Some amazing ideas on fundraising events….

It all started 14 years ago when I read an article in Health and Fitness Magazine about an event called the MoonWalk. The event started in Battersea with approximately 7000 women some dressed in their bras or bra t shirts and walking 26.2 miles around the streets of London. Well how difficult could this be…..

Sponsorship for the first year was not a problem having never done anything like this before friends and family donated and supported no problem….and the following few years the donations still came in.

In 2007 I decided I needed to do something more than just ask for sponsorship because the comments of “oh you doing the Moonwalk again” and “well we know you can do it” the sponsorships started to tail off. So that was the year I decided to put on a “PINK BALL” I booked a solo singer and DJ and sold tickets for £23.50 which included a three course sit down dinner.
Both a raffle and auction was also done on the evening and a photographer provided his services also and donated 10% of his sales to the event. All in all the ball raised a fantastic £1200. People attending the event enjoyed it so much we repeated it the following year.

To change things in 2010 I put on my first fashion show with Phase Eight and a Local Evening Dress Agents agreeing to provide the fashion. Ticket price for this event was £3 and included a goody bag (all contents were donated via local companies). And raised a fantastic £700. This event has now been repeated and this year will see its 5th year.

Over the last couple of years I have also organised Ladies Pamper Evenings.
The tickets for which are £6 which includes a mini pamper treatment and a goodies bag. Most of the beauty therapist ladies donate their time free of charge. People can also book extra treatments which the charity also receives a donation from. Table spaces are also sold to local crafts to provide a shopping area and a raffle is also done. This is a hard event to organise and stressful when beauty therapists cancel at the last minute.

So events and fundraising I have done over the years….
Two Pink Balls
Fashion Shows
Pamper Nights
Christmas Shopping Nights
Coffee Mornings
Balloon Race
Sweepstake for the arrival of the Royal Baby, Grand National & World Cup
Pink Week at work
Tombola, Raffles
Made felt Reindeer at Christmas

I am very lucky in the fact that I do have the use of a very large conference/function room at the hotel. But all I would say is if you want to organise a large event then speak to your local hotels and see if they can offer you a function room free of charge. You never know if it’s on one of their less busy nights (all hotels have these).

So for 2014 (I’m doing the 3 Land Challenge, London 2 Brighton Challenge and Great North Run) what are the plans….well the 5th year for the fashion show with a local ladies shop providing the fashion and also she sells on the evening and offers 10% of sales to the charity. The evening will include a FREE goody bag for the first 100 tickets sold I held the ticket price for the 5th year at £3 (pleased to say this event raised £900). Also a raffle and Tombola and selling stand space for local crafts to provide a bit of shopping. September will see the return of the Charity Ball with a 3 Course Sit Down Meal…singer and DJ and raffle. For raffle prizes I write to local companies for donations.

The important thing is not to get stressed about fundraiser and enjoy it as much as the walking or running event you are doing, have fun!!!!

Gynette