Charity Walks Blog

Walking for the cancer cause is a great way to have fun and do good.

Most people in the UK know at least one person whose life has been seriously affected by cancer, and as a result, many people are very keen to do something – anything – to help improve the lives of people living with cancer.

At first you may think that the battle against cancer is only fought in hospitals and laboratories, where scientists conduct research in an effort to develop new cures; but in fact, every single one of us can help by raising money for cancer charities, which helps support those affected by cancer and funds new research into new treatments.

Over the years, more and more extravagant ways of raising money through sponsorship have been dreamed up; cycling through the Sahara desert on a monocycle, running the London marathon – in a diving suit; jumping out of a plane – naked. The imagination and determination of fundraisers is the only limit to the world of wacky charity trips.

However, one of the most popular ways to raise money is still the tried-and-tested charity walk. The beauty of this form of fundraising is that everyone can join in, from toddlers to teenagers and OAPs, and it can be done anywhere, from capital cities to rural regions.

Walking events, such as Walk Wonders which raises funds for Macmillan Cancer Support, also have the bonus of bringing together a group a people for a communal cause. In addition, unlike more extravagant fundraising activities, there’s no expensive set up costs involved. There are a selection of organised walks that take place across the UK all year round, which range from short family fun walks, to much longer hikes and even multi-day adventures.

Most ask for no minimum amount of funds to be raised – every little helps. But, if you find that there is no organised cancer charity walk or other fundraising event in your area, why not hold your own? Many cancer charities offer assistance to those looking to set up their own event, and offer support and exposure through their organisations.

People take part in cancer charity walks for different reasons. Some are former sufferers who have recovered and want to give something back; some have a friend or family member who are currently undergoing treatment or want to honour a loved one who has passed away, and many just want to do something positive for those less fortunate than themselves.

Whatever your reason for wanting to take part, walking to raise funds for cancer is a meaningful way for people to contribute to a great cause, enjoy a healthy activity and participate in a collective family outing.

About the Author

Adam Singleton is an online, freelance journalist and keen gardener. He lives in Scotland with his two dogs.

(ArticlesBase SC #332189)

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ – Step by Step: Walking for the Cancer Cause

Photo credit: Karina Faiani

Technorati Tags: Cancer Cause, Cancer Charities, Cancer Charity, Cancer Charity Walk, Fundraising, Fundraising Activities, Fundraising Event, London Marathon, Macmillan Cancer Support, Raising Money, Running Marathon, Sponsored Walks, Walk For Cancer, Ways To Raise Money

I found the below article today. It provides a great reminder that we can participate in charity walks without being super-athletes. One of the great things about charity walks is that almost anyone can participate.

It’s good to walk: doing your bit to support a worthy cause

by Isla Campell

More and more people are choosing to go on ‘meaningful’ holidays abroad, as they seek to fulfill altruistic ambitions and do their bit to help save the world. Whether it’s an expedition to Mount Everest, a trek along the Great Wall of China or a hands-on mission to build homes for underprivileged families in Vietnam or elsewhere in the world, there is a definite heightened sense of urgency in terms of people actively seeking new ways to help others.

But as noble and selfless as this may be, it’s simply not possible for many people to get involved in such activities, as they generally require a lot of time and money to help achieve them. However, the good news is there are many other ways, a lot closer to home, that can help those who are in a less fortunate position than us.

Perhaps one of the more common means of raising money for charity, is to run a marathon. Nobody will begrudge making a donation when someone is putting themselves through months of arduous training to run over 26 miles without so much as a ten-minute breather. And there is no doubt that every penny raised will be well and truly earned.

Of course, not everybody can partake in such physically demanding exploits or dedicate the amount of time required to train for such a feat. However, where there’s a will, there’s a way; everyone can do their bit for charity and it doesn’t need to be painful.

A sponsored walk is the perfect answer for those who are looking to raise money for charity but don’t have the time to commit to more demanding activities. Not only that, the participant can usually choose between various walking-distances, to suit their physical ability.

A 3-mile walk for one person may be more than enough, whilst for someone else it might not be quite the challenge they were looking for and so may opt for anything up to 10 miles. In fact, it’s becoming more and more common for even longer charity walks to be organized, up to and including a marathon, for those looking to push themselves that little bit further for their chosen cause.

Besides the obvious incentive of raising much needed money for a very worthy cause, the feel-good factor extends well beyond that. Registering for a charity walk has prompted many people into improving their fitness, losing weight or even act as a mechanism for a longer term goal such as quitting smoking. Ultimately, however, the feeling of satisfaction after completing a charity walk is enough of an encouragement for most people.

So, with people going further afield to quench their desire to help others, it can perhaps be easy to forget that charity begins at home. Taking part in a sponsored walk is a fun way of achieving many goals at the same time and giving just a little bit can reap far greater rewards in return.

About the Author:

Isla Campbell writes on a number of topics on behalf of a digital marketing agency and a variety of clients. As such, this article is to be considered a professional piece with business interests in mind.

photo credit: Fredo in (((Stereo)))

Technorati Tags: charity walks, Physical Ability, Raising Money, Sponsored Walk, Underprivileged Families, Worthy Cause