So what next?!

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Yesterday Dominic and I attended the Cancer Research UK London Fundraisers Forum.

We were joined by the CRUK London Area Volunteer Managers and other fundraisers from across the region, ranging from individuals organising one-off events to groups and committees which have been fundraising for up to 30 years.

We heard from speakers including:

Helen Trenchard, Senior Manager of the Business Support Team

Dr Justine Reise, Clinical Trials Manager at Imperial CRUK Centre/ICTU-Cancer

Louise from Stand up to Cancer

Harry Baines, Cancer Research UK Intern and Cancer Survivor

It was a fascinating day and a great reminder of why we put so much work into making ‘Bike to Bestival’ a success.

We heard some amazing statistics:

·       97% of men who get testicular cancer now survive

·       Cancer Research UK spent £332million on research last year

·       £650,000 was raised in the London and Surrey areas by volunteers alone!

·       Cancer Research UK funds 50% of all research into Cancer in the UK and they get no government funding.

Cancer Research UK had a funding gap of £30million last year though, so what does this mean?

Essentially they had research programmes which had gone through the vetting process which they believed would contribute to the fight against cancer, however they were £30million short of funds to pay for them.

This all reminds us of how important projects like ours are to Cancer Research UK.

So to all of you who took part in ‘Bike to Bestival 2012’ a big big thankyou from the three of us and the staff at Cancer Research UK.  We were invited to this event as we are raising so much money for their cause and they all took the opportunity to pass on their thanks.

We would particularly like to mention Andrew and Max who have blown us away with their amazing fundraising. You’ve more than made up for your lack of musical ability guys!!

Lastly, if you haven’t heard of ‘Stand up to Cancer’ yet, then watch this space. 

On Friday October 19^th 2012 there will be a live TV event on Channel 4.  Watch a taster of what to expect on the YouTube link below.  They are also on facebook and twitter so don’t forget to follow them. 

https://www.youtube.com/user/standuptocancerUK?feature=watch

If you want to do any of your own fundraising for ‘Stand up to Cancer’, please let us know or drop us an email telling us what you’re doing and we’ll post it on the blog/facebook/twitter.

Sophie

10 days and counting... and some last minute "Social" news

Just a quick note to let you all know we will have one last social before we set off.

This will be next Tuesday 28th August from 7pm at The Royal George pub on Charing Cross Road. If you've not been before its tucked behind the CrossRail site, next to the Mother Teresa exhibition..... follow the nuns!

https://www.facebook.com/events/253668021402175/

Hope to see some of you there for a beer and a chinwag, and we can have a run through the songs before performing them at the Bestival opening in the Big Top!!!

YES WE ARE OPENING....... CRIPES!!!!

Check out the Bestival update here http://2012.bestival.net/news/bike-to-bestival-1

Have a fab long weekend, we assume you're all studiously learning the songs and doing those last long miles to practice, yeah!!!?

10 days and counting!!!!

Odds n ends!

Hi guys and gals,

Hope the training is going well and you've all been inspired by the Olympics to get out on the bike and do some miles!!

We've finally had a confirmation from justgiving that the event is listed on their site.  That was a long old wait, but for those of you who've had trouble setting up your page, follow this link and it should be more straight forward. Any problems refer to the previous posts on the 'how to' or drop us an email!

http://www.justgiving.com/fundraising-page/creation/?cid=2357&eid=882930

We're at the 10% mark of our target which is fab but still a long way to go.  Let's all make an effort to give that extra push over the next few weeks.

A few tips from my friend who advises charities on fundraising. 

1. Start with the story, why give to Cancer Research UK? Have a look at their website for some inspiration.

2. Don't be afraid to chase people, she advised me to send an email every week!

3. Use every method of communication you have, so tweet, facebook, email and talk about all the work you're putting into this.

On a separate note, we're still waiting to hear from some of you with your phone numbers etc, please email the following

- mobile phone number

- emergency contact name and number

- dietary requirements, if none please still tell us, then we know how many veggies/non veggies to cater for.

- t-shirt size, orders have already been sent so if you didn't reply already we can't promise you the size you require but we'll do our best!!

Thanks and hopefully see some more of you at the social this Sunday. Bring along your instruments if you want to play along and we'll have another go at a few songs!

Sophie

Busking with friends old and not so old...

At the weekend, Warren and I caught up with Jonny (One of the Buskers on Bikes from last year) and Warrens's uncle to play an impromtu set of songs at a family party.

I thought I'd post this as we played a couple of songs that we knew, but started the set with a group of unrehearsed songs from 1972 as it was a ruby wedding anniversary. It just goes to show that with a little bit of organisation it's possible for a group to play together without too much practice.

We have the next social booked at the Royal George (which is set back from Charing cross road) and we'll be tackling the music part of the ride. If you've bought a ticket and we've not got your email address, could you please let us know at biketobestival@bestival.net as soon as possible as we'll be emailing out links to the songs shortly. If you'd also like to let us know what instrument you'll be bringing (or if you'll be joining the vocal and handclap chorus)...

So far we have  guitars, ukuleles, a mandolin a percussionist and a pair of melodicas. Very much looking forward to this part of it all. Even on the long ride last year with the sense of personal achievement that brought... It was the music that really made me smile.

Also you all seem like such a nice bunch it'llbe good to see you all again.

Regards

Dominic

A grand day out...

Well I thought you'd all want to know that Warren and I had a practice crack at the ride, or rather part of it, last Thursday. After reviewing the tfl road closures advice and the lecog road closures and the royal thingy road closures information we decided to see how we would manage the first stage.

Basically on a ride like the the first stage is simply the ride to lunch

We had intended to do the whole of the first day, but with the ride back and forth looking for the perfect route (or in the case of Richmond... the way the sign should have been pointing had it not been pranked) we got as far as lunch.

I say lunch. A lovely ploughman's as it happens. Not to mention Warren's last minute impulse buy of a bag of flapjacks and rocky road cake as a kind-of-mid-morning-snack.

The good news is that this part of the ride is relatively flat and very pretty. There are plenty of places to stop for a snack and two sets of toilets (just in case) for those of a nervous disposition. We are in the process of sorting out who is going to feed the crew and where we can all stop safely.

With the numbers going on this ride we're going to need a few volunteer map readers and helpers from amongst the cyclists as a couple of the sections will be on roads where we'll need to break up into smaller groups for parts of the ride. It's worth saying that we're planning the route to keep us all in a big gang wherever possible.

In other news check the facebook page for info on the second social which we'd love to see you at with your weapon... er instrument of choice for a bit of a sing-song and a crack at arranging a couple of songs for the group.

http://www.facebook.com/events/493893407303830/

Congratulations to Sophie Holloway who has already managed to raise the princely sum of £190 and is the top fundraiser so far.

Keep an eye on the old e-mail as the ever vigilant Sophie from the B2B team is sending out important info to riders as we speak.

8 weeks and counting!!!

Hi Folks,

It's time to start pushing on with the sponsorship side of things....

I'm going to be reminding you all about this over the next 8 weeks.

YES 8 weeks, its not long untril we're off! And we are all working mega hard, in order to make it fun but also make some serious wonga for CRUK.

Few tips....
1. add a photo or two (or a video)
2. set up text donate, you can do this through your page its so easy (and try and make a memorable code mine is BTBV88)
3. make a poster and put your text donate details on it, print thousands, make wallpaper etc
4. make it personal- tell people on your page why your doing this, go on get soppy
5. email/facebook/tweet/blog your Justgiving link far and wide.

Finally - please set up a £200 target. Theres a few missing currently..... David, Sophie Herbert and our own technology resistant Warren!!
And if you're doing this with friends who haven't set up a justgiving page yet, chase em up!

If you are reading this and want to support us all by sponsoring members of the B2B team you can find their justgiving poages here

http://www.justgiving.com/teams/BiketoBestival2012

Thanks boys and girls,
Sophie :-)

On a personal note‏

Hi there everyone,

I wanted to add a personal note about why Cancer Research UK is so important to me. One of my oldest and dearest mates Em, lost her dad to Cancer a few years ago.  It was so quick and so devastating, and it was also the first time someone I knew had died from cancer.

Larry was a lovely man with a good sense of humour; despite having to take and pick-up me, Em and our other mates half-cut from various teenage parties at ungodly hours.  He always had time for people, he was well known in our home town and would regularly corner or be cornered my mum for a chinwag!

I have the honour of becoming god-parent to Em's son Adam in a months time, I'm sure Larry would have loved to have been there with all his family, he'll be sorely missed.

Anyway Em has written a bit about why she is supporting us, please take a read.

Sophie

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Hi all,

I just wanted to add a quick personal note to explain why I will be donating to Soph, Dom and the bikers this year. Apart from the fact that Sophus is one of my oldest and closest mates, the charity they are raising money for is one very close to my heart.

It is an old, tired but painfully true cliche that everyone knows someone effected by cancer. Three years ago I lost my dad to the most deadliest form of skin cancer, melanoma, he was 63. He was taken from us so quickly, in under six months, but that half year felt like a lifetime of slow pain, terror, upset, tears, anger and frustration. He underwent a huge nine hour operation to remove the tumour two days before Christmas, where he nearly died twice on the table. Following this, he travelled to hospital five days a week for gruelling radiotherapy sessions, during which he had to wear a mask on his face to pin him to the table, he was so scared. We lost my dad ten days after his last session of radiotherapy.

Fortunately not all cases have to end in this way. I have an Aunty who has successfully had half her intestine removed to remove a bowel cancer, another Aunty who is being treated for non-hodgkins lymphoma, and an Uncle living with prostrate cancer. Obviously they, like many others, are able to do this partly because of the money that is raised through charities like Cancer Research.

I know these are difficult financial times for a lot of us, but if you, like me, agree to donate to just one cause this year, make it this one! Soph, Dom and the crew, good luck, and I hope we can help you to reach your £20,000 target. xxx

Just giving and all that

Hi there,

Just a quick post today to thank those of you that have already got your justgiving pages set up, and a massive thank you to Sophie Holloway and Ryan Sivyer for getting us started with early donations.

In the particular environment (economy-wise as opposed to weather etc.) that we find ourselves in, almost everyone I know is doing some form of sponsored event. Timing, and the way you ask people to sponsor you can make all the difference. Be persuasive, but also sensitive and give good reasons as to why you are asking.

When you email your colleagues/friends it may help to remember the following points:

• Is it just after payday? catch people straight after they get paid and they are more likely to donate
• Have I explained that I've paid for my ticket and the cost of the ride. All the sponsorship money goes to Cancer Research
• Have I explained what the charity does and why Bike to Bestival supports it?
• Is it too cheeky to send a follow up email jujst before I go to remind people that I can still be sponsored? (I always do, and remember to thank those who've already donated. In fact the second email should thank everyone for their support and remind people that it's not too late if they haven't got round to it.)
• Have I been polite?

As part of the justgiving site, you can set up a txt giving code which allows people to text you a donation. It's free and it can go on posters or flyers or even the bottom of an email. Top marks to Vera Gulbranson for getting her poster up at work already. You can do this in something simple like word, or a poster app on your phone... or pester anyone you know with fancy design software...

If you make a request personal it is more likely to succeed.  This is the first Bike to Bestival and we're all very excited with the progress and support you've all given us so far.

Don't be shy and don't forget to ask friends and family. We're going to have a great ride and a great festival to follow it.

Take care

Dominic

Bike to Bestival JustGiving team page

Howdy Bikers,

Good news..... I think!

We've had a few little problems getting the Bike to Bestival event listed on JustGiving, however we've had someone join our team page (well done Ryan!) so its clearly out there and it may be our technical skills that are lacking somewhat!!

So if you have bought a Bike to Bestival ticket already, please sign up and get fundraising!

If you're not familiar with how JustGiving team pages work theres a basic guide on their website here, have a read:

https://justgiving.zendesk.com/entries/446806-how-do-i-join-a-team-on-justgiving

First you need to set up your own JustGiving page linked to Cancer Research UK which you then link to our team page, we then get a notification to approve your membership of the team.  We have to cross reference this with the list of people who have bought tickets so please bear with us if we don't do it immediately, we'll get there!

Bike to Bestival is going to be a really fun way to start the Bestival week, but its really important to us and the folks at Bestival to raise as much money for Cancer Research UK as we can at the same time.  We know a few of you are a bit anxious about raising the £200 minimum we have asked for but you've got over 2 months before the event. 

Thats plenty enough time to beg your family members, and get your mum/dad/granny/sister/brother/dog to ask around and tell all their friends what a brilliant project you're involved in and collect a few pennies (or preferably pounds) for you.  Shout loud and shout proud, because its for a very worthwhile charity.

If you're a student and your mates are saving their pennies for pound a pint night, how about cooking them dinner or doing their washing up for a donation.

Basically be creative!  Every penny helps.

We know some of you have family or friends who have been affected by cancer, so will know all too well how important the charity is.  If you're lucky enough to not have been touched by the disease have a read of the Cancer Research UK website and find out about the work they do and the people they have helped.  

http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/

Last year after the Buskers on Bikes event we went along to a fundraiser evening at the CRUK offices where we heard from CRUK fundraising staff, a CRUK scientist and a long term fundraiser called Tony Selman.

Tony has been a fundraiser for CRUK for many years following his wife's long battle against cancer which she sadly lost in September 2010, his sister also died of cancer four years earlier.  Tony himself was diagnosed with prostate cancer in March 2010 and is undergoing treatment.

It seemed desperately unfair that someone who had lost 2 close family members and has raised thousands of pounds for Cancer Research UK should themselves get the disease.

Tony's message was clear though...... Cancer doesn't care.

This really struck a chord with me.  You can read more about Tony Selman and other stories on the CRUK website here:

http://aboutus.cancerresearchuk.org/what-we-do/our-new-tv-campaign/featured-stories/tony-selman/index.htm

So our team page is here https://www.justgiving.com/teams/BiketoBestival2012 please sign up, set your target at £200 and get fundraising!

Thanks,

Sophie