The first question which springs to most peoples minds is: How on earth can I raise £2500 in order to join the Trek in the first place?
How do you raise thousands of pounds for a trip that some of your friends may think is a free holiday in disguise?
Well, you can do it, that's the first thing, because every year dozens of people think they can't raise the money for charity events like this but all of them do....we can give you lots of help.
Secondly, consider whether your employer or even your own bank account could
contribute a small sum to start you off. If so then tell your friends and
sponsors that you are meeting part of the travel costs yourself. You are asking
them to help with the sponsorship end. This may make you feel more able to ask.
Thirdly, emphasise the sheer effort you'll be going to - that you will be training for this trip, that it's not just a stroll down a valley but a real challenge in an extreme wilderness environment. You're going to be working hard for this.
If your friends still think it's an easy ride then get them to sign up too - we'd love to have them!
And then, fourthly, have some confidence and plan your campaign. Think what your
own talents are and see whether you can use them.
Successful fundraisers in the past have had car boot sales, given concerts and slide shows, given after dinner speeches, held sponsored events, asked for corporate sponsorship, sold items on ebay, held coffee mornings, given press releases to local press and radio asking for support and approached their employers to see if they would consider matching the funds they have raised. Look what people do for Comic Relief. You can do better than them...right?
Well, firstly - relax! This will be a lot easier than you think. There are many, many ways of raising the funds for this.
Also, you can set up an online fundraising page so that people you know can keep connected to your efforts and help you towards your goals!
Follow these links to two sites will be of great help to you:
Just Giving.com
Firetrek offers an award winning service that allows you to collect donations from sponsors anywhere in the world, instantly and securely.
Powered by JustGiving.com, the leading charity website, the service is approved by many of our participating charities.
Every participant will be given the chance to set up an online sponsorship fundraising page, which is quick and simple to use.
Donations are automatically transferred to your charity's bank account for their immediate use.
What's more, the charity gets an automatic 28% tax bonus (gift aid) from the Inland Revenue on donations made by UK taxpayers.
For more information click here , or telephone JustGiving on 0800 028 6183.
Bmycharity
Click Here For More information
Charity Challenge is working with Bmycharity.com to boost fundraising efforts for participants.
Their systems will enable you to build a secure sponsorship form online and collect pledges and donations by credit or debit card.
Where appropriate, Gift Aid would automatically be reclaimed for your Charity increasing the funds by 28%.
Bmycharity are already helping hundreds of charities process sponsorship donations tax efficiently online with funds going straight into the Charity's nominated bank
account.
THE EASY WAY... organise a sponsored fire walk in your home town with Blaze, the fire walking experts!! A basic fire walk with only 30 participants all raising £150 each will not only be self financing..it will also raise £3000 which is your Trek place paid for in one exhilarating evening and an extra £500 for your charity of choice!
Click onto the BLAZE logo below and mention you want to organise a fire walk as a 'warm up' for Fire trek. They will back you all the way.
BLAZE will give you all the help you need to organise your own event plus show you ways of maybe making four or five thousand pounds in one evening. Can you imagine how happy your charity would be from a result like that?
THE NOT QUITE SO EASY WAY... is to organise a sequence of smaller fundraising events over a period of months leading up to Trek time.
Again this is not an impossible task.(unless you want to treat it as such of
course) With such an exciting Challenge you should find fundraising a lot easier than
you expect. The trick will be to let your local fundraising events work for
you.
It is a good idea to try to combine more than one fundraising idea at one event. For example, hold a raffle during your Karaoke night, or shave your head for a local pub-crawl. Remember - original ideas create interest!
It is certainly a good idea to take your sponsorship forms wherever you go - you never know who might be willing to sponsor you!
Approach organisations such as local youth clubs, Women's Institutes, Rotary Clubs, Lions Clubs to see if they can help you.
Press releases to local newspapers not only advertise the fundraising events you are holding for the Trek, but also create more interest from local individuals and businesses who may be willing to donate prizes or help through sponsorship.
Approach local banks, libraries, shops and schools. They may be willing to gather sponsorship money for you. You could do a presentation to them about your challenge and gain more support.
Where you Work
Find out if your Company has a newsletter or magazine that could circulate an article about the Challenge and the events that you are holding to fundraise for it.
Advertise on your staff notice board. If you're Company has an e-mail or internet facility find out if you will be able to use it to help spread the word about the event you are taking part in.
Approach your Company and see if they will actually sponsor you for the event. Ask them if they will donate a pound for every pound that you raise, helping you to double your total! Some Companies match your sponsorship meaning you may only have to raise half the amount. But don't stop there!
Ask suppliers to your Company whether they may be willing to sponsor you on the Challenge. Remember - they rely on your Company for business and are often found to be a good contact and very supportive with sponsorship. (Make sure that you ask your employer first before contacting people - check this is not against Company policy.)
Local Media Coverage
Talk to local newspapers to see if they would be willing to write a news story about you. Through this you can advertise your fundraising efforts and thank your Company Sponsors. If they take a picture you could wear a t-shirt bearing the Company Logos of those who are sponsoring you.
Approach your local radio station and try to persuade them to give you some air time. They could interview you to discuss the Challenge: a before and after story would be a really good idea and may create local interest.
Try to get yourself in as many newsletters as you can, through friends and family, clubs you may belong to - in fact any organisation that will help you to raise local interest about what you are doing and increase your potential for sponsorship.