Spin to your target

The event:
The event I planned is called a "Spinathon" and involves aerobic exercises to music on specially adapted gym bikes. Most classes in the gym usually last for 45 minutes and at the end of the class you are totally worn out. This hardcore fundraising event lasted for three hours!

I decided the event should be held at the local supermarket because I thought this way I would catch shoppers who would make a donation. To maximise fundraising opportunities we had raffle prizes, collecting tins, balloons, etc. This was really successful and eye-catching and on the day we raised nearly £300 from the public.

The set-up:
Setting this event up involved negotiating with the gym for the use of the bikes.

Next I had to negotiate with the supermarket for a space to set up the bikes.  My advice is to be careful here; make sure you understand just what the supermarket will allow on their premises (number of bikes, electrical appliance – stereo, etc). We ended up doing the event outside the front door of the supermarket in question – but this actually worked out better.

Other things to consider are:

• Sending out sponsorship forms to the participants.
• Ordering drinks, t-shirts, snacks for the day.
• Obtaining raffle prizes from local businesses, NDCS stickers and balloons.
• Getting fellow gym members to commit and raise sponsorship – this shouldn't be a problem if you go along to a spinning class.

Expenses consisted of £300 for a gazebo (not needed if you do it at the gym), plus costs of any prizes for the raffle that had to be purchased and extra NDCS material.

The Payback:
The good thing is, the event really paid off! I had 12 other gym members doing the Spinathon, each one of them collecting sponsorship from their friends and family on my behalf. So far I have collected £1400.00 and I expect to collect in total close to £2000.00 in total.

So if you are a member of the gym or know anyone who is a member of the gym, why not organize your own Spinathon - minimum organization for maximum fundraising ability!

I have attached a couple pictures of the event – I am the dark handsome one!!!