First things first
Ask For Your First Donation Today
Asking people for donations may seem difficult, but when you ask someone for a donation to a cause, you are in effect giving them a wonderful opportunity to be a part of the solution. Your friends and family want to support you! You’d be surprised at how many people want to make a difference in the effort to conquer all cancers.
Kickstart Your Fundraising With Your Own Donation
On average, participants who make their own donation raise more than those who don't, and receive larger donations from their friends and family. Make as generous a donation as you can to demonstrate your commitment! Remember, if you make a recurring donation, the payment will be spread out over several months but your total pledged donation will show on your fundraising total right away!
Customise Your Personal Page
Share your story and upload an inspirational photo on your Personal Page. Participants who personalise their Personal Page raise an average of 22% more than those who don't, so compel donors to contribute by sharing your reason for committing to OneDay.
Use Your Participant Centre and Send Your First Email
Take advantage of the amazing tools your Participant Centre offers! Import your email contacts, send customised sample letters, track your responses and thank your donors.
Aim High
On average, particpants raise $750 - well above the minimum. The more money you raise, the more good work that gets done. Set yourself a challenge and go for it!
HOW TO ASK
Create a List of Potential Donors
Compile a list of EVERYONE you know. The more people you ask, the more donations you are likely to receive!
Face-to-Face Meeting
Asking a potential donor for a contribution in person is always more impactful. Talking with you one-on-one will allow them to experience your passion and dedication.
Expand Your Giving Circle
You can multiply your donations by giving additional donation forms to your family and friends who have already donated, or asking them to include a link to your Personal Page in their emails.
ACTIVATE
Fundraise with Facebook
If you’re not a member of Facebook yet, join! It’s an amazing OneDay tool for fundraising and team recruitment! Meet other particpants in your area and check-out upcoming OneDay events by joining the OneDay Page on Facebook.
Fundraise with Twitter
Stay in the know with Twitter by searching for posts with the hashtags #Giveoneday. Doing so will connect you directly to all tweets from our official accounts. While you are at it, follow us and use this social network to tweet your personal page links and fundraising messaging.
EXPAND YOUR CIRCLE
Team Up!
Send a quick email alerting friends, family and co-workers that you’ve registered for OneDay and invite them to join your team! Together, you’ll push each other further and have a blast while doing it.
Bring OneDay to work
Encourage co-workers to contribute or join your team by hanging a graph charting your training and fundraising progress, as well as staying stocked with plenty of donation and registration forms. Use email or inter-office memos (get permission!) to recruit new Walkers, Riders and donors. Ask them to sponsor a fundraising event, publicise The OneDay in the company newsletter, or donate to your corporate team!
Become a OneDay Ambassador
Go above and beyond to support the efforts of OneDay in recruitment and fundraising. As a special thank you, OneDay highlights the amazing efforts of these teams, both online and on-event!
Company Donation Matching Programs
Visit your Human Resources representative to find out if your company or employer matches your donation fundraising efforts. Many companies are eager to support their employees, as well as the community.
Reach Out to Your Guides
If you want to connect with other participants in your area, need a few fundraising tips, or instructions for any of our tech tools, the OneDay Guides are just a quick call away!
LAST BUT NOT LEAST
Follow Up
If you haven’t received a response from someone you’ve asked for a donation, be sure to follow up. Make a phone call or send a quick email to make sure that they haven’t forgotten your request.
Thank Your Donors
It is very important to thank your donors as soon as possible! Once you have received a donation from someone, let them know that their contribution is important to you and that you appreciate it. Invite your donors to Closing Ceremonies, so they can see the results of your hard work and experience OneDay energy in person.
Post Event
People love to feel acknowledged and appreciated. Express your gratitude by sending out a newsletter or email with photos and/or video, and an additional thank you for your donors’ support. There are sample thank-you letters in your Participant Centre.
Training is Key
SUGGESTED TRAINING GUIDELINES
It will take time to prepare for OneDay, but with the proper training anyone can walk 25km or ride 100km.
STRETCH!
Stretching regularly before and after your training will help you attain and maintain flexibility. This will have tremendous payoffs for you during OneDay - muscle pain, stiffness, injuries, and fatigue will all be lessened.
Click here to see the stretches that should be incorporated into your weekly training schedule.
SAFETY FIRST
- Join an official OneDay Training Event. You can find a listing of Training Events in your area by visiting the online Calendar, or by calling us at 1300 44 9255. Participating in a Training event is safer than training alone, and you get to meet other participants!
- Avoid isolated areas. Stick to well-lit, well-traveled paths.
- If you’re walking at night, wear bright, light-coloured clothing, put reflective tape on your jacket and shoes and a light on your bike if you're riding.
- Before you leave, let someone know where you are going and when you’ll return.
- Bring your ID and mobile phone.
- Don’t wear jewelry or bring any valuable items.
- Drink plenty of water before, during, and after your training. Drink every 15 minutes. If you’re training for more than an hour or two, bring snacks to eat along the way.
- Stretch before, during, and after your training.
SCHEDULING YOUR TRAINING
You may feel like you have no time to train, and that’s understandable. But if you take a moment to look at your schedule, you may find blocks of training time you hadn’t considered before. Try training before work, or taking a short stroll on your lunch hour. Walk or ride the store instead of driving. Set aside portions of your weekend to train. Training with a team or another participant is a great way to keep motivated. You can push each other through those final kilometres, and keep each other company along the way.
INTERVAL TRAINING
In order to build endurance, you may want to try interval training. Just start out walking or riding slowly. Pick up your pace, then return to your original pace for a few minutes. Then repeat the cycle. Ideally, your goal is to work up to a consistent pace of about 5km per hour or faster if you're walking and 20km per hour or faster if you're riding.
CROSS-TRAINING
Other types of exercise like running, team athletics, and stair training will help you strengthen your muscles. But remember that in order to be fully prepared for OneDay, you must train outside, on foot, using similar shoes and equipment to what you will have on the event. And don’t forget to work some hills into your training as they can be much more demanding than flat terrain.
COLD WEATHER TRAINING
If the weather outside isn’t ideal, you should not derail your training regiment. Make sure you’re wearing warm layers before you head outside. Wear synthetic fabrics, since cotton tends to absorb moisture and chill you. In the rain, wear a waterproof outer layer with secure closures around your neck and wrists.
OVER-TRAINING
You should take at least one day off per week to rest and recover. Don’t get so enthusiastic about training that you injure yourself before the event begins. Pace yourself. When you’re training with others, don’t force yourself to move faster than your ability. Take your time, and work slowly up to increased distances and faster paces.
THE PERFECT PAIR: SHOES
Start your journey on the right foot and in the right shoes! Shoes and socks are amongst your most important gear for OneDay. Visit a specialty sports shoe store with knowledgeable staff that are willing to take the time to help you find the right shoes.
Each person's feet are different. The best shoe for you is the one that fits you best, the one that gives you the proper fit, flexibility, comfort and support! Keep these tips in mind while you shop:
- Inform the salesperson that you are training for an endurance event.
- Try on shoes with the socks you intend on wearing while you train.
- Try shoes on both feet. If one foot is larger than the other, fit the larger foot. Test them on a hard surface.
- For walkers the shoe should be flexible, not stiff.
- If you do not like the insole in the shoe, ask a salesperson to show you other options.
- Get shoes that are one-half or one size larger than your normal shoe size. (There should be a thumb’s width of space between your toe and the end of the shoe to prevent blisters on the top of your toes or foot.)
- Look for shoes that breathe and don’t cause your feet to overheat.
- Shop for shoes later in the day or right after walking, since feet have a tendency to swell in the heat and after walking.
- Your heel should not slip in and out of the shoe as you walk.
If any part of your foot feels it is rubbing against a rough spot in the shoe try another pair or style. These spots are prone to give you blisters. Shoes should feel great when you put them on, don't buy them thinking you will wear them in.
Remember a bad fit will ruin a good shoe. Invest in the right shoes to prevent injury and keep you walking in comfort. When you find shoes with the perfect fit, we recommend buying two pairs and alternating between them. Then make sure to break them in before the event!
THE PERFECT PAIR: SOCKS
Dry, comfortable feet will help prevent blisters. Nothing can put a damper on your experience faster than blisters. Blisters are caused by moist feet, friction and socks that are wrinkled, damp or bunched up.
It’s vital to invest in socks that can make a big difference in your walking comfort and give you that extra boost to keep you going. Keep these tips in mind while you shop:
- Socks should be form-fitting and comfortable.
- You want socks that are made from synthetic materials (acrylic, CoolMax, nylon, Polartec) because it will wick away the moisture. Socks that are 100% cotton retain moisture and tend to lose shape.
- Make sure your socks are compatible with your sneakers! Socks that don’t fit will cause bunching.
Try on different pairs of socks to see which ones are best for your feet. Socks offer different kinds of thickness and padding. Socks that are padded in the heel and toe areas are good for people who are prone to blisters in those areas.
As you train and during the OneDay, we encourage taking off your shoes and socks to let your feet air out during your breaks. Don't be afraid to carry a spare pair of socks. Keep your feet dry, comfortable and happy!
