adding activity to see your total update.

What if i am still having issues with strava?

Please contact the Fundraising Team: fundraising@ctf.org.au

Connect with others taking part in the challenge by joining our FB group!

The private Facebook Group is for those taking part in Step Up for NF, and is a safe space to share stories, tips, motivation and progress.

Join here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1374474000609869