hike for trikes - please read.

[wannaBe]

further to

this thread

it has become apparent that there are actually a few people who would benefit from having a specialist bike/trike for their dc who cannot ride a conventional one due to their disabilities.

so my idea is this:

On a set date, we organize a sponsored walk in order to raise money and awareness wrt these trikes and the children's need for them. The walk will be in three categories. A mile for very young dc who might want to, a 5 mile fun walk, and a half marathon (walk or run tis your choice) for those who are fit/mad .

The money raised will go towards helping people who cannot afford to fund these trikes themselves to pay for the trikes their dc so desparately would love, and also to raise awareness. (I never even knew these trikes existed until recently so am sure most other people don't either).

And we'll call it "hike for trikes".

Anyone up for it/want to help me organize?

What we need to do is start a thread for each area and try and get as many people on MN to join in. Then word of mouth amongst friends/family etc.

Great idea

or perhaps set up a dedicated website with links for each area where people can register/can inform their friends.

I am keen to do this as openly as possible, as in light of recent events I think it's very important that any money-raising be completely transparent iyswim?

What a great idea, i'd love to join in.

Fab idea. I am a bit far away for joining in but will happily donate to the fund.

I'd be happy to organise the Lancashire/NW branch of the walk..

I'm happy to donate to help out but am wondering how it's going to be decided who is "worthy" enough to qualify, and what proportion of the money they receive once all the sponsorship money has been collected?

and, related to what I said on the other thread...it would be best if any equipment bought was the property of a charity we could set up so the recipients promised to lend it on to someone else when they'd finished with it. The items didn't belong to the family who got it.
If you see what I mean. Then others could benefit too.

Wouldn't it be better if the equipment remained the property of the charity so that when your child grows out of something and needs a new one, another child might be able to benefit.

Saw a fantastic tricycle in the park yesterday and thought what a fantastic idea they were for both parents and children.

If there is anything local that I could make I would be interested.

However, might it be better waiting for slightly better weather - I know that this puts the time frame back and so funding would be put back etc, but you might get many more people involved if it were, say, May rather than February... just a thought - also gives more time to sort the background organisation out, get some publicity etc.

I do think that the trikes remaining the property of an organization is a good idea.

Also doing this in the name of a registered charity has other benefits - we would be able to claim gift-aid on any sponsorship money/donations received.

The question though is whether we should do this in the name of an existing charity or set up a completely new one.

Are there charities that will provide this equipment already?

Setting up a charity is really not that simple - lots of questions need to be asked, how is the charity going to be run, what is the exact aim of the charity and who will benefit (i.e. will recipiants be means tested). How is the charity going to gain publicity (a small charity is just one in a million) and most importantly how is the charity going to ensure that it can maintain funds to provide the service/equipment it aims to provide (what fund-raising ideas are there for at least the next three years).

Who is going to work for the charity - are you going to be dependent on voluntary help or will you be hoping to take on a paid staff (which is generally the best option as the best people don't usually give their services for free) in which case you also have to factor in salaries into your running costs.

Also where will you aim to run this charity from - if you are providing equipment you need a facility where the equipment can be stored while it is waiting to be distributed.

Not saying a charity is a bad idea, but if setting up a charity is the aim then perhaps we need to look into setting up the charity first and getting a registered charity number before we aim to start doing events to fundraise for it.

medogsarebarking, where are you situated? I would LOVE to help but as we are thinking it will be January/February and I am due Feb 3rd, it will be that little bit too much I think. Nothing to say I cannot do my bit and spread the word and will definitely (if I am not in labour) will attend any event.

wannaBe - well done, you are doing such a great job.

pgwithnumber3, I'm in East Lancs, not too far from Manchester.

ok here is what I'm thinking.

I am going to try and set up a separate website for this, with an area where people can register their town/city as a venue, and their interest in being an organizer for said venue... and once participating venues have been established there will be a section for people to register to participate in their particular area.

Once people register, a link to a sponsor form will be emailed to them, which they can either print, but preferably will email to friends/family/post all over the net for people to sponsor them. This way we will have an idea of how much money is being raised.

I am also wondering (based on a suggestion by .. 2shoes I think it was), re children who are unable to walk re disability, about contacting the manufacturers of some of these trikes to see if we could get some on loan for some children to do the "hike" which would raise even more awareness. Also it would be in the manufacturers interest to do this, as the more money we can raise, the more they are going to benefit .

But we still need input re charity. Is there an existing charity we should do this for, or should we aim to set up our own?

Realistically we can't start with the organization/publicising until we know exactly where the money is going..

Wannabee its been a long time but I used to work for a charity, and did the fundraising managers chartered thigy. Obv I cant commt massively but am more than happy to help with any forms / registerng etc if you decide to go down that route. You have my e-mail anyway from TTR.

I don't think there's an existing charity that lends out equipment like this. Whizzkids do somethings but they are pretty rich already.
React will buy special equipment but the child must be 'life limited'.

bump - haven't forgotten about this - just contemplating lots of details re charity etc.

On reflection i thin that it's best we raise with children in mind - ie 2shoes/sparkly/others on mn who need this kit.

Will post more later..