Meet Caroline, our volunteer who decided to take on the Bognor Prom 10K Road Race and fundraised an incredible £1,015 for local carers! Caroline shared some wonderful feedback about her motivation to take on the challenge:
The inspiration
We’re all aware of serious illnesses and the challenges faced by those living with these conditions, but what often goes unnoticed is the silent army of unpaid carers who find themselves selflessly caring for their loved ones. My own mum cares for my dad, and I’ve seen her life become smaller, willingly sacrificing her own social life, hobbies, health, and wellbeing to care for him.
I’ve found local group volunteering a truly humbling yet inspiring experience. A comment made by one of the carers at our group, though, was the trigger for my 10k fundraiser. She said, ‘In my old life we made plans for days out, holidays and what we’d do in the future, now all that has stopped and we have to live day to day, it’s like time is frozen’. That comment deeply resonated with me and made me reflect on how much of my own happiness comes from looking ahead, making plans, and having something to look forward to, something many carers lose.
I therefore wanted to play my part in raising awareness, making a positive change, and doing something that would help bring joy to carers, as more than ever, they need us to care for them.
Taking on the challenge
I’ve had a successful career in Business Development, Sales and Marketing and so I’m naturally drawn to creating income streams and building networks – it’s what I love to do!
The general public are incredibly generous, but understandably in these times of austerity, they want to see what they’re getting for their money! By completing a challenge that pushes you personally shows that you’re serious and dedicated to the cause. The timing and locality of the Bognor 10k was perfect for my fundraiser, as well as being well publicised – as it’s good to involve supporters on your training journey and to have an end point to celebrate.
My main top tip would be to Use your networks, family, friends and work colleagues. The best way to do this is posting regularly on your social media channels and include updates on your progress, encouraging people to share. And don’t forget to make it personal – why are you doing this and what does it mean to you?
Experience the joy of fundraising
I love the positivity of the whole process – raising money for a great cause truly brings out the best in people. I’ve had donations from strangers, friends have used their own networks to raise funds, some have donated more than once and a neighbour gave me a free sports massage! But at the end of the day it’s the unpaid carers who are the real heroes and so to play a small part in getting their story out there and raise funds to make their life better, is what it’s all about.
If you’re feeling inspired to fundraise like Caroline, check out our fundraising pack for loads of tips and resources, or get in touch at fundraising@carerssupport.org.uk
