Our volunteers and supporters play a major part in the charity’s success and make a valuable contribution to fundraising.

Take a look at our list of events taking place over the next few months. You might like to “get involved” perhaps, by coming along to any one of them to enjoy yourself. You could of course, take things a step further ………

The Fundraising team - (Back left-right) Jenny Roberts, Derek Thorpe, Zena Giles
(Front left-right) Pat Glanville and Maggie Berriman.

Volunteer Opportunities

Fundraising activities take a lot of organising but they are great fun and we’d love you to get involved. Perhaps you might be a dab hand in the kitchen and could look after the refreshments or offer to bake a cake or two. We usually hold raffles or tombolas at events, always a lovely way to meet the public and another way that you might like to help. Selling programmes, “shaking a tin” for an hour or so, being that extra pair of hands. We are always happy to hear from new volunteers.

Organise your own event

You may be gifted at golf, a keen cook, a happy hostess or marvellously musical – think about the skills you have and how you could use them to raise money. You may want to keep it simple and organise a raffle in the office, hold a car wash event or ask friends to sponsor you to lose weight or swim a mile! We have listed some fundraising ideas below to get you thinking!
 

Auction  Art Exhibition  Abseil  Balloon Race  Bungee Jump  Bed Push  Cycle Ride
Carol Singing  Car Boot  Dress Down Day  Disco  Darts Tournament
Exercise Bike Ride  Easter Bingo  Fashion Show  Fun Run  Football Marathon
Garden Party Gala  Guess the Weight  Head Shave  Halloween Party  Hat Party
Indulgence Evening  It’s a Knockout  Indian Night  Jumble Sale  Jazz Dance
Jungle Party Karaoke  Keep Fit  Line Dancing  London Marathon  Murder Mystery
Mufti Day  Make-up Demonstration  Open Day  Open Air Concert  Pub Disco
Pancake Race  Punch & Judy  Parachute Jump  Quiz Quit  Smoking Raffle
Race Night  Rugby Match  Sponsored Silence  Swimathon  Safari Meal
Threelegged Race  Teddy Bears Picnic  Talent Contest  Table Top Sale
Underwear Overwear Day  Unwanted Gift Sale  Variety Show  Valet Cars
Wang a Wellie Walk  Xtreme Events  Xmas Party  Yachting Race
ZZZZZZZZZ   (you deserve a rest!)
 

Just Giving

In an effort to check out just how easy it is to set up your own fundraising page with Just Giving, to support your activities, Zena Giles, one of the fundraisers has done just that!

“I am – at last - walking the 105 miles of the fantastic Cotswold Way from Bath up to Chipping Campden. An ambition I have held for over 20 years.

Taking this on in my own personal time, I have joined an organised walk by the Cotswolds Wardens. A group of 25 of us walk 10 miles on the first Wednesday of each month. We started from Bath on 3rd May 2006 and what a haul that was! We walk through all seasons until 7th March 2007 by which time the Cotswold Way will be firmly under my belt and with your help, my fundraising target will be met if not exceeded!

I hope that you will look at my page www.justgiving.com/zenagiles and consider sponsoring me, safe in the knowledge that the funds raised will be utilised wisely in our work within the three counties of Gloucestershire, Worcestershire and Herefordshire.”

Dress UP for Work Day

We promoted our very first Dress UP for Work Day on Friday 27 January 2006 and really appreciated the involvement of Zurich Financial Services, Badham Pharmacy, In2Print, Keith Holland Opticians, the Echo, Somerfield in Charlton Kings and Cotswold District Council. Everyone had great fun “going glam’”, the outfits certainly brightened up a very cold winter’s day at work and we raised almost £800.00 which is great.

You can hold your Dress UP for Work Day on any day you choose during any month you would like but please let us know and we will let you have posters. Any day could be your Dress UP for Work Day.

Click here for the Dress UP for Work Day poster.

Make Change Work

Enjoying it’s 22nd birthday in 2008, our Pot Your Pennies, Crack Cancer scheme certainly proves the point “look after the pennies and the pounds look after themselves”. Since the scheme was started by Bette and Peter Pickstock in 1986, people have donated the phenomenal amount of *£354,109.55 in small change.
*correct as at 30th June 2008

Whether you are a doctors surgery, family group, school, village community, club or office, we are looking for volunteer “bankers” to issue our penny pots which we will supply, collect them back in and deal with the fundraising team for banking.

Join or start a card making group

Recycling used greetings cards throughout the year to resell as new, whilst enjoying a coffee and a chat, can be a very pleasant way of supporting our Crack Cancer Campaign.

In 2007 our volunteer card makers cut and stuck their way to a massive £42,021.00 profit! The idea was thought up and is implemented brilliantly by Mary Snodgrass. She is keen to grow more groups across the three counties – full training and back up is provided.

Contact the fundraising team for more details.

One of our groups enjoying convivial company as they work.

Cheltenham Circular Challenge

Organised by Cheltenham Cleeve Vale Rotary Club

Sunday 22nd June 2008

If you enjoy walking in glorious countryside, along a well-signed route, with water provided along the way and a bus to return you to your parked car, why not sign up and collect sponsorship for the Cobalt Appeal Fund in 2008? Walk between 6.5 miles and 26 miles, the choice is yours. Click here for an entry form.

Visit www.thechallenge.org.uk for more details of the event itself.

Put it on your diary and Get In Touch - fundraising@cobaltappeal.com.

Support from community groups

We currently receive support from many local groups of national organisations and enjoy an ongoing interest in our work from many.

Whether you are a member of Rotary or Round Table, Women’s Institute, RAOB, Lions, Probus or a Choir, Young Farmers, The Leos, Inner Wheel or any other group of individuals of which we are presently unaware ~ we would really appreciate your involvement.

Perhaps, with your varied expertise and experience you might be able to:

• Organise a specific fundraising event for the Cobalt Appeal Fund
• Organise and hold a raffle at one of your meetings
• Donate the proceeds of a collection undertaken at Christmas time or during a carnival procession which you might organise
• Join our Pot Your Pennies Crack Cancer scheme ~ collecting small change in a pot which we can supply. You would be surprised just how much has been collected in the last year alone by this activity - £18,442.03! Collect yourself, encourage your members to do the same and perhaps try your family on our behalf, too
• Consider the Cobalt Appeal Fund as a beneficiary of funds raised through your own annual fundraising activities within the community

But we can offer something in return ~ our Cancer Prevention Team offers talks on a wide variety of cancers and your group might find this service of great interest to your members.

For more information on this free service provided by the Cancer Prevention Team follow the link.

Primary support

Children enjoy fundraising within their schools and thankfully, their teachers encourage such support.

• Non-uniform days are a great way for primary children to have fun whilst fundraising
• Non-uniform with a themed colour is an alternative version
• Sponsored events such as silence, skipping, singing to name just a few ~ we can supply a sponsored form for you to photocopy and give to the children
• Collection at concerts or Christmas Nativity plays
• Pot Your Pennies Crack Cancer ~ we supply small plastic pots for the children to collect 1p, 2p and any other coins. This could be undertaken throughout the term or maybe just over a shorter period

You may be able to think of many other ways to support the Cobalt Appeal Fund through your school, we would love to hear from you and support your efforts.

We can also offer something in return ~ our Cancer Prevention Services team offer the Smoke Busters Club to children in two age ranges, 9-11 and 12-14. For more information on this free service follow the link.

Secondary support

Young adults enjoy fundraising within their schools and thankfully, their teachers encourage such involvement within their communities.

• Non-uniform days are always appreciated ~ a chance to ditch the uniform and show off your wardrobe to your mates
• Sponsored events such as silence (much appreciated by teachers and parents alike), walks, sporting activities to name just a few ~ we can supply a sponsored form for you to photocopy.
• Collections from your adoring audience at concerts, gigs, drama productions, art exhibitions etc
• Pot Your Pennies Crack Cancer ~ get rid of all that nuisance small change! You might not want small change but we do and can supply small plastic pots for students and teachers to collect 1p, 2p and any other coins. This could be undertaken over a short period or even better, throughout a term, or best of all month after month all year and beyond
• Chosen charity of the year would be a fantastic way to give your support. Take a look at the links to How You Have Helped. I think that may convince you!

You may be able to think of many other ways to support the Cobalt Appeal Fund through your school, we would love to hear from you and support your efforts.

But we can offer something in return ~ our Cancer Prevention Team offer the Smoke Busters Club to pupils in years 7,8 & 9. Smoke Busters is listed in the PHSE (Personal, Social and Health Education) Directory providing PSHE and citizenship support for schools.

For more information on this free service provided by the Cancer Prevention Team follow the link.