|
Jan 2024
11:07am, 27 Jan 2024
17,964 posts
|
UltraDunc
Something that cropped up in conversation the other day was paying for race entries. I’ve always paid by myself but my colleague suggested using go fund me or similar and adding a charity gift donation to the appeal. So he managed to pay for an entry to an event ( non running) and sending the surplus to the charity of his choice. What do you guys think of this? I feel uncomfortable about asking and also wondering if you’re left open to any kind of scam/ fraud?
|
|
Jan 2024
12:02pm, 27 Jan 2024
118,845 posts
|
Hanneke
I would think twice.
Like you, I have always paid for all my races.
I have raised money for charity twice.
First was NY marathon. I needed a guaranteed place so bought a charity place. It wasn't a great experience. I raised £3800 but never got my fees back, £350 if I recall. I never got the promised medal nor the letter and signature from Seb Coe or even just a thank you letter!
It left a bitter taste!
Also: people get weary of all this running and then you trying to get it funded under the guise of "charity".
I did run Everest Marathon and used it to raise money for a friend's grass roots climate change charity though, years later. An altogether different experience. I raised just under 5k and it went a very long way for the charity!
But that was the last of it!
I find going round with a begging bowl quite hard work!
|
|
Jan 2024
12:09pm, 27 Jan 2024
67,528 posts
|
Velociraptor
You'd have to be a very special person with very special reasons for being unable to fund the race yourself doing a very special event for a very special charity before I'd contribute to a crowdfunder that mostly went to pay for you to have an experience rather than directly to the charity.
|
|
Jan 2024
12:16pm, 27 Jan 2024
1,612 posts
|
Shades
I think that's a terrible idea. If you can't afford the entry fee then take a charity place and raise funds for them, but you should cover all your costs yourself, travel etc.
Get a job 🙄
|
|
Jan 2024
12:48pm, 27 Jan 2024
4,184 posts
|
paulcook
If you can't afford the entry fee then take a charity place
Except, I'm fairly certain the overheads for charity places are higher in the first place. Though some of that will be offset as publicity.
|
|
Jan 2024
12:58pm, 27 Jan 2024
25,674 posts
|
richmac
V'rap nails it really.
Essentially it's your hobby, unless you're wearing a national vest.
If your in a club and could place or bring a bit of glory to their name then it's worth submitting to the committee.
|
|
Jan 2024
12:59pm, 27 Jan 2024
2,660 posts
|
RooA
Fucking rude. Tbh.
|
|
Jan 2024
1:21pm, 27 Jan 2024
7 posts
|
[Removed by moderator]
|
|
Jan 2024
1:29pm, 27 Jan 2024
4,895 posts
|
Ally-C
You'd have to be a very special person with very special reasons for being unable to fund the race yourself doing a very special event for a very special charity before I'd contribute to a crowdfunder that mostly went to pay for you to have an experience rather than directly to the charity.
This 100%
|
|
Jan 2024
1:48pm, 27 Jan 2024
118,855 posts
|
Hanneke
Let me just clarify that I paid for the whole Everest Marathon myself! I was going to do it anyway and thought I'd help the charity with some funds.
I raised a LOT of money!
This was because it was a genuine fundraiser, as Vrap describes!
I too do not easily contribute to running fundraisers. Just pay for the fun you want to have. It rather spoilt things when I still ran, as every other person decided to run a race "for charity"... The effort needs to be special and the cause needs to be special.
Well said Vrap!
|
Medals, or cheaper entries?
Dec 2023