Social Bite sets supporters 100 Mile Challenge, & more fundraising event news
Melanie May | 11 September 2024 | News
From Save the Children’s Christmas Jumper Day to Social Bite’s 100 Mile Challenge and Scottish Huntington’s Association Falkirk Wheel abseil, here’s a round up of ways charities are encouraging and supporting their communities to fundraise for them.
Save the Children Christmas Jumper Day
This year Shaun the Sheep is encouraging schools and youth groups up and down the country to sign up and take part in Save the Children’s Christmas Jumper Day on Thursday 12 December. When people sign up, they receive a free fundraising pack with lesson plans, festive activities and all the information to plan the day. Shaun the Sheep’s creators Aardman have developed some exclusive schools’ resources with Twinkl which can be found at ChristmasJumperDay.org.
Breast Cancer Now Afternoon Tea
According to this year’s Massive Top 25 of mass participation events, Breast Cancer Now’s Afternoon Tea was the fasted growing event in 2023, raising £1.42mn and ranking 21st with a 66% growth in income. Taking place in August, so just finished for this year, the fundraising event sees people come together to drink tea, sell cakes, run raffles, host games, and more – and raise funds for the charity. Participants get a fundraising kit once signed up, along with hints, tips and ideas to help them get the ball rolling.
Social Bite 100 Mile Challenge
Social Bite is encouraging people to hop, skip, jump, run or squat their way to helping break the cycle of homelessness with its 100 Mile Challenge, which started on 1 September and ends on 10 October to mark World Homeless Day. Back for its second year, participants across the UK can choose whatever way they’d like to cover 100 miles within 40 days to raise funds which will support Social Bite’s efforts in three main areas: housing, jobs, and food for people who are affected by homelessness. They can also earn rewards for hitting fundraising targets, from t-shirts and tote bags to shout-outs and spotlights from the charity as a thank you for their efforts.
Macmillan Cancer Support Coffee Morning
Macmillan’s Coffee Morning officially takes place on Friday 27 September this year, but people can host their event whenever suits them best. People who register as holding a coffee morning are sent a free fundraising kit in the post and can choose from a full kit with bunting, balloons and a tablecloth, which the charity says is ideal for first time hosts, or a lighter kit with less paper and no plastic. Each kit includes recipes, a collection box, event posters and a game for the event. Last year, the overall fundraising total was £18,041,302.
BHF & the AJ Great North Run
Over 1,100 British Heart Foundation runners took in Sunday 8 September’s AJ Bell Great North Run as part of the event’s charity partnership. The BHF runners joined 60,000 other participants to take on the 13.1 miles from Newcastle to South Shields. AJ Bell nominated the BHF as official charity partner of the series in 2023 and the partnership will run for two years. This year’s AJ Bell Great North Run helped the charity to raise £496,000.
NSPCC Cymru & Cardiff Half Marathon
With the most runners ever taking part in this year’s Principality Cardiff Half Marathon for NSPCC Cymru, the charity is extending its partnership with the Cardiff Half Marathon for the next three years. It hopes that its multi-year commitment will continue to make a real difference through its long-term engagement with participants. Since becoming lead charity partner of the event in 2018, NSPCC Cymru has raised more than £500,000 through its team of dedicated runners. To celebrate the announcement a tea party was held at Llangan Primary School in Cowbridge to highlight that all funds raised go directly to supporting children in Wales.
Guy’s & St Thomas’ Charity St Thomas’ Abseil
Guy’s & St Thomas’ Charity is holding its St Thomas’ Abseil on Friday 20 and Saturday 21 September. It will see people abseiling 160 feet down front of the hospital, each one raising funds for the charity. Members of #TeamGSTT receive: fundraising tips and support, a bespoke medal, certificate and opportunity to purchase a photograph of their descent, and support from the events team. It costs £35 to enter, and everyone is asked to commit to reaching a fundraising target.
Vitality London 10,000
The Vitality London 10,000 takes place later this month, on 22 September, and sees participants complete a 10k course past some of London’s most famous landmarks, including St Paul’s Cathedral and Big Ben. There is the option to fundraise for a charity while doing it, either for main charity partner British Deaf Association, or another good cause. Blathwayt House at Reed’s School Cobham is taking part to raise funds for house charity, Rainbow Trust.
Epilepsy Society Challenge 100
The Epilepsy Society’s Challenge 100 challenges people to complete 100 miles in 100 days however they like and raise funds for the 1 in 100 people living with epilepsy in the UK. 2024’s event took place between 1 January and 9 April, with a £5 registration fee (but free for children). People can participate individually or as a team, and those who raise at least £100 receive a Challenge 100 medal.
Scottish Huntington’s Association Falkirk Wheel abseil
Scottish Huntington’s Association is challenging people to abseil down the Falkirk Wheel next March and raise funds for the charity. It’s a 115ft descent down the world’s only rotating boat lift. People are asked to make an advance sponsorship payment of £33.22 (including a £3.22 fee), and to raise a minimum of £200. Their local fundraising advisor will be on hand to support them with this.
Frimley Health Charity & West Sussex’s Tough Mudder
Frimley Health Charity is challenging people to take on a Tough Mudder in West Sussex this September. Charity Places for Tough Mudder are available at a discounted rate of £10 for 5K and £20 for 15K, with a minimum fundraising pledge of £150 for 5K, and £200 for 10K. Those who sign up to fundraise for the charity will be supported throughout, and will receive a t-shirt, merchandise and materials to help them in their fundraising.
Cancer Research UK Race for Life
Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life events have raised over £970 million since Race for Life launched 30 years ago, with more than 10 million people taking part. On offer are 3K, 5K and 10K events, and the 5K Pretty Muddy® course. The races are for everyone and take place in multiple locations across the UK. Participants receive a fundraising pack with a customisable back sign and fundraising hints and tips, training support and access to a Facebook community, and a medal when they cross the finish line.
Marie Curie Great Daffodil Appeal
Marie Curie’s annual Great Daffodil Appeal takes place across March each year and sees people across the country don the yellow hat and collect donations given for daffodil pins. People are also invited to fundraise their own way, for example by wearing yellow, or baking lemon drizzle cakes. Marie Curie is also SPAR’s national charity partner, with 10p from every bunch daffodils sold in-store to support the campaign going to the charity.
About Melanie May
Melanie May is a journalist and copywriter specialising in writing both for and about the charity and marketing services sectors since 2001. She can be reached via thepurplepim.com.