Thinking about getting involved with a charity fundraising event? Thankfully, there are lots of options available, whether you’re looking for a fun event or a personal challenge. Fundraising through charity events is a great way to get active while also doing something altruistic and positive for your community.
There’s also the team building element to consider, which is why many companies will enter team-based events to help bring colleagues together. Whether you are taking part alone or with a large group, you’ll still get to enjoy the sense of community spirit that comes from charity fundraising events.
If you’re looking for a charity event to take part in this year, read on to learn some of the most popular event types and how to get involved.
Marathons/Half Marathons
Competition for marathon spots is often fierce, particularly for the larger cities. People will travel all over the world to take part in marathons in iconic locations. The streets will be closed off and lined with spectators, so it transforms a simple running challenge into something with real community spirit.
For those not quite ready for a full marathon, there are often shorter events like half marathons or even 10K events happening alongside the main event. In many cases, you won’t be able to sign up for a full marathon until you have completed a long distance race such as a half marathon.
Long distance cycle challenge
Cycling between two locations over a single day or multiple days is a hugely popular way to raise money, get fit, and take part in an activity that wouldn’t be easily accessible without the support of an organised event.
Take the London to Brighton cycle, for example. It’s not every day that you get the organised support of a charity event, complete with marshals to guide the way, and bike mechanics along the route. Most people wouldn’t attempt this distance on their own, but they may find the confidence to attempt it as part of an organised event.
Personal fitness challenges
Fundraising events don’t have to take place with others or on a single date. There is a growing trend for busy people to take part in a personal pledge challenge. They might commit to running one mile every day for a month, or completing 2000 push ups over a similar period.
These personal pledge challenges are great because they can fit around everyday life. They are still challenging and require long-term commitment, but you don’t have to train in advance or take a full day out of your schedule. Since they take place over a longer time, it’s also easier to keep raising funds throughout the challenge.
Assault course style challenges
Those looking for a little more adventure might consider an assault course style challenge. These are often around a 5K distance with army-style challenges along the way to climb over, under or through.
Participants often get wet and muddy, making it a fun challenge to tackle as a group. There are also more extreme events, with freezing cold plunges and sheer walls to scale, bringing in elements and mental and physical strength to make things more interesting.
Extreme sports challenges
A classic fundraising event for the adrenaline addict would be an extreme sport challenge. These often involve great heights or impressive feats of courage, such as abseiling down a landmark or jumping out a plane.
Extreme sports challenges are a great way to be able to try something that you wouldn’t ordinarily have access to. For example, abseiling down iconic landmarks is often not something widely available to the public, but you could have access to these opportunities when you are taking part in a charity challenge.
Community and social events
You don’t have to jump out of a plane to raise money for charity. You could take part in a community event like a coffee morning, a jumble sale or even a raffle. These are great ways to bring people together and place the community at the heart of the fundraising efforts.
The stakes are low with this type of event. As a participant, you might simply attend and buy a piece of cake and a coffee. The purpose of this type of event is often more about awareness and bringing people together rather than raising large sums of money through donations.
How to get involved with a charity fundraising event
There are lots of ways you can get involved with fundraising. If there is an event you would like to complete, you should complete the sign-up process and select the charity you plan to support. There may be a waiting list or a sign up fee for these kinds of events. You could also approach the charity you would like to support and see if they have upcoming events you can get involved with.
