London Marathon Bond Places

Savvy_Sue

GiveItBack wrote: »

the bond may only cost £250, but there are the associated costs of promoting it, looking after the runners, doing the admin before and after, and most charities want to get back at least 3x what they invest in an event, so it's understandable that they ask for bigger amounts.

That's true, as I said before we had some Gold Bond places in the Bristol half-marathon and we didn't ask for a minimum amount (AFAIK, someone else looks after this). But we supply t-shirts and do a lunch afterwards and we're planning to send them all a photo to say thank you, so there are some costs associated with it.

sahararose

I work for a charity which is involved in all the runs - Great North, Greath South, Flora Marathon etc. We have to buy the places for the runners and the costs associated with that are huge - sending staff down there on teh day, providing somewhere for runners to go afterwards to relax, food for them etc etc. Therefore we do have minimum sponsorshop guidelines. But if someone doesn't quite reach their target sponsorship, they're not obliged to make it up.

Most charities will do everything they can to help runners to achieve their targets, so you're not 'left to your own devices'.

What I would say however, is that if you set up a Just Giving page, its by far one of the best ways to raise money. Of the people who failed to raise as much money as they'd hoped, none of them had Just Giving. It makes it far easier for people to donate to you.

Hope this helps.

lofty_cherrytree

Hi there, I have run the Flora London twice. The first time for a charity because I wanted to run with my husband and he got in on the ballot. The minimum at that time for the charity was £1000, paid in instalments prior to the event, so we made up the shortfall. Also the Just Giving total was not added until after the event so as we had already paid up the minimum, the just giving was a bonus for the charity. I wouldn't do it this way again unless I could get corporate sponsorship etc it is a strain on the family/friends if you are always asking them to sponsor you. The second time I got a ballot place and ran for a charity which had relevance and support from work colleagues and clients, therefore it was much easier to raise the money. Good luck, just choose a charity you really believe in and care about.

portchieboy

OK, time to get radical here.

I have been privileged enough to be a member of the MSE Club since the early days, and have seen it grow from 1,000s to around a million 'members'. Like everyone else, I use it to the full, and reckon over the years I have probably saved in the £1,000's what with things like Quidco, and general tips.

I have also dabbled in the Gambling side, and probably made £1,500 profit. Compared to some, that was modest!

Martin. You already donate a very healthy sum to Charity. What about you (the site) underwrite me to run for one of your nominated Charities. Make it high profile, I can do a blog, or have a Thread or something similar. I then set up the 'Just Giving' web site, and we invite the million subscribers to give a bit of money. Try to get the thought pattern going maybe that if they have saved a few Pounds, maybe give a few pennies back to do some good.

I know that the thought crossed my mind when I was doing the Gambling ( wrong phrase really ) that I would have been willing to give maybe 5% of the easy money away.

Anyway, that's the theory.

Via your site, I become one of the highest profile runners, and potentially, if we could get the ethos out to folk to give a bit back, maybe one of the highest earners.

Get the Press behind us.....you would be great at that!

I know there are probably lots of hare brained schemes out there, but here is a way to get us all noticed!

turtle2k1

I don't think it's going to work

portchieboy

Thanks, but why not?

-1-

A long shot to get the majority of members giving some of their money.

If you can get a quarter of the members it would be a good amount for charity.

I usually just give to any Cancer related charity, mainly because it's a sod of an ilness and it can effect anyone and everyone, if you've been a smoker all your life or a keep fit fan all your life, it can get anyone.

I'll put up £5 to start things off. Get a quarter of the members to put that in or less and you'll be a popular participant.

BTW There are 235,168 members of the forum, not over a million.

portchieboy

Cheers for being no 1, literally!

Only 58,791 to go then!

mountainchrisriver

Posting "cheeky requests" over the forums is likely to get peoples backs up not get them on side!!! :rolleyes:

never_red_Paul

-1- wrote: »

I'll put up £5 to start things off.

I'll sponsor you a fiver as well if you get in. I'll probably forget though so PM me or post on the gambling board again if you do get in.