Fundraising and Challenge FAQ's
Getting Started
Where and when is this challenge?
This is a virtual challenge for everyone so you can do this throughout September at the best time for you. You can do this in your local area, park or gym. You can do this together with your friends and family.
You are welcome to complete your kilometres in a different way, if you want to walk or jog, then go for it! Just be sure to post your progress and updates on your fundraising page and on our Strava group so friends and family can cheer you on and we can see how you’re doing too!
How do I sign up?
To sign up to the challenge, register for your FREE t-shirt and fundraising pack here.
When you register, your fundraising page will be automatically set up for you.
Is there an entry fee?
There is no entry fee for this challenge but we do however ask you to fundraise as part of your challenge.
Using the fundraising page set up for you when you register is the easiest way to collect sponsorship.
How do I get my free t-shirt?
Once you register for the challenge and set up a fundraising page we will send you your free t-shirt. Please note it takes up to 10 working days to be delivered.
My t-shirt doesn't fit/I ordered a different size. Can you change it?
Of course. Please email shop@shop-sands.org.uk to let us know what size you received, and what size you need. We'll then send a new t-shirt with an envelope to return the other.
When will I get my fundraising pack and t-shirt?
You should receive your pack within 10 working days of signing up. If you don't, please email shop@shop-sands.org.uk and we can look into this for you.
Can I join an online community to connect with others that are doing the challenge?
Team
How do I set up a team?
1. Simply log back into your account, go to your fundraising page
2. Find the ''Create a Team'' option on your page dashboard, tap on your profile settings and click ''Create a Team''.
3. Add your team details. Choose your team name, and add team photo or logo and a short story explaining why you are fundraising for Sands.
4. Set a team fundraising goal. Pick a realistic but inspiring team goal - you can always increase it if you hit it early!
5. Invite others to join! Share the team link with friends, family and colleagues. You can make your team page 'Public' to allow anyone to join a team direclty from your team page.
Check out this page to see our a tutorial on how to set up a team!
How do I join a team?
To join a team that’s already been created: Go to any team member’s fundraising page. Click ‘Join Us’ located next to their profile photo. Follow the prompts to complete your registration and you’ll automatically be added to their team. You can browse all team pages for the challenge here.
If you’re unable to join a team, it’s usually because the team settings don’t allow new members.
For Team Captains:
If you’re the team captain: Log in to your Funraising profile. Go to your Team Page. Click ‘Edit Team Page’. Under ‘Allow anyone to join my team’, make sure ‘Yes’ is selected. This will allow supporters to join your team directly.
If you’d prefer to keep your group invite‑only:
Go to your Team Page. Click ‘Team Members’. Copy the private invite link shown there. Share it with friends and family so only people with the link can join.
How do I make edits/changes to my team page?
To find your team page go to your team dashboard
On your dashboard you can:
- Find and share your team fundraising page link with friends and family, and share across social media including Facebook, X, and LinkedIn or even send a personalised email.
- Find and share your team page QR code.
- View your team donations, add any offline donations and send a thank you to your donors.
- Edit your team page button if you would like to edit your fundraising target.
- View all your team members and find the unique 'Invite others team' link to invite new members.
My family and friends want to do the challenge with me. Can they have a t-shirt pack?
No problem! Simply ask them to fill out the registration form and we will send them a pack.
If they're not fundraising, you can buy additional t-shirts.
And then once they are set up you can create a team page or they can join your team if you have already set one up!
How do team rewards work?
To qualify for a trainer tag, the team must raise £175 per team member. For example:
- Raise £175 - receive 1 trainer tag and a team certificate.
- Raise £350 - receive 2 trainer tags and a team certificate.
- Raise £525 - receive 3 trainer tags and a team certificate and so on.
All trainer tags and team certificates will be posted to the Team Captain, who can then distribute them to team members. Only one team certificate will be printed and sent per team. If you would like additional copies, please get in touch and we'll be happy to provide them for you!
We will send the team captain a digitial certificate if you raise under £175 to your email.
We will be sending out trainer tags and certificates in the post by the end of October, and can take up to 10-14 working days. If we need any additional information from you we'll be in touch. If you moved house, please us know at run@sands.org.uk
Fundraising
Is there a fundraising target?
We have no minimum or maximum amount that we would like you to raise. From our point of view, no matter how much money you raise, it will go towards supporting bereaved families across the UK.
Can I just raise money offline with a sponsorship form?
Absolutely. You can collect sponsorship in any way you like. We simply recommend creating a fundraising page for this challenge as they’re easy and hassle-free, but if you’d like a sponsorship form, you can download one here. Your fundraising page is automatically created for you.
Don't worry about filling in the serial number on the form.
After the challenge ends, do scan and email this to us at run@sands.org.uk so we claim any gift aid. If you’re not able to scan or send us a clear photograph, drop us an email anyway and we can let you know where to send your form to via the post.
You can either add your cash donations as a self donation to your online fundraising page or you can add them via the Sands website by clicking here. Make sure to add in the description that this is your sponsorship donations for your Run 50k in September challenge.
Please do not send cash in the post.
Match Giving - My business/employer want to donate/match fund my fundraising. How do they do this?
How do I pay in my fundraising?
If you’ve collected offline sponsorship, the easiest way to pay this to Sands is by donating on your fundraising page.
If you would like to pay your fundraising another way, you can donate via our website here: www.sands.org.uk/donate. Make sure to say that your money is for your Run 50k in September challenge so that we can make sure it is added to your total.
If you’ve completed a sponsorship form, do scan and email this to us at run@sands.org.uk so we claim any gift aid, and then pay it into your fundraising page on the sponsors behalf. If you’re not able to scan or send us a clear photograph, drop us an email anyway and we can let you know where to send your form via the post
How do I sign up?
To sign up to the challenge, register for your FREE t-shirt and fundraising pack here.
When you register, your fundraising page will be automatically set up for you.
Will I get a reward?
Participants who raise less than £175 will recieve a digitial certificate by email after the challenge ends.
We will be sending out trainer tags and certificates in the post by the end of October, and can take up to 10-14 working days. If we need any additional information from you we'll be in touch. If you moved house, please us know by emailing run@sands.org.uk
There will also be an opportunity to purchase a trainer tag for a small fee to cover costs. We'll share details by email when available.
How do team rewards work?
Trainer tags and team certificates will be sent to the Team Captain after the challenge has ended.
To qualify for a trainer tag, the team must raise £175 per team member. For example:
- Raise £175 - receive 1 trainer tag and a team certificate.
- Raise £350 - receive 2 trainer tag and a team certificate.
- Raise £525 - receive 3 trainer tag and a team certificate and so on.
All trainer tags and the team certificate will be posted to the Team Captain, who can then distribute the medals to team members. Only one team certificate will be printed and sent per team. If you would like additional copies, please get in touch and we'll be happy to provide more copies.
Challenge
How do I keep track of how many KM's I've done?
Your profile page includes your personal distance tally so you can track your distance towards your target. This is a great way to keep your friends updated on your workouts!
You can keep track of your kilometres using any tracker app on your phone, and we do recommend using Strava, Fitbit or Garmin. Don't miss out on joining the Strava club here.
Follow these steps to log your kilometres on your page and keep friends and family updated.
1. Log in to your Sands account
2. Click the person icon on the top right
3. Click My Fundraising
4. Click My Fitness Activity
5. Scroll down to Add Activity and type in how many kms you've done and any other details
6. Click Save Changes
The Health app on iPhone or Google Fit app on Android both keep track of how many kilometres you do each day. There’s other apps available so do pick whichever works best for you.
If you have a pedometer or sports watch, these can usually keep track of your kilometres too.
You can also download a copy of the Run 50k in September challenge tracker here to print off and log your daily runs.
Do I have to run my kilometres, or can I walk, jog, climb or dance?
Where can I find resources to help with the challenge?
Find all the resources here.
