Creating the best fun(draising)
The From Me to You community is an incredibly generous one, and it’s growing! We’ve seen a huge leap in the number of writers wanting to support us, as well as the number of requests for letters to be received. Likewise we’re increasing the number of hospitals, hospices and cancer centres we’re working with; in the last month we’ve welcomed three more on board - Peterborough Cancer Centre, Weldmar Hospice in Dorchester, and Kings College Hospital, London.
Of course, with growth means the inevitable need for additional funds. There are so many ways we are supported by our friends, and we wanted to share some of the ways you can get involved with us as an individual and with your own local and online communities.
The start of a new month means we’ve got a big pile of outgoing post to try and squeeze into the post-box!
Love: matched
Matched funding schemes and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) days are an incredibly generous way that employers can support their teams, enabling their fundraising efforts to go the extra mile.
Last month we talked about Nickie who donated her #givingback day from her employers Iris Software Group to us and filled it with letter writing. Since then, Iris has run a charity prize draw where the winner would get £250 to donate to a charity of their choice. We are over the moon to find that Nickie was the winner and we have received the donation! Alongside this very lucky contribution, Nickie is donating all three of her #givingback days to us over the next year, allowing for six half days of letter writing for those living with cancer!
Writing is not a solo sport
One of the common myths about writing, in particular letter writing, is that it is a solo activity. There are so many wonderful reasons to come together to write. For colleagues, stepping away from the screen and engaging with a creative activity has far reaching benefits for individuals and businesses alike.
It doesn’t necessarily have to be a business-led CSR activity - why not get together a group of friends or get to know some neighbours by running your own letter writing workshop? This can be an excellent way to do some fundraising whilst letter writing - add some cake, a bottle or two of something fizzy and create connections in person. If you would like some help setting up your own group, please contact us here and we’ll give you lots of ideas and guidance.
Challenge yourself
One of the best bits of being part of the From Me to You team is wondering what mad challenge our co-founder Alison will come up with next… juggling and pancake tossing in our 5 for £5 (this year) and Ten for Ten (2020) challenges brought a lot of smiles but she’s also learnt to sing and completed various physical challenges including completing triathlons and ran 874 miles in virtual Land’s End to John O’Groats over 2021.
The mad challenges she’s set have certainly inspired many. From getting co-founder Brian through his first triathlon, to being bowled over by the generous spirit of Pamela Thomson-Hall (and her supporters) who took our Ten for Ten challenge and made it her own - 39 for 39 in memory for her friend and colleague who passed away from cancer at just 39 years old - raising £10,000.
Not sure where to start?
You can fundraise for us via JustGiving by becoming a fundraiser, doing whatever you choose - a bake sale, 10k run, sponsored silence. Or perhaps you’d consider setting up a birthday fundraiser for us on your Facebook profile?
If you’d like to join an organised challenge to support us, why not take a look at Action Challenge where you can take part in various activities. We know a lot of our friends are planning to take part in the Thames Path Ultra Challenge in September!
Need a little more support? If you’d like to fundraise for us but you’d like some more ideas or a little guidance, please do contact us.