Fundraising is a rewarding, exciting experience where you can take full control and play a big part in helping others. It is a great way to bring friends together, meet new people and raise awareness.

The best part about it is fundraising can suit anyone with any budget, network or amount of time. There are plenty of ways you can raise funds for us and we will do everything we can to make your event a success.

If you would like to talk about your plans or want some friendly advice please contact us for a chat

Fundraising Ideas
You could do something big such as run a half marathon or a marathon. Climb Kilimanjaro, Cycle the Ggreat wall of China. Through a community charity ball. There is no limit to the fundraising ideas you can do, if you can think of it you can achieve it.

Here are some other fun fundraising ideas … but we would love to hear if you have any more ideas too.

Any event you do, take lots of pictures and we will write out your story on our social media sites and website.

• Fun Run
• Cake Sale
• Auctions
• Badges
• Selling bottled water
• Charity calendars
• Car washing
• Carols
• Casino nights
• Chocolate & lollies
• Christmas in July
• Coffee mornings
• Dress down days
• Fetes
• Gift Hampers
• Gift Wrapping
• Raffles
• School discos
• Silent auctions
• Sports day fundraising
• Sausage sizzles

Planning Your fundraising event:
How to get local media coverage
However big or small your fundraising event, using your local media is a great way to get publicity and sponsorship. It also helps to raise awareness of diabetes, our charity and the good work we are all doing to help others who need it most.

Let local media know about your event - this includes local papers, local radio and TV stations and any magazines in the area. Nearly all local media companies have websites where you can get relevant details of who to contact. And think big – if you don't ask you won't get! Write up a simple press release.

Here are some tips for writing your own press release:

• Date, time and location
• Say why you are doing this event and why it is important to you. Is it because you have diabetes or do you know someone with diabetes or perhaps it is just a personal challenge?
• Say what you are looking for. Do you want people to sponsor you or are you encouraging others to take part?
• Explain how people can sponsor you or how they can get involved. Who should people contact.
• Quotes – include an exciting quote to get people interested, contact us for relevant statistics that help your cause
• Add your own details to the bottom of the press release. Make sure the telephone number is one where they can talk to someone during normal office hours.
• Include a couple of lines about why insulin is important to someone with diabetes and what the charity does so people understand what they are helping raise money for.
• Send the press release to your chosen media as soon as possible.
• Follow up each contact. Telephone them to check that they have seen the press release. If they haven’t received it, offer to send it through again but use the opportunity to tell them a little more about the event.
• Invite and encourage the journalist/photographer to attend the event. Let them know there is a picture opportunity and story! Tell them exactly what you are planning to do and why it would make a good photo for their paper.
• Photo call at the event. Make a time when the reporter, photographer or TV crew should arrive to cover the story. A half hour slot should be plenty. Photos are also useful if you are trying to drum up sponsorship before the event – perhaps a picture of you training!
• Find your own good photographer to take pictures on the day. Newspapers are always looking for strong and exciting images so if a newspaper can’t send a photographer they may still print the story afterwards if you send them some good images. As a rough guide you should make them imaginative and good quality.
• Identify your spokesperson (if it is not you). Make sure this person is well briefed about the event and its aims so that they can give an informed and entertaining interview to media. Ideally this person would be quoted in your press release.
• Let all participants know that there will be photography and publicity at the event. This is particularly important if you have children taking part.

If you need any help, please contact us we will be happy to help you.