I Have a Question
1. How much of the sponsorship goes to the charity?
4. How do I reach my fundraising target?
5. Who is responsible for the travel arrangements?
8. What do I need to bring with me?
The Answers
1. How much of the sponsorship goes to the charity?
This is a question we are frequently asked and which we appreciate is of vital importance to both you and your sponsors.
The registration fee you pay when you sign up is to cover all non-travel costs.
The total amount of your sponsorship and registration fee, less the actual costs we have to pay for your trip (flights and accommodation plus a small charge to cover Aid International's admin costs) goes to your charity.
These costs are generally known beforehand and some participants prefer to pay them themselves so that the whole of their sponsor money goes to the charity. Please note that Aid International makes every effort to keep our costs to a minimum - in fact all our stationary and postage costs are paid for by the Bristol Community Church.
In general if you raise the minimum amount of sponsorship then about £1,000 will go to the charity.
2. Who can take part?
Anyone who is willing to rise to the challenge! We welcome anyone from 18 to 80 years old, male or female, individuals, couples, or groups of friends.
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3. Am I fit enough?
This is definitely a good question to ask yourself. While our aim is for everyone who takes part in an event to finish it, and regular rest and refreshment stops are built into the programme, all our events are a challenge.
They are meant to be physically demanding, and we advise all our participants to put in regular training beforehand. However, none of the events are designed with professional athletes in mind and there will be people of widely ranging fitness levels taking part.
However, if you have a medical condition that could be adversely affected by exercise, or any worries about your medical fitness, you must consult your GP.
Also, if you are over 70 we will require a medical certificate to be sent with your registration form. More detailed guidance on health and training will be sent to you following registration.
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4. How do I reach my fundraising target?
Never raised a penny for charity in your life? Not amazingly successful at bringing in the pennies or simply bored with doing the same old event? Don’t panic.
The fund-raising commitment involved in taking on a challenge such as this may seem daunting at first glance, but it’s a lot easier than it seems and our team of experts have helped hundreds of individuals reach and far exceed their targets.
Once registered you will be sent a comprehensive fund-raising pack full of ideas, and the Aid International team are always here to assist you with advice and ideas on how to fine tune those fund-raising ideas. You will be surprised at the myriad of ways of raising your funds.
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5. Who is responsible for the travel arrangements?
The travel arrangements for the bike rides and treks are made by Classic Tours, a company set up to create unique and original journeys of a high standard. Since 1992, it has worked with a number of major charities, organising sponsored activity events, raising over £20m to date.
For international marathons, the travel arrangements are arranged through Sports Tours International, one of the UK’s largest specialist sports travel companies, which has been around for almost 30 years.
Finally, Aid International itself organises travel for Build Teams to Zambia and Guatemala, and has been doing so successfully since 2002 and 2007 respectively.
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6. Will I fit in?
There will be people from all backgrounds and all levels of fitness on the event, with ages ranging from 18 to 80. By the very nature of the event an excellent team spirit is introduced, and in our experience people are very friendly and sociable, often staying in touch with fellow members long after the event is over.
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7. Do I need insurance?
Each individual must arrange for adequate insurance cover. You may organise this personally or it can be arranged through Classic Tours. We will also advise you if a Visa is required and of any inoculations you will need before you go.
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8. What do I need to bring with me?
We will provide you with a detailed list of what you need to bring, including everything from type of clothing to how much money you might need.
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" Hi my name is Neil and I'm running the London Marathon 2010. Please help me to raise money to help children in Zambia have a better life. Please sponsor me using the link below. Thank you. "