Charity that begins away from home

9:13am Friday 28th March 2008

The sight of exhausted walkers arriving, rain-soaked and blistered, at Land's End or John O'Groats is a classic image of charity treks.

Yet today, you're just as likely to see photos of trekkers amid the snows of Mount Kilimanjaro, atop the Great Wall of China, or in the jungles of Borneo. Charity challenges have come a long way in recent years as organisations have sought new means of bringing in funds. Offering people the chance to take unforgettable trips in exchange for raising money has proved very successful.

From cycling to skydiving, hiking to horse riding, there are countless opportunities for adventure, and as long as you're happy to make the effort to raise a minimum amount of sponsorship, you could enjoy trips to places you may otherwise have needed to take out a loan to visit.

When you sign up for a charity challenge, organisers will usually ask for a registration fee, normally in the region of £250. You will then have to raise a minimum sponsorship of about £2,000 to £3,000. Perhaps £1,500 of this will cover the costs of your trip - which will be arranged through specialist tour operators - while the remainder of the cash will go to the charity. Of course, if you really have the fundraising knack, there's nothing to stop you raising even more.

Such adventures should not be taken lightly, however, as many involve strenuous activity sometimes in unfamiliar environments - at altitude, for instance. You'll need a level of fitness appropriate to the trip, and organisers will usually ask you to complete a medical form. Therefore, if you are in doubt about your suitability, you should consult your GP beforehand.

Of course, trips are not restricted to faraway locations, and whether you want to go to Nepal or North Yorkshire, there's bound to be somewhere to suit you. Here are some examples of forthcoming trips:

Trek Peru
When: September 6 to 15, 2008
Organisers: Breast Cancer Care
Details: This trip includes an unforgettable, five-day trek at altitude, surrounded by the towering peaks of the Peruvian Andes. You'll experience some of the most picturesque and exhilarating scenery in the world while making your way to Machu Picchu, the "Lost City of the Incas".
Sponsorship: Registration fee of £250, minimum sponsorship of £3,000.

Cycle India
When: November 2 to 11, 2008
Organisers: NDCS
Details: A 10-day trip which includes six days of cycling through Rajasthan, the "Land of Kings", a harsh landscape with a rich culture. The trip finishes in Pushkar while the famous annual camel fair is taking place.
Sponsorship: Registration fee of £250, minimum sponsorship of £2,600.

Zambezi White Water Challenge
When: September 13 to 20, 2008
Organisers: Scope
Details: From Livingstone, Zambia, you will experience exhilarating rapids surrounded by high canyons, emerging into tranquil water and amazing savannah, where you may even spot the odd zebra, elephant or buffalo. Nights will be spent camping on the riverbank. Return to Livingstone by helicopter, taking in a bird's eye view of Victoria Falls along the way.
Sponsorship: Registration fee of £200, minimum sponsorship of £2,800.

London to Paris Cycling Challenge
When: August 27 to 31, 2008
Organisers: Macmillan Cancer Support
Details: A challenging 400km ride which heads through the picturesque Kent countryside, and small villages and medieval market towns of Northern France. The ride passes the battlefields of the Somme and Agincourt, and finishes at the Eiffel Tower.
Sponsorship: Registration fee of £150, minimum sponsorship of £1,200.

Mountain Bike Challenge
When: October 12, 2008
Organisers: British Red Cross
Details: The Red Cross Mountain Bike Challenge is 23 miles of off-road biking, with a family route available that comprises eight miles of mixed terrain cycling. The event takes place in Dalby Forest, near Pickering, North Yorkshire.
Sponsorship: Registration fee of £10, minimum sponsorship of £100.

FUNDRAISING TIPS

If the prospect of raising thousands of pounds is daunting, the charity organising the trip will do all it can to help you, and will offer advice and resources.

One way to start is by clearing out your clutter. Sell any unwanted items at a car boot sale or on the internet. For example, if you've long given up on vinyl, those old LPs in the attic could be worth something to collectors on an auction website.

See what help you can get at work. Ask your boss if your company operates a matched giving scheme - a great way of doubling your sponsorship. You could also ask if you could raffle off a day's holiday - which is sure to prove popular among colleagues.

You could also organise a sweepstake for a sporting event, for example the FA Cup, Wimbledon or the Grand National.

Use your imagination to organise a fundraising event - the more original the better. Charities can help you publicise these, offering sample press releases and advice on the best ways to approach local media for publicity.

Consider setting up a Justgiving web page so that friends, family and colleagues can sponsor you wherever they are.

If you have a vice - smoking, kebabs, beer, etc - challenge yourself to give it up for a set amount of time and then add what you save to your fundraising total. Encourage others to do the same.

If you're struggling to meet the target, why not donate your holiday budget? If, for example, you would have spent £500 on a vacation anyway, you could throw this amount into the pot.