How to Plan a Sponsored Walk
The beauty of a sponsored walk is that anyone can do it. You don’t have to set yourself a mountain to climb (figuratively and literally speaking!), you can do it on your own terms. As you will probably know by now, I’ve set myself a mighty big challenge this summer. In June I am undertaking a 50 mile sponsored walk in aid of The Lullaby Trust. I’m actually quite excited, but it’s going to be hard and require a bit of planning (not to mention training) beforehand.
If you feel inspired to take on your own sponsored walk, here’s some advice to help you plan and make sure sure that everything goes well on the day.
Planning
- Who The answer to this question will influence the rest of the planning process, so have a good think about who is going to do the walk with you. Are you going solo, with a group of friends or colleagues or your family, for example. If there are children, babies, dogs or people with mobility issues, you will need to think about how far is achievable and what you will require in terms of accessibility.
- What When thinking about what exactly you are going to do, remember that you don’t necessarily have to walk a lot of miles, particularly if you have a mixed group of ages and abilities. So why not try something different; like a three legged or a backwards walk or how about fancy dress? The more original the idea the better, plus this helps with attracting interest and helping you to raise more money for a worthy cause. On the other hand, as in my case, this could be the perfect opportunity to set yourself a real challenge. Is there a peak that you’ve always wanted to climb, or a long distance route that you’ve been eyeing up?
- Where Once you’ve decided what you’re going to do and who with, you need to choose a venue. If, like me, you’re following a public route, then there should be few issues. However, if you want to use a park or local facility, it’s worth checking with your local council in case you need special permission. You may also need to think about parking, toilets and accessibility if there are many people participating.
- Why You’ve decided what you’re doing and where, so now you just need to set yourself a fundraising target. This is a great motivator, particularly if your challenge involves lots of training and preparation. The easiest way is to set up a JustGiving or VirginMoneyGiving page (and don’t forget to tell everyone!) Some workplaces match donations, so this may be worth investigating.
On the Day
As with any walk, it is vital that you take some basic safety precautions. Firstly, make sure that you are suitably dressed for the conditions; layers in winter and sun protection in the summer. Also, make sure that you have enough food and water for the duration of your sponsored walk. It’s also sensible to carry a first aid kit with you. If you are going solo, make sure you tell someone your route and expected timings. I have more safety advice here if you’re planning a more challenging hike.
Have you ever done a sponsored walk, or do you have any challenges coming up? I’d love to hear about it.
I know it’s cheeky, but if you could spare just a £1 towards my mammoth walking challenge, I would be very grateful
Great post, I just recently joined someone who was doing an 82 mile walk for charity (I just joined her for the last 21 miles). She’s raised quite a bit of money now for a great local cause. Good luck with your walk- sounds like a great challenge!
Hello, I’ve just read your page and found it really helpful, thank you. I’m planning on attempting the South Downs walk later this year to fundraise for the British Lung Foundation. I’m only in the early planning stages at the moment so any hints or tips would be hugely appreciated. Many thanks x Claire Wiggins
That sounds like a great plan. Decent well worn in shoes-look after your feet is my number one tip! Oh and don’t forget sunscreen (I did and had horrible tan lines for ever. If you would like any more advice feel free to email me thehelpfulhiker@gmail.com