Anyone organised their own charity ride?

[Yazzoo]

I'm a Trustee for The Alexis Ruthven Trust (www.alexisappeal.co.uk if you're interested!) and in our fundraising meeting last night the possibility of our own cycle event was discussed. I like the idea, we all do, but where to start? Any advice gratefully received.

I have already approached a sportive organiser who have run charity events before asking whether they would consider running one for us or possibly acting as a 'consultant' whilst we plan things but no reply as yet so just thought I'd float the idea here. Anyone done one? Are they a good fundraiser (e.g. worth the hassle organising - we've all got full time jobs and families and commitments of our own so need to make sure we maximise the fundraising opportunities with the time we have available!)

Any advice welcome!

 

[Dogtrousers]

Not sure about the charity aspect (but as a trustee you are probably informed on that), but @dellzeqq on here might be able to give you a stern talking to about the need for experience, risk assessment, insurance, leadership and more when it comes to organising rides. It's also worthwhile having a search of the forum archives, as it has been discussed before, but getting the right combination of keywords may be a challenge.

 

[Yazzoo]

Great thanks, I'll do some trawling!

 

[Dogtrousers]

This is the thread I was thinking of: Organising a group ride
and this What are the laws regarding running an organized group ride?

 

[Yazzoo]

Thanks, will get the kettle on and start reading!

 

[ufkacbln]

I used to

I was with a Scout Group for some 30 years and used to organise a ride that was their biggest fundraiser each year raising some 50% of their funds

Then the rules changed and we had to refuse participation unless the participants wore helmets


After having to refuse to allow half the fundraisers to participate I stopped organising the rides

 

[robgul]

Ahem, 11 years, 34 events, over 11,000 event entrants, about 2,000 MacRide jerseys sold and most importantly over £700,000 raised for Macmillan Cancer Support, Rob, Aidan & Jenni - the MacRide Events Team volunteers.

Probably got some tips that you might find useful - including a checklist of "will it fly" questions .... if you want to PM with an email addy and I'll send the checklist sheet - and a phone number if you want a chat.

Rob

 

[Yazzoo]

Amazing, thanks!

@Cunobelin is that rule from the insurance company? I've not seen an event thats not required helmets for some years

 

[classic33]

Scout Associations own ruling, which they then had written into PO&R(The bible for the Scout Association on events).

 

[ufkacbln]

That was the rule.

Asking for clarification and the evidence base for the decision simply got a curt "rules is the rules" reply

It is simply unacceptable to have to turn people away and exclude them from a fund raising event

 

[robgul]

I used to

I was with a Scout Group for some 30 years and used to organise a ride that was their biggest fundraiser each year raising some 50% of their funds

Then the rules changed and we had to refuse participation unless the participants wore helmets


After having to refuse to allow half the fundraisers to participate I stopped organising the rides

If you look at it from the charity's perspective .... IF there was an accident the first question the media would ask is "Was the rider wearing a helmet?" - rightly, or wrongly - and their insurer would take a prudent view too.

Macmillan amended the rules for our events in 2014 with the requirement for ALL (it was just the sportive riders) riders to wear helmets - that MADE NO DIFFERENCE AT ALL* ... in fact we got positive feedback from riders.

Rob

* we have had ONE, yes just one, rider who no longer enters because he has to wear a helmet ... and he has never raised any sponsorship over the entry fee.

 

[ufkacbln]

If you look at it from the charity's perspective .... IF there was an accident the first question the media would ask is "Was the rider wearing a helmet?" - rightly, or wrongly - and their insurer would take a prudent view too.

Not prudent, nor evidence based, just an ill informed and unjustified decision


If you look at the head injuries that were reported to the Scout Association, the most common were playing games and sports such as football

Yet no-one asks "Was the participant wearing a helmet?"

Somehow the charity and the insurer think these head injuries are acceptable!

 

[robgul]

If you look at it from the charity's perspective .... IF there was an accident the first question the media would ask is "Was the rider wearing a helmet?" - rightly, or wrongly - and their insurer would take a prudent view too.

Not prudent, nor evidence based, just an ill informed and unjustified decision


If you look at the head injuries that were reported to the Scout Association, the most common were playing games and sports such as football

Yet no-one asks "Was the participant wearing a helmet?"

Somehow the charity and the insurer think these head injuries are acceptable!

Ah, it doesn't take long for the anti-helmet brigade to get going and hi-jack a positive thread does it!

Last time I watched a football match the pitch was pretty soft and there weren't any powered vehicles playing?

You have your opinion, that's fine - if there are rules set, for whatever reason, then they must be accepted - if you don't like it, vote with your feet - not your mouth or scientific possibility which seems to have voices at either end of the spectrum.

I have 3 friends who probably wouldn't be here if it wasn't for wearing a cycle helmet ...

Rob

 

[Profpointy]

umm,

Ah, it doesn't take long for the anti-helmet brigade to get going and hi-jack a positive thread does it!

Last time I watched a football match the pitch was pretty soft and there weren't any powered vehicles playing?

You have your opinion, that's fine - if there are rules set, for whatever reason, then they must be accepted - if you don't like it, vote with your feet - not your mouth or scientific possibility which seems to have voices at either end of the spectrum.

I have 3 friends who probably wouldn't be here if it wasn't for wearing a cycle helmet ...

Rob

Umm "anti helmet brigade" - who's doing the excluding that you seem to be defending?

.... but I agree this maybe isn't the place for that debate

 

[Pale Rider]

The OP could contact a local audax organiser.

I know the OP is not trying to run an audax, but such a person would have good knowledge about how to run a ride on a low budget, and may have an adaptable shorter route in his library.

Contact details for such a person could be found by having a look at who is running rides in the OP's area.

http://www.aukweb.net/