You're not alone in fundraising for the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign. Here are some handy hints and tips to help you maximise your fundraising and have some fun in the process!

It’s good to have a plan!
• Make a list of everybody you know and set yourself a realistic target.
• Get friends and family involved in your fundraising. Could they help you with an event? Do they have links with clubs, societies or local businesses? Give them a sponsorship form; set them a target to raise as much as they can and the person who raises that most wins a small prize.
• Do some research yourself into what’s in your local area. Would a local pub put a collection box on the bar or provide a function room free for you to hold an event? Would a local school/company hold a dress down day or cake bake for example?

What happens next…
 • Be proud, you are helping us make a real difference to people living with muscular dystrophy.
• Don’t be afraid to ask people for help!
• Take time to explain to people why you are raising money for the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign and what the money you raise will help fund.
• Ask your top fundraiser to sponsor you first. This will encourage people to give you more money when they do!
• Keep your sponsorship forms on you at all times; you never know when you might be able to get some extra sponsors.
• Set up a free webpage by visiting justgiving.com you can then send the link to everybody you know making it very easy for them to sponsor you. You can personalise your page and even create an email that will automatically thank people as soon as they donate.
• Write to local companies for sponsorship and offer to put their logo on materials in return.

Fundraising ideas…
• Contact your local supermarket and see if you can help pack people's shopping in return for collecting sponsorship money.
• Organise your own event, here are some ideas:
- Quiz night (we can provide a complete quiz pack with all questions and answers on CD – written and tested by one of our marathon runners!);
- Art exhibition;
- Karaoke;
- Coffee morning;
- Tuck shop;
- Bingo;
- Treasure hunt;
- Casino/Race night;
- Fancy dress/dress down day;
- Sports day;
- Wine tasting;
- Barn dance;
• Invite your friends over for a meal and charge them for the pleasure.
• Hold a raffle amongst your friends or colleagues.
• Contact the events team at the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign for further help or advice on 020 7720 8055 or email events@muscular-dystrophy.org

Ways your company or organisation can help.
• Find out if your company/organisation operates a matched giving scheme whereby for every £1 you raise, your company pays a £1 too!
• Contact clients and suppliers for donations.
• Organise one of the above events in the office.
• Put one of our collection boxes or posters in your reception to promote your fundraising.
• Advertise in a company newsletter or on its intranet.

Gift Aid It!
The Gift Aid scheme enables charities to reclaim tax on donations - which means the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign receives an extra 28p for every £1 donated - at no cost to you or your sponsors.

If your sponsor is a UK tax payer, their sponsorship money can be Gift Aided, but remember to:
- write their name clearly;
- write their home address in full (including postcode);
- tick the Gift Aid box;
- send us the original forms.

How your money can help
Let your supporters know where their sponsorship money is going…
£15 – Could provide a physiotherapist to demonstrate to parents techniques to stretch a child’s muscles – keeping them mobile longer
£30 – Could pay for 1 hour of world class research, seeking treatments for devastating muscle-wasting diseases
£250 – Could help towards the cost of a specially adapted computer
£900 – Could help support the cost of a powered wheelchair
£1,500 – Could help to run a muscle centre for a week

Publicity
Sell yourself – contact your local newspaper, radio station or television company - this is a great way to raise awareness of your challenge and the charity. Make sure you include your contact details so people know where to call to donate money. Alternatively, complete this Publicity Form (24 kb) [doc], return it to our Press Office and let them help you gain maximum publicity. (Please send it to press@muscular-dystrophy.org or Press Office, 7-11 Prescott Place, London, SW4 6BS)

Finally, we are here to help you so if you have any questions about your fundraising or if you'd simply like to sound your ideas out, please do not hesitate to contact us on 020 7720 8055 or email events@muscular-dystrophy.org