I'm Scared To Raise Money For Charity
I feel scared about raising money for charity and I don’t know why. This year i’m running the London Marathon and I didn’t get a place through the ballot. But because it was on our 40 before 40 challenges list, I had to make it happen no matter what. So i’m running for a charity.
The reason I feel strange about running for a charity is two-fold; i’ve never done it on this scale before and what happens if I let them down? They’re a charity!
I’ve never raised money in this way before because I do so many events. I never wanted to be that guy that pesters over and over again, multiple times a year for people to give to my charities. There’s nothing wrong with that by the way, it’s just not me.
I give to charities, I donate to friends that are doing things for charity and I enter races where the entry fees go to charities. I try to do my bit. Perhaps not enough, but I try.
For the London Marathon I’m running for Lord’s Taverners who are the UK’s leading youth cricket and disability sports charity. In short they provide sporting opportunity to those for whom sport is more financially or physically challenging. And as a PE teacher and coach who believes in sport for everyone, this charity really aligned with my passions.
So here I am, on ‘Team Tav’s’ and beginning my journey of raising £2,100 for them. That’s a hell of a lot of money! And these charity places are hard to come by. You really have to prove to them you’re capable of raising the required amount. But it still fills me with dread!
You see, i’m ok with failing when it’s me that fails and I learn from it. That’s part of my DNA. What i’m not ok with is failing and it costing a charity. It’s actually making me feel sick whilst writing this and anyone who knows me knows that i’m not one to get particularly anxious about things.
So essentially, with this blog, i’m launching my fundraising campaign. I have set up a Just Giving page (click the link) and it’s time to put my mouth where the money is. So this may be the one and only time I ever ask for you to donate to help me raise money for a charity. And I feel nervous asking. But if you can spare some cash to a very worthy cause and also help me get to the start line for them, then i’d be so appreciative.
I will be making the usual vlogs on youtube about my journey through this year. I’ve just run my first marathon and the vlog will be out on Sunday. Our YouTube page is here. I’ll update you all on facebook and here. I’d really love it if you followed along on this journey. The encouragement we receive from people is genuinely humbling and inspiring. It keeps us both honest and working hard towards our goals.
So here’s to 2019. Perhaps the biggest year of our lives. Who knows? I have an ultra marathon in 1 month, the London Marathon in April, Team GB Middle Distance Triathlon Euro Champs in July and Ironman Copenhagen in August. And that’s only 4 of the 40 challenges!! Wish me/us luck.
And if you can spare a few quid then that would be magical. And thank you in advance. It’s https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/benbridges