To fundraise for a half marathon?

[tilyougetenough]

I’ve entered a half marathon next spring (I do appreciate it’s a long way off but it’s a very popular one and I wanted to secure my place!), and in order to take part I need to raise £375 for a charity.

I want to do things like bake sales, etc., to bring in some money as I think it’ll be tough to hit that amount without doing it. But one of my colleagues has mentioned in passing that it’s not in good taste to do something like this at the moment as times are tough.

I can’t lie, I do expect the majority of it to come from my family - my parents have promised £150 already and my SIL has promised some money too. AIBU to try and fundraise, or should I just stick the link on my Facebook page and hope for the best?

YANBU to fundraise AT ALL! Charities do essential work, their services are more in demand than ever due to the COL, and it's getting harder and harder to secure funding through grants etc. Asking friends and family to support you (bearing in mind they can say no) is absolutely fine and even better if you're doing something like cake sales, so they are getting something in return (if supporting a needed charity isn't enough motivation.) It's also well worth reading up about the cause, so that you can speak confidently and passionately about it. Good Luck with your training and fundraising ☺️

I feel so passionately about this charity, I have such a strong family connection to it

No harm in trying and in that respect you’re not being unreasonable but bear in mind most people will have their own charities that they support so please don’t feel discouraged if someone refuses. I hope you reach your target and it all goes well.

Fundraising by bake sales or car washes or services or food etc is different from just a “please donate” and I can see that due to COL issues people may feel just asking for money isn’t great. But charity support is always good and things like bake sales are fab too as people get something for their money. Maybe you could do a book sale and ask people for their old books the they buy a book for £1. Or take people’s donations and sell them on Vinted and donate the money? Not sure if that’s allowed but you could check lol.
good luck

In which case you are doing a great thing

Ignore the colleague she doesn’t have to sponsor you. I have sponsored friends and colleagues for quite a few things recently, even more important in a COL crisis IMO as they will have less money than usual coming in. Surely your colleague understands that !

Oh I have no expectations from anyone (besides my mum, she’s the one who convinced me I could do this in the first place so she bloody will be donating 🤣)

Then ignore your colleague, people will donate if the want to/ can & not if they don't.

its not in bad taste. Charities are struggling too.

its the half marathon something you could already do, or is it something you'll have to really work towards?

Where people get frustrated, is that you are doing something you enjoy doing, and essentially asking everyone else to pay your entry fee. That’s their sides POV.

so I think if you start with that being their thinking, then you act accordingly to raise the funds. So, not just asking for a fiver in return for nothing, but as you said, a bake sale is good. So that you are doing something yourself for your entry fee, not just asking others to pay it.

I’m going to have to really, really work for it. The longest I can do without stopping at the moment is 4 to 5km 😂

🤣🤣🤣

I’ve paid the entry fee.

I’m only joking of course, she’s very supportive of it!

As long as people are aware for that it is for i have no idea why you would be unreasonable about doing it

Isn't fund-raising the point?

and in order to take part I need to raise £375 for a charity.

If you paid the entry fee then why the need to raise £375?

Apparently people sign up to run then just for fun

Because it’s a charity place?

Bake sales are a brilliant idea. Everyone wins. You could also do a just giving page. Really lovely to do this.

They make a page for you so I’ll be sharing it across my social media closer to the time, but a bake sale does feel fun!

Ps it sounds like a great physical challenge.

I raised about £500 for my first half marathon attempt, I’ve since done quite a few and not fundraised since as I sort of enjoy it!

I don’t think you’re aiming to fundraiser a crazy amount. A half marathon is a huge achievement . Good luck with your fundraising!

even more reason to ignore your colleague. It's not like you're just getting money to do something you do once a month anyway. I'd donate something anyway if I wanted to support the charity & I'd donate more for you putting in real effort to do something.

Best wishes!!

Haha yeah this definitely isn’t something I’ve ever done before. The longest I’ve gone without stopping is 4km 😂 but I’m really committing to training for it

Personally I would pay for it myself- eventually ask family for contributions if well off.

Having said that- organising a bake sale or sell stuff in order to finance that is perfectly fine too. Asking for cash for nothing is cheeky fuckery.

It’s not “for nothing”, it’s basically a year of my life preparing for it, for a charity who mean a lot to our family

Absolutely fine to offer baking or a service to raise money. People will either buy it or not. Fair enough. It's not like you're just asking them to put their hand in their pocket.