The number is more than double the previous milestone of 20,000 sign ups announced at the end last month and it means that Gold Challenge is now one of the UK's largest charity challenges.

The challenge is now halfway towards reaching their target of 100,000 sign up by the end of 2012 with over 100 UK businesses on board, including London 2012 domestic sponsors EDF Energy and John Lewis.

"When we announced 20,000 registrations in November, I was incredibly proud of the business and hoped we would keep the momentum going in the lead up to Christmas," said the Gold Challenge chairman and founder Dan Thompson.

"I am thrilled that we have exceeded my expectations and that we will enter 2012, forecast to be our biggest year, in a fantastic position.

"We are looking forward to 2012 and hopefully inspiring over 100,000 people to get active by trying Olympic and Paralympic sports."

A schools programme is also being used to engage children of all ages in the excitement around the forthcoming Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Challengers register for free and choose one of three Olympic themed challenges and the charity that they want to fundraise for.

Gold Challenge has over 150 UK charity partners including Golden charity partners; Cancer Research UK, NSPCC, Scope, Right to Play and Oxfam.

Gold Challenge will also host one of the three test events in the Olympic Stadium on April 1, 2012, for 20,000 people.

The event will offer the opportunity of a lifetime for members of the public to run the 100 metres or the 4x100m in the Olympic Stadium watched by friends, family and a cheering crowd of 20,000.

They will be among the first people in the world to run the 100 metre on the track that will see the stars of Team GB and ParalympicsGB compete against world class Olympic and Paralympic athletes in the summer of 2012.

To take part in the Gold Challenge and be in with a chance of making it to the Olympic Stadium, participants should go to www.goldchallenge.org pick their sporting challenge and charity and register for free.

Gold Challenge is partnered with Team GB and Sport England as part of the £135 million ($212 million/€158 million) Places People Play scheme which aims to create a mass participation programme the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

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