10 sponsored charity sporting event ideas with a difference
Some people thought they would never happen, but on the 23rd of July the 2020 Summer Olympics has finally opened. Hosting 35 different sports and 11,000 athletes representing more than 200 countries, not even COVID-19 couldn't see this event postponed for another year. You might have to watch from the comfort and safety of your living room, but even so, it’s hard not to be inspired!
As the games kicked off, we thought now would be the perfect time to explore the world of sponsored events. Peer fundraising will always be an important income stream for UK charities, and as lockdown measures start to ease, in-person charity fundraising events are set to make a come-back. Is your calendar a work in progress? Don’t worry. In honour of the Olympics, we’ve scoured the internet for sporting event ideas that are, well, just a little bit different. It doesn’t always have to be about running a marathon. So here are 10 sponsored charity sporting event ideas to help inspire all the budding community and event fundraisers out there.
1. Swimming
A great alternative to running events, why not offer your supporters the chance to swim their way to fundraising success? The Marie Curie team do! From Padstow to Rock, this one-mile open water event starts at the Sea Cadet slipway and sees supporters make their way across the Camel Estuary. More than 12,000 swimmers have taken part since the first event in 1970, raising an impressive £650,000 in the process.
2. Roller skating
Not exactly a sporting event, but we love that great-grandfather John Wilcock decided to skate 90 laps of his courtyard just in time for his 90th birthday. Doing two laps a week until January 2022, we think he might be onto something. Fancy setting up a Roller Derby challenge, anyone?
3. Night walking
We know walking events are popular, but we love the idea of the National Autistic Society’s ‘Spectrum Night Walk’ because it’s different. Open to individuals and groups in three cities across the UK, supporters are easy to spot with their t-shirts and glowsticks on this beautiful summer evening event.
4. Skipping
If you thought skipping was just for the playground, think again! An excellent way to keep fit, did you know that the average skipper burns 200 calories in just 15 minutes? It’s quite the workout - as members of ‘Team Shomelanoma’ found as they marked every day of Melanoma Awareness Month with a 10-minute skip for The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity (raising almost £4,000 in the process!).
5. Horse riding
We know all about the therapeutic benefits, but it’s not often you see horse riding as an option for sponsored events. Galloping ahead, Cancer Research UK gives their supporters the chance to hop in the saddle and ‘Ride for Research’. With the option to join an organised ride, host their own sponsored charity event, or just go solo, it’s the perfect excuse to get outside, go trekking and raise funds.
6. Stair climbing
So maybe your donors would prefer Everest or Kilimanjaro, but even as lockdown restrictions lift, travel to such far-flung places still seems a long way away. That doesn’t mean you can’t ask people to do a similar distance by climbing up and down their own flight of stairs – just like St John’s Ambulance!
7. Space jumping
Yes, you heard correctly. We saw this one listed as part of Sands’ ‘Love you to the moon and back’ campaign. Our favourite part? From trampolining to space-hoppers and dirt bikes, as long as their supporters have a spring in their step, the sky is quite literally the limit.
8. Inflatable runs
Okay, so it involves running. Sort of. But with an obstacle course lined with inflatable fun, we think your supporters might find it easier to roll their way around this one. There are 28 obstacles and a ‘foam zone’ to navigate as part of the UK’s biggest inflatable run. We think this is a great option for people to escape the stress and training commitment of a marathon, and just have fun.
9. Gaming for good
A marathon of an entirely different kind, regular readers will know we love a good game-raiser. In its simplest form, the most accessible event is one that rotates around the idea of live streaming. Charity donors and supporters register their interest, set their challenge and stream their event live to a digital audience – raising money as they play.
If none of these ideas fit the bill, then why not ask your supporters to come up with their own? That’s the beauty of idea number #10 - The 2.6 Challenge. As long as your charity donors are doing 26 or 2.6 of something, that’s all that matters. From hula hoops to yoga, to cartwheels and planking, the simple freedom of this event has helped bring in a whopping £11 million. Proof that it doesn’t have to be fancy, or cost the earth! With a little creativity and some great donor stewardship, sponsored charity sporting events are the perfect way to engage new and existing donors – bring them into the fold and inspire people to raise funds for a cause that sits close to their hearts.
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