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Anna’s top tips for getting colleagues involved with your London Marathon fundraising
I was part of the #TeamCF cheering squad for the London Marathon in 2022 and it was the first time I’d ever been to the event. I’d heard how inspiring it was to see the support from the crowds and the runners of all different ages and abilities taking part, but I underestimated how incredible it would be. I was blown away by the whole atmosphere and after I had a moment of thinking, ‘I could do that too!’, and some encouragement from my colleagues, that was it, I was entering the ballot.
I know raising funds in the current climate can sometimes feel overwhelming, so I’ve put together some top tips on how you can get people at work involved in your fundraising.
1. Promote your fundraising page
I know telling people that you’re doing a marathon can sometimes feel daunting, but sharing it with your workplace opens you up to a whole new group of people who can contribute to your fundraising. Even if they don’t know you personally, many will be happy to support a colleague taking on an incredible challenge. Keep people updated on where you are with your target and share your fundraising page after marathon day to get those final donations in. If your job involves sending emails, you can also add your fundraising page to your email signature to give people that extra reminder!
2. Share your story
You don’t have to just ask for sponsorship, why not ask your internal communications team if your story can feature in your employer newsletter or you can talk at an all-staff meeting? It’s a great opportunity to share your inspiration, training journey and motivations for signing up. Often we have our own personal inspiration behind a fundraising challenge, which can be an extra incentive for people to sponsor you.
3. Ask your employer about Matched Giving
Why not check if your organisation is signed up to Matched Giving? It’s an amazing way to potentially double your fundraising by simply asking your employer to match it. Even if they don’t advertise a Matched Giving programme, it’s a good idea to speak to your HR team about whether they could support in this way.
4. Get creative with your fundraising
There are lots of ways you can raise money other than just asking for donations to your fundraising page. You could host an event at work, like a bake sale, quiz, or sweepstake. You could also get colleagues involved by asking them to suggest different routes for long runs, or if you’re in the office, they could keep you company on lunchtime or after work runs.
5. Say thank you!
And finally, one of the most important things to remember is to thank everyone who has donated or supported you in this journey. 20% of donations usually come in after your event has ended, so it can be a really good idea to follow up with a simple thank you to your supporters. You should also show the impact of their donations. For example:
- £10 could get one of our booklets to a family dealing with a new CF diagnosis, providing support, information and reassurance when they need it most.
- £20 could run our Helpline for an hour, ensuring people with CF, and their loved ones, have somewhere to turn for information and support.
Wishing you lots of luck with your fundraising, and remember that our amazing Events Team can provide lots more tips to help you on your way. Get in touch at [email protected].
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic condition which causes sticky mucus to build up in the lungs and digestive system. It affects more than 10,800 people in the UK. One in 25 of us carries the faulty gene that causes it, usually without knowing.
Since 1964, we've supported people with cystic fibrosis to live longer, healthier lives - and we won’t stop until everyone can live without limits imposed by CF.
