# Charity fundraising events that invite you to take it easy

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2014/07/20/charity-fundraising-events-invite-take-easy/
- Published: 2014-07-20T21:16:48+01:00
- Author: Howard Lake

**Plenty of charity fundraising events involve physical exertion – marathons, triathlons,
swims, press-ups, mountain climbs, trekking to far-flung climes. Perhaps it is all
down to the belief that people will only sponsor you if you are clearly going to
some effort and even feeling some obvious discomfort.**

But it doesn’t have to be this way. Some charities have taken precisely the opposite
approach and developed fundraising events that are much easier on the body and mind.

Here are some charity fundraising events for the less adventurous, or those who 
are simply too tired after completing their 10th charity fun run or half-marathon.

## Advertisement

## 1. Born Free’s Big Cat Nap

![Do nothing for charity - The Big Cat Nap - image: Debra Claridge](https://wfay6x.
infiniteuploads.cloud/2026/09/born-free-big-cat-nap2.jpg)

Do nothing for charity – The Big Cat Nap – image: Debra Claridge

The Born Free Foundation’s annual ‘[Big Cat Nap](http://www.bornfree.org.uk/the-big-cat-nap)’
took place from 30th June – 6th Jul 2014. The Horsham-based international wildlife
charity encourages people to join in the occasion by behaving “like a big cat and
having a leisurely, sleepy time”.

It suggests a range of [sleep-themed fundraising activities](http://www.bornfree.org.uk/the-big-cat-nap/fundraising-ideas/).
For example, since male lions sleep for 23 hours a day, “participants can choose
to wear their pyjamas to work or school for the day, get sponsored to read or stay
in bed or even invite some friends over for a slumber party, raising money while
they are at it”.

If even that sounds too energetic then supports can take a sleepy pet selfie photo
and share it online using #BigCatNap. It doesn’t raise funds but does promote the
campaign.

> [@BFFoundation](https://twitter.com/bffoundation?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) [#BigCatNap](https://twitter.com/hashtag/BigCatNap?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
> My baby taking over my bed. I couldn't get myself to wake her up!! [pic.twitter.com/3mml51FQXb](http://t.co/3mml51FQXb)
> — Dr.G (@buddigogo) [July 1, 2014](https://twitter.com/buddigogo/status/483928592103907329?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

 

## 2. Digital Detox for Scope

![Digital Detox for Scope - campaign promotion featuring a couple of people on a
hillside](https://wfay6x.infiniteuploads.cloud/2021/12/digital-detox-scope.jpg)

Digital Detox for Scope campaign

Not using your mobile phone for a weekend should be an easy fundraising event, 
although for many of us it could involve quite an effort.

[Digital Detox](http://www.thedigitaldetox.co.uk/) is an annual campaign for people
who need a break from technology. It raises funds for disability charity Scope.

Participants sign up by making a £10 to Scope and pledging to embrace analogue for
48 hours on 25 and 26 July 2014. “No phone. No social. No Google Maps helping you
get around.”
 

## 3. Samaritans’ Phone Free Friday

![Samaritans' Phone-Free Friday campaign promotion](https://wfay6x.infiniteuploads.
cloud/2021/12/samaritans-phone-free-friday.jpg)

Samaritans’ Phone-Free Friday campaign promotion

Samaritans offered a similar ‘easy’ challenge this year for the first time with
their [Phone Free Friday](https://www.phonefreefriday.org/) campaign. They simply
asked people to go without their mobile phone for the working day on 20 June 2014,
from 9 to 5pm.With support from SimplyHealth, the campaign invited participants 
to donate £4. The charity explained: “that’s what it costs us to take just one call–
and that call could save a life”.

There was a clear link between phones and the charity: “for us at Samaritans to 
go without our phones for a single minute could be a matter of life and death”.

 
_[Video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMNhZ\_QS0jI no longer available]._

      

 * **[Starbucks raises £40,000 for Send a Cow](https://fundraising.co.uk/2016/02/12/starbucks-raises-40000-for-send-a-cow/)**(
   12 February 2016)
 * **[Schoolboy’s fundraising idea adopted as national campaign](https://fundraising.co.uk/2016/02/23/schoolboys-fundraising-idea-adopted-as-national-campaign/)**(
   23 February 2016)
 * **[Smile beer raises funds for local charity](https://fundraising.co.uk/2016/05/04/smile-beer-raises-funds-for-charity/)**(
   4 May 2016)

## Comments

### By: HowardLake

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2014/07/20/charity-fundraising-events-invite-take-easy/#comment-4514
- Published: 2023-07-20T05:31:02+01:00

How about this idea along these lines that never came to fruition?

[https://twitter.com/JTCHANGINGBIZ/status/1681935804271042560](https://twitter.com/JTCHANGINGBIZ/status/1681935804271042560)
