Fundraising tips
Start as early as possible
Adopt a determined and well-planned approach to your fundraising. Carry a sponsor form with you at all times!
Enlist the help of others
Hand out sponsor forms to family, friends and work colleagues and encourage them to fundraise on your behalf.
Target with military precision
Make a list of all your family, friends and work colleagues, as well as people you know through sporting or social activities. If it helps, list them in seperate sections and decide how best to ask them to put their hand in their pocket.
Check out online sponsorship
At Virgin Money Giving you can easily create a free online sponsorship page in minutes. Supporters can donate safely and tax-effectively, making your personal fundraising target easier to reach.
Run an online sweepstake
If you fancy running a sweepstake so that your friends can guess at your race time or anything else, the Guess2Give website offers this facility and supports MS Trust at the same time.
Email auto-signature
You might like to mention your event at the bottom of all your emails. Add something like 'I'm taking part in the Great North Run! Would you like to sponsor me?' to raise awareness of your event among your friends. You can even put a link straight to your online fundraising page at virginmoneygiving.com
Face-to-face is best
It's more difficult for sponsors to say no if you're standing in front of them. Be persistent and if possible, get them to give you their donation up front - this saves a lot of time and effort after the event. If you can't meet them, send a letter, fax or email outlining your event, and consider using a tear-off reply slip for them to return with their contribution.
Run to the boss
At work or through colleagues in other businesses, target managers who control budgets. Ask the boss if the company would match the donations you collect pound for pound.
Have a high profile
Contact your local newspaper or company newsletter and tell them about your venture.
Get in touch with the MS Trust
Call or email the MS Trust's fundraising team for sponsor forms, fundraising packs, posters, balloons, stickers, collecting tins, advice... let us help you do the hard work! Call us on 01462 476707.
And finally, be proud
Without people like you, the MS Trust wouldn't be able to support people with MS in the UK. Thank you for helping to make a real difference.
