Fundraising

With many of us running for charity, there is the need to raise a significant amount of money for our chosen cause. This page provides some advice and ideas to help you reach your fundraising targets.

If you’re running for charity, you need to set up a fundraising page. Maximise its potential by sharing the link on social media. Tell your story and ask people to support you by donating towards your fundraising target.

Fundraising Tips

Start Early

Give yourself plenty of time to reach your fundraising goal. The earlier you start, the more opportunities you'll have to engage potential donors.

Share Your Story

People are more likely to donate if they understand why the cause is important to you. Share your personal connection to the charity and explain how their contributions will make an impact.

Utilise Social Media

Platforms like Facebook, and Instagram are great for spreading the word about your fundraising efforts. Regular updates on your training progress and fundraising milestones can keep your supporters engaged.

Fundraising Ideas

When I ran London last year I hosted a race night as my fundraiser. It was a huge success and raised over £6,000, enough not only to cover my fundraising target but also donate to the charity my son was running for and made a donation to our local rugby club. It took a great deal of work, and the support of a great bunch of friends, to organise, but great to hit my target all in one go.

I also discuss fundraising in my book, but here are a few of fundraising ideas you might want to look into.

o Memory Miles – Encourage people to donate in exchange for dedicating a mile of your marathon to a person or loved one of their choice.

o Social Event – Consider hosting events like bingo, quizzes or race nights. While these can be significant undertakings, they offer substantial rewards. Alternatively, you can organise several smaller events.

o Themed Parties – Organize a themed party where guests can enjoy food, drinks, and entertainment while contributing to your cause. Charge an entry fee or suggest a donation amount.

o Sports Event – An alternative to a social event could be organising something like a 5K or 10K charity run. Running is an extremely popular activity, with many people, just like us, enjoying the challenge and goal of entering an official race. Obviously, there would be associated costs, but you might not only benefit from the income from entry fees but also consider selling refreshments on the day to raise even more funds.

o Sell Time Predictions – Provide a range of time predictions for your marathon completion and sell each prediction for a set price. The winner could receive either a percentage of the takings or a prize.

o Support From Local Businesses – Leverage your local network of businesses with ties to your charity to secure donations for your cause.

o Company Match Funding – Some companies offer match funding for employees’ fundraising efforts. It’s worth asking your boss or workplace if they provide this benefit.

o Gift Aid – In the UK, when donors contribute through your official page, they can opt for Gift Aid, which can significantly boost the total funds raised.

'Fundraising is the gentle art of teaching the joy of giving.’

Hank Rosso

My Charity Fundraising

In 2024 my Mum lost her battle with a very cruel disease called Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP), and so I am delighted to have the opportunity to run London 2026 for the Charity PSPA. It is the only UK charity dedicated to creating a better future for everyone affected by Progressive Supranuclear Palsy and Corticobasal Degeneration.

Link to my fundraising page

Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP) is a complex neurological condition that progressively affects movement, balance, vision, speech, and swallowing.

PSP gets its full name because it is a condition that progresses and gets worse over time (progressive); it damages the parts of the brain that control eye movements (supranuclear) and causes muscle weakness (palsy).

PSP belongs to a category of disorders called Atypical Parkinsonian Disorders. It often gets misdiagnosed as Parkinson’s disease early on due to some overlapping symptoms like problems with balance, walking, coordination, and eye movements. However, there are distinguishing features in PSP, such as prominent early backwards falls, fixed gaze, and more stiffness and slowness. Receiving an early diagnosis provides people with the opportunity to receive more tailored support and symptom management.