Fundraise
Organizing your own fundraising event can be a great way to have fun and support Riders for Health’s programs in Africa at the same time. Whether you want to take on an individual challenge, team up with a group of friends, or even get your school or company on board, we want to hear from you!
If you would like to help by holding a fundraiser for Riders (however big or small!), please contact us at usa@riders.org and we can provide you with all the support you need to make your event a success.
Fundraising online
It couldn’t be easier to collect sponsorship and raise money online – just visit www.firstgiving.com
You can set up an online fundraising page using a simple template, and then send it with a personal message to family and friends to ask for support for a walk, run, bike ride or any other fundraising project. FirstGiving then transfers the donations directly to Riders on a regular basis, and your donors can claim the tax relief on their donations.
You could even create a page to celebrate a special occasion – such as a birthday or a wedding anniversary – and ask people to send a gift to Riders instead of to you.
Supporter in the spotlight – Cycle Barn
One of Riders’ longest-standing supporters in the US is the Cycle Barn MotorSports Group, which has several dealerships in the Seattle area. Twice a year, they hold bike rallies for their customers to raise funds for Riders.
The first takes place in March, with entrants paying $10 to register (100% of which comes to Riders). Starting from one of the group’s dealerships, they’re given a set of directions and along the route they find the answers to questions. The ride stops at another dealership where the entrants are served lunch. When they return their correct answers qualify for prizes, which are provided by Cycle Barn. The rides are 75-90 miles in length and the questions are usually trivia from signs or roadside stops along the way.
In the Fall, just before Thanksgiving, they run a similar ride called the Chilly Turkey – where the prize is a frozen turkey!
‘These are not massive fundraisers with a large media presence,’ says organiser Dave Preston, ‘but easy events that are fun and can be replicated each year. With a book of maps, you could easily put on a Riders for Health rally event in your area – and it’s a great excuse for a road trip!’
Fundraising experiences
Click here to find out more about some of our supporters’ fundraising activities – from bike rallies to bat mitzvah projects.