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Fundraising for travelling and volunteering

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Fundraising for travelling and volunteering

Introducing fundraiser Sarah Ford

Sarah is heading for Ghana in April 2005 on a media placement with GAP SPORTS, but she needs to raise about £3500 before she can pack her backpack and jump on that jet...

Name: Sarah Ford
Age: 19
Hometown: Harrogate, North Yorkshire

Hey Sarah and welcome to your live fundraising diary - what are you up to at the moment then? Fundraising, fundraising and more fundraising?

Hi and thanks! Well, to be honest all I'm doing is working my butt off and planning fundraising events. I’ve just moved back to Harrogate after spending the last three months living with my brother, studying at Brighton Film School and earning absolutely no money and spending most of my savings - so I’m officially back to square one.

What's all this hard slog for then?

It's all for my media placement with GAP SPORTS in April, where I'll spend three months in Ghana, living in the capital Accra with other volunteers, mastering the tro-tros, gaining some bartering skills and taking as many photographs as possible. I also hope to do some travelling round the country, highlights probably including the Mole National Park and Lake Volta. Other than that, I want to experience as much as the culture and atmosphere as possible, enjoying the nightlife and social aspect as well as making the most of my volunteering placement. I haven’t yet received final details of what I’ll be doing on my placement, but will hopefully include photojournalism and working for a TV network, as well as teaching. I’d also love to do a theatre project with local children.

Click here >> for media placements
Click here >> for placements in Ghana

So we can expect some great shots from you then?! Sounds like a cool placement - how much do you need to raise towards it?

Initially, I’ve calculated it to be (with my wondrous GCSE maths skills) about £3000. However, since there are still quite a few things I haven’t actually booked - like flights and insurance - this may shift slightly, so I’ll say up to about £3500.

So how much of this have you got to make through your fundraising events?

As much as possible, but hopefully about £2000. I'm also working, but I'd like the majority of that money to go towards my Uni course which begins when I return. I’ve already saved just over £600 from work over the summer, which has already gone towards my £1495 placement costs. I’m working in a children’s nursery which means I spend my day singing ‘Wind the bobbin up’ and making choo choo noise, obviously pretending I don’t enjoy myself too much. Anything I don’t make through fundraising will be supplemented by job earnings.

Wind the bobbin' up? Now that was a good tune... they just don't make them like they used to! So what fundraising type things have you been up to so far then?

So far it’s been letter writing, claiming my undying respect and admiration and offering my first born, or just the usual plea. I received £400 from a local awards scheme. I’ve also received cheques of £250 each from my local Rotary Club and Lions Club. I am waiting to hear back from other local societies.

You are off to a good start then. What other cunning plans have you got up your sleeve?

All plans are in their early stages. I want to combine fundraising with my love of theatre to hold a Drama Improvisation Night either at my local theatre or old school, probably involving me making a complete fool of myself. I also hope to hold a raffle/auction that night.

I will be organising this with a friend from school, so the money raised will be halved. This will hopefully be held in early March and as well as raising money, it will help me to promote my organisation and it's work in Ghana. It will also give me the opportunity to thank the people who have supported me so far.
I will also be writing to my local newspaper, for publicity and support as well as enquiring about the possibility of writing a regular column on my experiences in Ghana.

How much to you expect these events to bring in?

I am hoping that the events will raise me between £500 and £700 with further letter writing to companies and societies bringing me to my target fundraising total.

Fingers crossed for you! We'll just have to read your fundraising diary to see how you get on...

Further info

Click here >> to pm Sarah pledging sponsorship
Click here >> for more fundraising ideas
Click here >> to email us about your fundraisers or to be set up with a fundraising diary

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