To fundraise for a half marathon?

Quite, but I'm still not sure why anyone would want to "pay" for me to do something I've chosen to do for fun.

That's the issue with this kind of fundraising. For you it's a big challenge. I, and many others, run HM distance most weeks. Plus anyone who doesn't run sees that loads of people run these events and doesn't appreciate how much training it takes to be able to do it.

I think fundraisng by putting on events, that people want to attend, for a charity is great. Asking people to basically pay so that you can do something you want to do, not so much.

Out of interest, why did you choose an event you need to raise money to enter? There are HMs every weekend with entry fees of £30/40.

I think it depends what you do. I know lots of runners so I'm always being asked for sponsorship/raffle tickets and TBH, unless it's someone I'm close to doing their first marathon, or a charity very close to my heart I ignore most of it, but if they organise a quiz a dance, a curry night I'll be there.

So, just asking for money no. Offering something they might enjoy that also supports you and the chairity, yes.

Charity here 👋
Just to add a bit of perspective—when people run a half marathon for a cause, the benefit goes well beyond the fundraising total (as important as that is for us).
What we often see is a ripple effect. The person training and sharing their journey brings the charity into conversations it wouldn’t normally reach—friends, colleagues, social circles. That kind of word-of-mouth awareness is incredibly valuable and hard to replicate.
It also tends to bring in new supporters, not just one-off donors. People who sponsor someone often go on to follow the charity, volunteer, or give again later.
There’s a trust element too, seeing someone commit to 13.1 miles for a cause sends a strong signal that it’s worth caring about and can really strengthen people’s connection to the charity long term.
So while the fundraising matters hugely, the longer-term awareness, engagement and support it generates can be just as impactful. I completely get that not everyone wants to donate and no one should feel pressured to—but taking on a challenge for charity is certainly not the 'selfish' act some posters are making it out to be.

Not least that charities will have paid out for those places, so if no one takes them up, they have actually lost money.

Good luck @tilyougetenough !

It's a great idea to do a bake sale. It could be towards your fund and then any extra goes directly to the charity.

We had them a lot at work. Give people a bit of notice and actively try and recruit bakers. There must be a few. And people can bring in shop bought stuff if they can't cook!

If someone can't afford it or doesn't bake then they don't need to be involved. They'll probably end up with a free bit of cake if there's some leftover anyway so everyone should be happy.

If you want it to more accessible set the prices for the cakes quite low.

@YourWinter

” Scarred perhaps from approaching every small business in the village in order to get sponsorship for the infant school fete 35 years ago!”

Yep, know that feeling.

I really do think you have the wrong idea

Cancer research, macmillan, age concern etc all run events, half, full and ultra marathons . You run / walk for that charity only. You pay an entrance to cover the cost of the organisation of it, timings, photos food, water etc - Macmillan who I walk for charge between £25 and £40 per entrant depending on event, how early you sign up etc

You are then asked to raise a certain amount for charity - each charity specifies the amount. I walk for macmillan and I think last one I done was £250 - I raised £2k . Macmillan NI really rely on the £1m they make each year for that one days event

I did the half marathon first and 3 years later did the full marathon aged 60 . Both were huge undertakings , first one I was fat, unfit and just recovering from covid, the second was to see if I could go the distance after a year of improving my fitness

@tilyougetenough , I raise by putting the just giving link to my page on my social media , posters and sponsorship forms in my local pub and a collection box and poster in the local petrol station/shop . During the challange I post video updates , I think the one where I was sobbing with pain and barely able to walk got me the most donations :). I also do a car boot, sell on eBay and Facebook etc.

Go and enjoy the event. They are so well organised , you are well supported , its a great introduction to walking/running. Since Ive done those I now do park run . I think I will do another on my 65th , but that's for me so I will donate the sponsorship myself

Charity bake sales are great. Also set up go fund me and share it on social media with a little spiel about your chosen charity. People may be more likely to give if you say what this charity means to you.

I when I’ve taken part in an event in support of a charity, I’ve always funded it myself. I absolutely hate fundraisers generally and being asked to sponsor challenges that aren’t even particularly onerous just grates on me. Scarred perhaps from approaching every small business in the village in order to get sponsorship for the infant school fete 35 years ago!

I have contributed when my own kids and grandchildren have asked.

Doesn't sound like it! She does get a reduced price entry ticket though!

But isn't it just semantics, then? If it costs entry fee + minimum amount raised for them to allow you to run for them, surely the latter of those two IS essentially just a differently-worded part of the entry fee, albeit one which you can ask others to pay rather than having to pay it all yourself?

Wow! Rude!
So obviously not!
Why would you not donate generously to this charity that you care so much about?
And it is exactly this reason that I don't donate to the faux "fundraising" events, which are all about the participant doing a prestigous event of their chosing for free/cheap/with guaranteed entry, and nothing to do with actually wanting raise money for the actual charity, which they could easily do without a giant perk for themselves added to the mix.

(Often when I receive these requests, if it's a charity I support, I donate directly to the charity, but not via the sponsorship/event page, as I don't want the charity to miss out).

I personally also give a lot more leeway when it's for young children. They don't really understand the financial practicalities and are just wanting to do a kind, helpful thing.

Are you not donating any money yourself?

i think so long as people know what a challenge this for you and that the charity means something to you for a good reason, you’re fine to politely ask for donations and also do some specific events/activities to help.

I’m a regular runner and I think most people would raise an eyebrow at me doing this and would think it’s just so I could get a guaranteed spot on oversubscribed big races. I don’t think you’d have that problem as a novice runner with a charity link.

I have to say, as a runner, the whole way that charities have taken over the popular races is really annoying and feels a bit like a big cartel. Having said that I don't blame people for taking a charity place in eg the London marathon as it is almost impossible to get a ballot place.

WHen DD was 7 she did the race for life and got the fund raising down to a T as I wouldn't let her ask anyone except family for sponsorship. Some of her ideas (I realise that being at school helped)

she went round the local allotments and asked people to donate any spare plants and then ran a plant stall outside our house.

we made cakes (flapjacks and brownies were the most popular) which DH took to work. He left them in the kitchen with an envelope and sent an email round saying that there were cakes for anyone who wanted them but that a small donation would be appreciated. It was basically not in person although some of his colleagues who were not in the office donated as well.

She bought some cheap card blanks and small plastic bags at poundland and then made up card kits using the excess items in our sticker box (plus a few poundland sheets) and got the school office to put them on the reception desk with a homemade cash box - I think she asked for a donation of 25p per kit. A lot of mothers bought job lots for party bags so she spent a lot of time restocking the box. Some of the teachers put some spare change in the box too.

She put a note through neighbours doors to ask if they had any "jumble" and if so to email and we'd collect and she did a car boot sale. We paid the fee for her and helped obviously.

She raised about £500

Other ideas include a "bonus ball" type lottery where half goes to the winner and half to the charity, a quiz night - a local pub may well be happy to let you organise at theirs, car washing, weeding etc

My son did a half marathon when he was 17 years old. It wasn’t a sponsored place but he did try to raise money for charity, and it was a cause that saved his life. I was amazed how many people who ‘promised to donate’ didn’t in the end.

Sure, none if they just stick it on their Facebook and never mention it, but if they drop it in the group what’s app, bring it up in person etc then I think there is a pressure to donate (and because I’m a decent friend and can afford it, in all likelihood I will donate rather than just blank them or tell them what I really think about this kind of fundraising!) Doesn’t change my view on it though, that if you want to do a run which requires a charity donation to get a place, you should put your hand in your own pocket for the full donation amount not just the entry fee, otherwise it’s really just asking other people to fund your hobby/activity.

I really, really dislike being solicited for donations to other people's charities of choice in the workplace and I don't think it belongs there. If it's not coworkers, it's their kids doing 5ks or funruns or some other activity.

Put it on your Facebook or other social media, but keep it out of the workplace.