Fundraising and sponsorship 1

There are two ways of raising the money to fund your challenge:

1. Get people to sponsor you either for completing a stage or per km. For example, with £2,500 as a sponsorship target on 500km you will need to raise £5 per km.
2. Organise activities or events that will make it more enjoyable for people to dip into their pocket – this is often a much more effective way of raising larger sums.

Obviously you can combine the two; at the end of the day, we don't mind how you do it. You should do whatever feels easiest.

Useful sponsorship targets

1. £20 pays for a Marie Curie Nurse for one hour in a patient's home.

1. £30 pays for a slide sheet, used by Marie Curie Nurses to move patients in bed.

1. £125 would pay for attendance at a Day Therapy unit for one day in a Marie Curie hospice.

1. £160 pays for a full shift for a Marie Curie Nurse in a patient's home.

1. £750 pays for the cost of caring for an in-patient in a Marie Curie hospice for a day.

1. £750 pays for a syringe driver.

1. £1,000 would buy a portable oxygen system that will relieve distressing symptoms wherever the patient happens to be, so they are not confined to bed.

Personal sponsorship

If you are looking for personal (or corporate) sponsorship, either per km or to finish here are a few tips to consider:

Make sure your first sponsor is a big one - hopefully others will then follow suit.

1. Aim high when asking your employer for a donation.

1. Sometimes companies will match the sponsorship you raise, £ for £, and they can get tax relief on what they give too. We will supply a specific receipt for them if required – just give us a call.

1. If you work in a suitable business, why not ask your clients to support your fundraising? Our experience shows that they can be very generous.

1. Remember that you have to submit at least 80% of your sponsorship 10 weeks before you set off so it is important to get your sponsors to make their donation in advance if they are giving a fixed amount.

1. Tell sponsors what your target is, and it doesn't have to be the minimum target, so they can see that they are helping you to achieve it.

1. Carry your sponsor form everywhere so that you can ask everyone, whatever you are doing.

1. Don't be afraid to ask. Most people will support you, particularly in a local community; all you need is the confidence to ask. The same applies to local businesses and they may be able to help you with other ideas such as raffle prizes, events etc.

1. Remember - the more people you ask, the more money you will raise.

1. Don't feel guilty. You are doing something very worthwhile - raising money for people with cancer - and if people do not want to help they will just say "No" – which is fine, there is always someone else to ask.

1. When you use our sponsorship forms don't forget to get the full name, address and postcode of all your donors and try to get them to tick the "Gift Aid" box. That way, we'll get an extra 28% tax back from the Inland Revenue (if they are a UK tax payer) on whatever they donate!

1. Put sponsorship donations into perspective and make people feel that even a small contribution will make a difference.