Nothing helps bring people together and increase morale than raising awareness for charity. If you can do that while also benefitting your health, why wouldn’t you?
When it comes to raising money for charity, there are options that are more sedentary, such as coffee and cake mornings, as well as selling items online or in shops. Of course, there are also the more adventurous options, such as running marathons, taking part in hikes and even bungee jumping.
When it comes to choosing what type of fundraising to opt for, you may be surprised to learn about the benefits of taking on a challenge, which will be looked at here.
The Charity Will Get Exposure
When you walk down a high street and see a charity shop, that charity is getting exposure. When you see the charity collection bags or online adverts for homepages like macmillan.org.uk, they are getting exposure. When you are running a race for charity wearing one of their t-shirts, you are getting exposure. However, a charity running event will likely have cameras, social media posts and even photos linked to it in local newspapers. This will help to raise money for the charity as well as awareness.
Your Health Will Improve
OK, everyone loves cake and coffee, but one pro of taking part in a marathon, hike or triathlon is that, if you do these regularly, your health will improve. You will improve your cardiovascular health and your mental health, and your body will simply feel better. Now that’s a good reason to take part in a charity challenge. Just note that you will need to engage in training beforehand, or the only thing you may notice after the challenge is a pulled muscle!
Personal Growth
Personal growth comes in many forms, and if you were someone who was sedentary and is now taking part in a marathon, this is pushing you outside of your comfort zone. One benefit of this is that it leads to personal growth.
You will also likely develop new skills and learn things about yourself; many people who have taken part in their first marathon are pleasantly surprised at their own resilience and may be inclined to push themselves in other ways, too.
Deeper Sense of Purpose
Helping to raise awareness for charity and helping to bring money to a cause you care about is one of the most satisfying things you can do with your life. Training for a marathon where you are going to represent a charity can help you focus your mind on a set goal. It will create a deeper sense of purpose and allow you to align your values with the aims of a charity or organisation.
Strengthen Bonds in Your Community
Lastly, when you are taking part in a charity challenge, you will be surrounded by like-minded people, who share your passions. This can help you make new friends and connections, helping you to socialise more and build a sense of community around you. It will also help you to know who to go to if you are looking to fundraise for the same charity in the future.
Author Bio
Lizzie Reynell-O’Brien graduated with an MSc in clinical psychology from Goldsmiths University and started her small writing company, Just Write, in 2018, writing solely about mental health diagnostics in the NHS. She is passionate about writing as an art form, and when she’s not typing, you will find her walking her two rescue Jack Russells or in her garden planting wildflowers.
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