Fundraise

Extreme 5 Event

On Saturday 4 July 2009, three intrepid young Zimbabweans set out on the first of a series of physically demanding challenges covering the length and breadth of the UK which was to take them 35 days. They did it to raise vital funds for Homes in Zimbabwe.

The lads ran a full marathon in Richmond Park on a warm summer’s morning. One week later they got on their bikes to cycle from Lands End to John O’Groats. Two weeks after that they got off their bikes to spend the first three days of August kayaking the length of the Caledonian Canal. In case any of them were still standing they then grabbed their golf clubs and played four consecutive rounds of golf in one day at Sherfield Oaks Golf Club in Hampshire.

So far Simon, Graeme and Mike have raised £20,000 and are still working tirelessly to reach their target of £100,000. If you’d like to support them you can still do so by logging on to www.extreme5challenge.co.uk.

The Extreme 5 Challenge was inspired by Graeme Schlachter who successfully swam across the English Channel in 2008 to raise funds for our charity. Simon Grint and Mike Bass were determined to match his outstanding efforts this year and all three are already planning a similar challenge on September 24th 2010. The difference this time is that they are recruiting 50 teams of four to join them in their adventure and help them match their fundraising success in 2009.

To find out how you could get involved next year please log on to their website.

Organise your own event

Running your own event can be a lot of fun and it's also a great way of raising funds for Homes In Zimbabwe. You just need lots of energy and enthusiasm – like these four supporters!

Mike Wells raised nearly £5500 by running in the London Marathon in April 2008.

I finished in under five hours.

It was fantastic and the streets were buzzing with support.

Graeme Schlachter raised £6000 by swimming the English Channel.

I made it in 11 hours and 45 minutes – in late September, 2009.

It was cold I can tell you but it was worth it for such a great cause.

Angela Fivaz raised over £3000 by running in the New York Marathon in November 2008. She finished in 4 hours.

NYC marathon was one of the best days of my life, the support and camaraderie was incredible. I felt as if I had 40,000 running friends that day along with about 3 million supporters lining the streets.

Michelle Pattison has raised £1,000 for Homes in Zimbabwe by running in the London Marathon in April 2009.

It was my first London Marathon and I finished in under four hours!

Fundraising Alphabet

If you would like to raise money through sponsorship for Homes In Zimbabwe, let us know and we’ll supply the t-shirt.

Here's an alphabet of fundraising ideas to get you on your way:

A	An Auction of Promises – offer to do chores for friends and the highest bidder wins. Hold an Art sale, or an Auction. If you’ve got a head for heights, get Abseiling!
B	How about a Bring and Buy sale, a Book Fair, a Barbecue, a Bridge Morning, or a Birthday party where everyone donates to Homes In Zimbabwe instead of bringing a present.
C	Is for Coffee morning, Car wash, Cycle ride, Concert, Christmas Carol singing, Car boot sale.
D	Hold a Darts tournament, a Disco, go Dog walking or hold a Dinner Party and get your friends to donate to Homes In Zimbabwe.
E	Is for Easter Egg Hunt or maybe a sponsored Expedition – or join in our own expedition to the heights of Mt Kilimanjaro. www.justgiving.com/hizkilimanjaro
F	Hold a Fashion show, Food demonstrations, Fishing competition, Fancy dress party, a Football tournament, Film show, Face painting, or even a Fun run.
G	Golf day – or join in Homes In Zimbabwe next Golf day at Mill Ride Golf Club on Friday 6 May 2011, Grand draw, Guess the baby photo, Garage sales, Garden parties, Give As You Earn (GAYE).
H	Hold a Halloween party, Head shave, Hockey match.
I	Ice skating, Indoor bowling.
J	Jumble sale, Jazz evening, Juggle-a-thon
K	Karaoke night, Kick a bad habit, Keep-fit classes
L	Leave a legacy (call us and we can explain how you could really make a difference to our work by remembering us in your will), Lunch for Homes in Zimbabwe, Lecture – we’ll help you find a suitable speaker.
M	Marathon (or even half Marathon!). Just get those running shoes on for Homes In Zimbabwe! And don't forget to ask us for your Homes In Zimbabwe t shirt! Mastermind competition, Monopoly challenge.
N	Non uniform day, No smoking day, Netball competition
O	'Old time' music night, Open day (got a lovely garden you could show off?), Organise an Outward bound weekend
P	Put on a Plant sale, hold a Poetry competition, Pub quiz, Ping-Pong competition and for the intrepid how about a Parachute jump,
Q	Quizzes are always popular down the local pub, Quit smoking and get sponsored!
R	Rough and Tumble – how about a Rugby match, Roller Skating, or even a Record breaking attempt – even a Raffle will raise those much needed pounds for Homes In Zimbabwe lifesaving work amongst the pensioners of Zimbabwe!
S	Sponsored swim – it doesn’t have to be across the English Channel like our own "Zimhippo" Graeme – you can just get swimming lengths in your local pool, Or how about, Sponsored Silence, Swear boxes, Sports day,
T	Talent contest – have any of your friends or colleagues got the X Factor?, Three legged race, Treasure Hunt, and in summer how about a Tennis Tournament.
U	Unwanted gift sale – or give them to Homes In Zimbabwe and we'll sell them on Ebay, Underwear sale, University challenge.
V	Variety show – put on a performance and invite your friends!
W	Wine tasting, Wellie throwing, Walk to Work, Why not?!
X	Hold a Xmas party – in or out of season!
Y	Yellow clothes day – go to work dressed in yellow!
Z	A Zoo Party – Have a “wild” party – get your friends to come as one of the big five!