Welcome to #PinkNicky’s weekly Blog, for your weekly dose of adventure ideas.
It’s Saturday morning, so grab your tea and toast, here is your mission for the week…
What did I get up to this week: 2 yoga sessions as my back is super stiff, no sea swim as it’s way too bouncy but did a beach box sauna session and an ice bath, plus 2 very windy walks along the seafront, watching the kite surfers flying along Brighton Beach.
Something a little different this week:
As Children in Need is upon us, it has made me think about why we should all get involved in raising money for a charity. Any donations big or small are gratefully received by the charities. The key to success is to pick a charity that is close to your heart, an activity that you love, and then brainstorm how to make it happen.
Every year for the last 10 years along with friends, we have raised money for charity. Events have included a Turkey Mission to feed 250 on Christmas Day, a fun run dressed as Santa, a half marathon in Greenland in minus 10, and an eco-Gingerbread house decorated with cress and edible flowers!
With some planning and roping in a few friends you’ll be surprised at what you can achieve.
The 3 events below are a few of my favourite fundraisers.
Baking, drinking, and dancing at a Pink Party held at my house for Breast Cancer. My house took 2 days to clean up afterwards and it has gone down as legendary in my neighbourhood. At one point we had a pink hippo, a princess and a pixie having a glass of wine on my doorstep! I am terrible at baking, moderately good at drinking wine, but great at dancing. (Excuse the fuzzy photo, too much fizz!).
I strapped myself to a Bi Plane and wing walked over the Kent countryside for Safe in Sussex – I gave myself a facelift from the G-Force.
Completed a cross country ski marathon in the Arctic Circle for Walk The Walk, I have the photo below up in my office. I see it every day and cherish every minute of that trip. I remember being on the start line terrified!!
You don’t have to climb mountains or travel across the world to raise money, the key is to release your inner super power, spark your creativity, and work with the people and resources around you.
A friend of mine (Rebecca P) has just made 40 Christmas wreaths made from hydrangeas. The money raised goes to her local food bank. Every year she sells out! Rebecca we love your wreaths!
Call your bestie and start brainstorming ideas.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Why you should get involved in Charity Fundraising? ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
✅ 1. SMALL ACTION – BIG IMPACT
Small actions combined with everyone else’s small actions make a BIG difference. If 500 people sign up for an event and each raise £100 each, that’s £50,000 for the charity. Your small contribution can make a real difference.
✅ 2. START A RIPPLE EFFECT
People watch what you’re doing and think “I can do that too”. Be the person that starts a ripple effect. Find an event and ask a friend to join you. If you take action and complete something out of the ordinary, maybe your friends and colleagues will feel inspired to do something outside of their own comfort zone. We all know is this is where the magic happens.
✅ 3. POSITIVE BOOST
It is very refreshing to focus on projects outside of your normal life. Focusing on something completely different is like “chicken soup for your soul”. The training and planning is good for your physical and mental health, it is a positive focus to help get you through difficult times. The sense of achievement stays with you long after you have completed your challenge and your successes stay with you forever.
✅ 4. BECOME PART OF A TEAM
When you sign up to an event you automatically became part of a team, both on the day and online. You are naturally drawn into a community of supporters, a family of helpers, and an army of volunteers. Make no mistake, your actions have a ripple effect that goes beyond the day of the event. These include the money raised, the people you inspired, and the lives your contribution has touched.
✅ 5. LEARN ABOUT A NEW CHARITY
And support the work they do. You play a part in raising awareness and your action can help influence others into getting involved. Every charity has been massively hit by lockdown and it’s important that we all take some action to help kickstart their 24/25 events programmes.
✅ 6. MAKING MEMORIES!
These events are a great way to create a shared experience and bond with family, friends, and colleagues. You can train together and spend time together, getting fitter and stronger along the way. Most importantly you can laugh, cry, and celebrate together! And the memories can last a lifetime. Not to mention the photos and medals that can hang proudly in your house.
✅ 7. DO YOUR THING
There is such a variety of events to sign up for. Continually reduced funding from central government and local authorities, means charities have to be more creative than ever in order to continue to survive. The options of challenging, fun, educational fundraising events is vast! There will be something that will challenge you or tickle your fancy, and by taking part you can make a contribution to a cause aligned with your values.
Now it’s time to do your research and sign up for your next event.
Good luck and enjoy the journey.
It’s time to get out of bed and find today’s adventure!
Over and Out
#PinkNicky