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How to organise a charity run
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Friends of MSF National Committee
HOW TO ORGANISE A CHARITY RUN
Created: July 2011 (Alisha Allana: [email protected])
Contents Timeline 1 Run organising committee 2 Budget 3 Publicity 4 Recruiting runners 5 Recruiting volunteers 6 Sponsorship and prizes 9 ‘On the day’ details 11 Miscellaneous 13 FoMSF London/Ireland 14
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Timeline1 August/September
Contact local FoMSF groups in region and form organising committee Discuss basics: universities involved, number of runners etc
October
Have first meeting and decide on appropriate date for run Assign committee positions Run co-‐ordinator to contact/meet with park official and confirm date
November
Discuss tactics for recruiting runners – publicity, website, online ticketing Consider first draft budget and where money will be held ENSURE by now that there is one solid rep from each FoMSF group
December
Create email address, website/blog and Facebook event Create publicity material – posters, videos, articles etc Engage with external service providers i.e. First Aid, insurance, prizes, refreshments, sponsors, MSF-‐UK (for resources), post-‐run social venue
Set dates for publicity launch, ticket sales start/stop dates January
Once runners have signed up, ensure EXCELLENT maintenance of runners database (secretary should be assigned to take charge of inbox/queries)
Set up justgiving page and maintain publicity Begin emailing runners with information Discuss tactics for recruiting volunteers and start volunteers database
February
Once ticket sales end ensure payment to park; finalise event agreement Shift focus to keeping runners happy (training, fundraising, prizes) Finalise details with external service providers; discuss run day logistics
March
As day nears, run through all logistical eventualities with back-‐up plans Allocate jobs to volunteers and continue encouraging runners (email) Gather all materials – MSF related, prizes, run infrastructure etc Recruit photographers for day of run
Post-run
Email to thank runners, volunteers, supporters and sponsors Ensure all invoices are paid One month after run calculate best fundraisers etc and distribute prizes Handover to next year’s committee
1 Timeline applicable to run planned for March; shift dates according to when the run takes place
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Run organising committee In order for the event to run as smoothly as possible, it is fitting that committee positions are appointed with individuals in charge of particular aspects. One potential structure is briefly described below, but can be adapted. Event co-ordinator • Organises and chairs meetings • Maintains contact with park officials and external service providers • Ensures timeline is followed • Assigns tasks and delegates to the rest of the committee Secretary • Takes minutes at committee meetings • Maintains email inbox and replies to any queries from runners/volunteers • Establishes and sustains runner database Treasurer • Develops event budget and ensures that there are enough funds • Ensures that all invoices are paid on time • Works closely with event co-‐ordinator to establish logistics for the day Volunteer co-ordinator • Develops volunteer database and allocates jobs to volunteers • Leads volunteers on the day of the run and ensures tasks are done correctly Publicity officer • Designs publicity material – posters • Writes ads/articles to be circulated • Works with website officer to maintain website, Facebook page, blog etc Website officer • Creates website, Facebook page, blog etc • Works with publicity officer to maintain website, Facebook page, blog etc
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Budget • In the past, income has come mainly from tickets; £10 was thought to be a reasonable amount to charge to enter the run
• Ticketing: there are various methods of online ticket services that can be used ~ Google checkout, Eventbrite, ULU ticketing (consider extra fees?)
• Last year, the UCLU FoMSF account was used but this caused some confusion; however it worked very well and efficiently
• Approach businesses who may be willing to sponsor the event; in the past the MDU, MPS and STA Travel ULU have shown interest so do try and get extra money for event organisation from external companies
• Expenditure: insurance; first aid; park registration and facilities; chip timing; refreshments; room hire; social; prizes; contingency
• Consider where the excess money will go: towards MSF, FoMSF? SAMPLE BUDGET
4
Publicity
• First, decide on a launch date for publicity, ideally to coincide with the start of ticket sales (e.g. beginning of January)
• However ‘teaser’ publicity can be used prior to this (~December) – have a theme e.g. ‘RUNning out of ideas for a new year’s resolution’
• Publicity officer to design posters and same theme to be used on website, Facebook page etc for continuity – design to be circulated among committee and FoMSF groups to be printed and posted around universities
• Video/trailer to be design if possible, posted on YouTube and circulated; can be used in universities to be shown to students prior to lectures
MEANS OF PUBLICITY
Facebook event/group; also consider that it may be worth paying to have an advert on Facebook for publicity
Twitter account to reach wider audience Student BMA, RSM student and other medical publications MSF-‐UK: consider contacting MSF donors etc (UK newsletter?) Mailing lists at universities/institutions
• Media coverage: in 2011 stories were run by the Harrow Times, Student BMA News, MSF-‐UK and various publications at different universities around the UK. People are keen to run stories but need to be approached well in advance. Use these stories to raise awareness not only about the run, but MSF work too
PUBLICITY STEP BY STEP GUIDE 1. Compose an email to your Friends of MSF mailing list and Facebook group. Include: ~ Charity Run blurb, or abbreviate it if you think it’s too long ~ Link to the online ticket purchasing via UCL Union ~ Link to Youtube trailer -‐ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5n377w_X28 ~ Ask them to email [email protected] or visit www.fomsfrun.com 2. Print off copies of the poster. Put these: ~ In university cafes/gyms/bars/lecture theatres/common rooms ~ Local gyms & local sports shops ~ In hospitals – especially in doctors messes/canteens/etc 3. Email your course administrator/the person who compiles your medical school bulletins or newsletters: write a short paragraph about the run and how anyone can get involved 4. Lecture shout-outs – a great way of getting people interested! Show the charity run trailer in your lectures too! 5. TALK! Spread the word to your friends and get your committee to do the same. If you get on well with doctors/nurses/physios/etc. in hospital then get them involved too! 6. Invite EVERYONE you know to the Facebook page
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Recruiting runners • Universities: sports teams, newsletters, university websites, volunteering societies at universities; doctors, nurses, lecturers
• Approach local sports shops/gyms to see whether they will advertise; can also be approached to ask for sponsorship and prizes
• Runners from previous years • MSF office/newsletter (with clear disclaimer that FoMSF are not directly related to or representative of MSF)
• Number of runners: no set limit but be aware of park regulations/fees • It is a good idea to organise a ‘training run’ a couple of weeks prior to the event, and invite the confirmed runners to get a feel for the route. The route should be made available to the runners as soon as it is confirmed. During the training run, motivational runners/committee members should both lead the way around the route, and also encourage the less keen runners
RUNNER DATABASE • Once tickets have started selling, it is crucial to establish a runner database in order to collect details of the runners and to maintain contact with the runners
• This database should include: ~ Full name, age and gender of runner ~ Address and contact telephone number ~ Email address they wish to be contacted at
~ Route they would like to run ~ Institution and how they heard about the event ~ IMPORTANT: agreement of the terms and conditions Runner declaration: I am over 17 and medically fit to compete. I have no medical disability that will endanger me or others participating in the event. I accept that I enter at my own risk and that the organisers and venue owners will in no way be held responsible for any injury before, during or after the event, or for any property damaged or lost. WAITING LIST • It is inevitable that there will be dropouts due to injury etc, but there will also always be runners willing to take their place. Hence it is important to establish a waiting list of runners who missed the deadline, and these can be contacted when individuals do decide they do not want to participate anymore – these replacement runners will need to be added to the database and updated
6
Recruiting volunteers • ROLES of volunteers: help with registration, setting up course, tidying up afterwards, as run marshals along the route
• An online form can be emailed round to the mailing lists as specified above for recruiting runners, and also to the runners, encouraging their family and friends to come along and volunteer on the day. Volunteer details should be maintained in a database, particularly their contact numbers, especially to be used on the day if they are late, or if there are last minute problems
• Labels or badges should be made for the volunteers and marshals in order to make them easily identifiable on the day
• Tips/advice sheets should be given out to the volunteers on the day of the race; a template for this is provided over the next two pages of the guide
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Volunteers! Here are a few essential tips that will ensure the smooth running of the race, please read carefully...
MARSHALS BEFORE THE RUN: -‐ Check the course around your post: remove any obstacles on the paths DURING THE RUN: -‐ Direct the runners -‐ keep them on the correct path
(see course map). Remember, the 10km racers are completing TWO LAPS of the course.
-‐ Monitor the runners: in the event of any INJURY, follow Incident Protocol AFTER THE RUN: Pick up litter you find on your way back to The Hub Minor Incident Protocol In the event of a MINOR INCIDENT, direct the injured person to nearest FIRST AID POINT as shown on your course map (first aid is provided by the Imperial College London ‘Links’ group, official student branch of St John’s Ambulance) For assistance, first contact one of: Alisha (Event coordinator): 07939052380 Tom (Welfare officer): 07795565137 Cam (Volunteer coordinator): 07716431632 And if immediate first aid is necessary, contact the St John’s Ambulance first aiders: Adam Hart 07866471112
Major Incident Protocol In the event of a MAJOR INCIDENT (please use your judgement wisely!) 1. Call 999 AND one of the event coordinators IMMEDIATELY 2. Get help from the First Aid Team, as above
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VOLUNTEERS Facilities in The Hub: ~ Please ensure the facilities within the Hub are treated with respect ~ Showers are unfortunately not available for our runners ~ Bags/coats are left at owners’ risk (runners are warned) in our
luggage room ~ Valuables are to be kept with the runner at all times. In the event of THEFT FoMSF is NOT liable but please contact a member of the organisation team (see above) if necessary. At the end of the race: funnel runners to finish. At the finish line, each runner is to receive a ‘goody bag’ (contains a sticker, leaflet and certificate).
PHOTOGRAPHERS Please spread yourselves around the course so you are not all clustered in one place. Photographer signs should be worn so runners know that you are taking official event photos!
ALL Please help us leave the Park how we found it: ~ Gloves are available for litter picking (ask Cam) ~ Bin bags will be provided ~ Report any damage or problems to the event organisers The event coordinator or welfare officer will contact YOU in the event of a serious incident, and they will contact emergency services and lead an evacuation if necessary.
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Sponsorship and prizes • Justgiving page to be set up prior to ticket sales and then advertised to runners as the ‘joint FoMSF run’ page; this makes it easy to see how much money has been raised at any point, and also makes it easier to calculate who has raised the most after the race
• Sponsorship forms should be emailed to all the runners, together with sample emails for the runners to email their friends/family about the race with, to
encourage them to get as much sponsorship as possible
NB ensure that runners are made aware that they should tell their sponsors to write their (the runner’s) name on the justgiving page, so the committee can easily figure out who has raised the most money
• Prizes can be awarded in a number of categories e.g. fastest male/female runners for each race distance; highest sponsorship raised; best fancy dress costume (entrants should be encouraged to run in fancy dress!)
• Potentially encourage competition between universities/institutions? • Where prizes are concerned, it was considered that objects (e.g. iPods) are better as prizes i.e. material objects rather than vouchers, especially if specific for a location, HOWEVER restaurant vouchers e.g. Nando’s are much easier to obtain for free
• Email Joanna Davies (MSF-‐UK) for a letter of endorsement and then approach businesses, restaurants, shops etc for donations for prizes. Offer to display their logos on run publicity material but be careful of any potential controversial companies. Businesses are not always keen but more often than not, face-‐to-‐face or phone calls can work better than an email
• Terms and conditions for the prizes should be emailed around to the runners about the prizes (see next page for sample)
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‘On the day’ details • Ensure the date of the run day clashes with sports events, Mother’s day, exams etc as little as possible and develop timed schedule for the day that should be followed as closely as possible
• Event co-‐ordinator to maintain contact with park authorities about organisation for the day – confirm timings ASAP
• Discuss where runners will be able to leave bags, jackets etc; facilities available (changing rooms, toilets, showers); lockers/rooms that will ensure safety of runners’ belongings (e.g. room watched by volunteer at all times)
• First Aid cover will be necessary – St. John’s Ambulance/London Links have been helpful in the past (charge ~£99, bargain with them and argue that it is a charity event, obviously cost will depend on number of runners/scale of event)
• Have someone to lead the warm-‐up prior to the start of the race (motivating) • Photography/filming – establish official ‘media’ for the day and enable their identification with large labels/badges so runners are aware
• GOODY BAGS – establish early contact with Aisha Dodwell (FoMSF contact at MSF-‐UK) and confirm numbers ASAP to ensure that she will be able to provide sufficient MSF bags, t-‐shirts, stickers, leaflets, pens etc. Discuss with committee what else will be provided in goody bags: food/drink (potentially provided by sponsors if possible, or bought in bulk from Costco). Certificates should also be designed and printed, this was done for free by MSF-‐UK last year
RUNNING ROUTE • Route for the run needs to be decided well in advance of the day of the run, particularly the distance (5km, 10km, both?)
• Previous feedback has suggested that the split between the 5km and 10km route (as done in Regent’s Park) needs to be very clear, since the 5km runners had to go one way to the finish line, while the 10km runners had to be directed in a different direction for the start of their second lap
• MARSHALS should be placed at short distances around the route to encourage runners and to ensure there are no problems along the way. Large arrows can be printed out to make the direction of the race clear to the runners
• CHIP TIMING: makes race more professional if runners receive official timings POST-‐RUN SOCIAL • When runners are registering for the event, potentially ask them about their interest in a post-‐run social
• Be aware that most people will not attend; the location will need to be close to the park and ensure that timings are consistent with the predicted end times of the races
• Free food/drink is always an incentive so talk to pubs/restaurants around the area and keep some of the budget aside so a good social can be organised
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TEMPLATE timetable
Timed schedule – set up/break down of event
8.30am: Organisers, volunteers and marshals meet outside Hub. Brief instructive meeting and equipment handed out.
8:30am: The registration room and luggage room in The Hub is unlocked by the duty manager and opened to the outside.
8.45am: Volunteers set up the three registration desks within The Hub. Marshals and first aiders disperse to appointed positions and aid in setting up the course.
9.00am: Runners arrive. Registration begins in The Hub: t-‐shirts/chip timers handed out to runners. Luggage room attended by volunteer for non-‐valuable luggage.
9.50am: Warm-‐up begins, runners guided to starting point. 10.00am: Run begins. During race, marshals on constant lookout for
(potential) problems. Event director contactable, based at Hub. Water handed out and litter collected by volunteers.
10.00am: Registration area closed and disassembled. Water station set up near 5km point.
11.20am: Last runners cross finish line. Water/refreshments handed out. Marshals return to Hub after dissembling racecourse.
11.30am: Litter collected by volunteers. Runners congratulated, group photos taken and runners disperse.
12.00pm: Social.
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Miscellaneous • Cause for money raised: it was discussed whether to have money going towards a specific cause that MSF is working on, or directly to MSF. James Kliffen (Head of Fundraising, MSF-‐UK) can advise on this, but make sure people know that ultimately, if needed, the money is likely to be used by MSF for different areas of their work
• Consider contacting a celebrity (someone famous or well-‐known) to start the race off or even to participate, to make the event more high-‐profile and attract attention, ultimately to raise further awareness of MSF
• During organisation of the run itself in the planning stages, a full event proposal and risk assessment will need to be carried out in accordance with the park authorities, and all potential issues be accompanied by back-‐up plans
• Before the run, runners should be emailed frequently, but not too often, with encouragement for sponsorship, and details of the route, logistics of the day, prizes, post-‐run social, link to the registration form and any other details they should know about, especially during the week before the run. The secretary should ensure that questions from the runners are answered efficiently, but be careful not to bombard people with too many emails in a short space of time
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The FoMSF London Fun Run, Regent’s Park • Over the past few years, the Friends of MSF run has taken place in March in Regent’s Park; for more information about this (for additional resources or contacts) please email Alisha Allana at [email protected]
• Photos from the 2011 run can be viewed at https://picasaweb.google.com/uclmsf. The website is http://fomsfrun.com/
FoMSF Ireland • Please use the guidelines outlined in the previous pages, but some additional practical issues need to be highlighted for organising a charity run in Ireland
• Setting up an online fundraising account: instead of using JustGiving, the Irish equivalent, Mycharity.ie can be used. If you want the funds raised online to be used for a specific project please contact the MSF Ireland Fundraising Department: send them a link to the Mycharity.ie page and outline what you want the funds to be allocated to
• Fundraising Department: issues can be directed to the Fundraising Officer at [email protected], including letters of endorsement, approaching the relevant authorities and how to send funds to the office
• Press Department: issues can be directed to the Press Officer at [email protected], including advice on how to approach press, approving press releases and posting to MSF Ireland website/Facebook
The staff at the MSF Ireland office are on hand to help so please don’t hesitate to contact them (in addition to MSF UK staff!)