Fundraising ideas
We have a small but professional team of fundraisers to help you with ideas, moral support and motivation. We pride ourselves on engaging with each individual and will telephone you shortly after signing up to personalise a plan that suits you. We will then set achievable targets with set timescales to ensure your campaign goes smoothly. We look at the price of entry as a minimum target and would actively encourage you to exceed it because 100% of all money received over the set entry fee is donated directly to the charities. Working with you to exceed the minimum entry figure ensures that the charities benefit from increased donations.

The following are some proven ways to raise sponsorship money.

Family and friends
Your first port of call will be your family and friends. Their support is unconditional and will be a great help to you as you embark on your fundraising. Think of everyone you know and get the first sponsor to be someone close to you. Remember that people will generally match the amount of the person before them.

Ask close members of your family to take your sponsorship form to work with them, they can ask their friends and colleagues. Make copies of your sponsorship form and always carry it with you at all times, you never know when you might meet a potential sponsor. Wherever you can, collect the money when the pledge is made, it is a lot easier to collect the money beforehand than after the event.
The office
Work is always a good place to start fundraising. Aim for the top and you may well be surprised at the response that you get.

Ask your boss, find out if your employer operates a 'matching funds' scheme.
If they do you may find that they will match you pound for pound.
Even if they do not operate such a scheme, there is no reason why they will not make a substantial contribution.
Get in touch with other branches within your company and drum up some support from them.
Use e-mail to circulate information about your trip and its objectives.
Sporting event
For the daredevil and exercise mad amongst you, why not organise one of the following sponsored events.

Bungee Jump, Parachute Jump, Assault Course, Swimathon, Fun Run.
Car boot sales
Clear out all you junk and those clothes that you have not worn for the past two years and take a pitch at a car boot sale. Ask friends if they have anything that they want to get rid of to help you boost your sales. Entry to a car boot sale is usually about £5 per car.
Dinner party
Organise a lunch, dinner party or BBQ and ask your friends to pay to attend.
It would be cheaper than eating out at a restaurant and much more fun.

Local press
Local newspapers are always looking for interesting stories, so here is your chance to provide them with one. Get in touch with your local paper or magazine and tell them what you are doing and when.

Let the journalist know that you are looking for sponsorship and that there could be branding opportunities for local companies.
If you went to school in the area you are living in, let the paper know this and when it is printed you can visit the school.
You never know what support you may be able to drum up.
If you are organising a fundraising event, make sure you get all the details across.
Most important of all, make sure you leave a telephone number where you can be contacted.

Companies
Within the area that you live there will be many small companies and a few large ones. A little research and a few questions will soon tell you who they are and what they do. It is then up to you to write a letter explaining what you are planning and what you would like from them.

Some companies will already sponsor a charity or event - don't let this dishearten you, there are many more out there who may well be prepared to help you.

It may help if you offer to wear a T-shirt with their logo on, or they could print some stickers for your motorbike helmet. If they have a staff magazine or newsletter they could follow your progress through that.

Organise a fundraising event
By organising an event, whatever the size, you will give people the opportunity to contribute in a fun way. Events could take place in your home or at a local venue. Whatever you organise, make sure that it is well publicised. Listed below are just a few ideas.

Pub crawl.
Head shaving.
Quiz night.
Hold a raffle ask local pubs, shops, cinemas and theatres to contribute prizes.
Hold a disco - 60s/70s/80s music, whatever. Make it fancy dress.
Ask your local schools if they will hold a 'no uniform' day and charge pupils £1 each to participate.
Give it up - ask your friends to sponsor you for a month to give up smoking / lose weight / stop swearing / walk to work.
Set up a small change jar in the office. At the end of the day/week ask you colleagues to empty their pockets and get rid of their small change - after all it ruins their clothing so you are doing them a favour! You will be surprised how quickly it will add up.
Leave the jar in a prominent position and keep encouraging your colleagues until it becomes second nature.
Use your contacts and suppliers from work. You could offer to wear a T-shirt / company stickers.
Try getting an article in your company magazine or newsletter. If your company has neither of these, use the notice board at the office to let people know what you are doing.
Ask the local cafe, coffee shop or pub if they will put a poster up about the event you are planning.