Ideas & Inspiration
Our fundraising pack includes a poster, sponsorship form, ideas and tips for a safe and fun event. We'll happily send one by post if you prefer, just email events@whales.org
How far will you walk for whales?
The 2021 WDC Great Migration is underway!
Collectively, our amazing walkers covered around 3,000 miles last year - about the same distance as one leg of a humpback whale's migration.
From 5 miles to 100 miles, with four-legged friends or alone, every step counted towards this impressive total and the fantastic amount raised in sponsorship.
As well as helping to protect whales and dolphins, walking is good for our physical and mental well-being so come and join our pod. Walk anytime between March and the end of October 2021.
Ideas for walks, distances and our walking-themed playlist are here.
The Virtual London Marathon 2022
When: Sunday 2nd October 2022
Where: Anywhere in the world
Entry fee: Free
We have a handful of places left in one of the most iconic running events - The Virtual London Marathon!
Wherever you are in the world, there are no limits.
- Run anywhere you want, alone or as a team - get your whole office, team or household involved!
- Challenge yourself, get fit and get outdoors - you have a full 23:59:59 hours to run, jog or walk 26.2 miles so why not aim for your PB or take a more leisurely pace and enjoy the freedom of the outdoors!
- Raise vital funds to help us to protect all those whales and dolphins who can no longer swim wild and free.
Are you up for the challenge? Email events@whales.org to sign up today!
If you're a keen marathon runner, we also have one place available to take part in the TCS London Marathon! For more information, please contact us at the email address above.
Make a big SPLASH for whales and dolphins!
Jump or dive into your local pool to raise funds to help protect whales and dolphins!
Anyone can take part in the Big Splash Swim - it doesn't matter how far or how fast you swim or how old you are.
If you're or an open water swimmer (or would like to try it for the first time) why not join Team Orca at Swim Serpentine?
Alphabet PE Challenge
Have fin-tastic fun and get fit with WDC's Alphabet PE Challenge. It's easy to take part and suitable for all ages and abilities.
Download the Instructions, Alphabet Key and, if you don't want to set up a JustGiving page, print off a paper Sponsorship Form
Have any questions or need any help? Get in touch at events@whales.org
Gamers for Orcas
From board games to Uno or your favourite console, there are lots of ways to have fun and raise vital funds for these amazing creatures.
WDC is partnering with Curve digital and benefits from sales of their brilliant new game, I am Fish!
Climb Every Mountain
Well, perhaps not every mountain! If you can't scale the actual peak, how many times do you have to go up and downstairs to reach a virtual summit?
Scafell Pike (978m), Snowdon (1085m), Ben Nevis (1345m), Kilimanjaro (5895m), Hungry Hill (685m), Brandon Mountain (952m), Slieve Donard (850m), Pen-y-Fan (886m), Cadair Idris (893m)
And if you're missing Glastonbury, its famous Tor is just 158m! Keep motivated by listening to your favourite Glasto playlist as you climb.
Set up a JustGiving page for donations and link it to Strava to keep track of your climb. Tag us in @whalesorg on socials as you climb and send us a photo of you celebrating at the summit!
Donate your Birthday
More 'stuff' at home than space? Fed up of excessive packaging on presents? Don't need or want anything in particular?
By asking people to give you donations for WDC instead of birthday presents (or any other celebration) you'll help give the gift of freedom to captive whales and dolphins. Set up a JustGiving page so that friends and family can leave a birthday greeting along with their donation.
And, don't forget, if you're a younger WDC supporter, it counts towards your Dolphin Defenders Award too.
We'd love to send you a beautiful whale or dolphin birthday card for your special day - just let us know you'll be donating your birthday by emailing your name, address, date of your birthday and age (if you wish) to events@whales.org
Party for the Planet
Now we're able to get together with friends and family again, why not celebrate with a party for a purpose!
Hold a plastic-free Party for the Planet to raise money to help protect whales - after all, they're helping to save the planet!
Our simple fundraising games and ideas will turn any BBQ, dinner party, picnic or disco into a party that will really make a difference.
Your school, group or society can have a Party for the Planet as the end of term celebration too and all the money you raise will help WDC to protect whales (and dolphins) for the sake of our planet.
Contact events@whales.org for more info, ideas or fundraising materials.
Students & Universities
In addition to the ideas above and below, there are lots of fun ways that students can help with raising awareness of our work and fundraising as part of Masters' projects or other challenge schemes that form part of their degree courses. And whatever you want to do, we're here to help!
We'd also love to be your chosen RAG charity so please get in touch at events@whales.org
COP
Collect Old Phones
It's as easy as 1,2, 3 to set up a recycling station on campus for old phones, cameras, jewellery, sat navs, iPods, foreign currency and more.
- Pop a large, sturdy cardboard box in the students' union, bar and /or other prominent place(s).
- Advertise your donation station (we can send you a poster template)
- Email events@whales.org and we'll arrange for Recycling for Good Causes to send you a posting sack.
Let us know how much you raise and we'll send you a certificate to put next to your box.
Wacky World Record
Be the biggest or fastest or do the most of something - anything!
Check out the Guiness Book of Records to find a record students could set or break.
Why not make it an annual challenge by seeing if next year's Freshers can beat your record?
Ask for a donation to take part or be sponsored to complete the record-breaker. Tag us in @whalesorg when attempting your world record.
Don't forget to send us photos of your fundraising for Whale and Dolphin magazine- we need high-res (around 2MB) for print.
Pop-up Shop
Everyone loves a bargain and wants to be environmentally friendly by reducing waste, recyling and reusing.
Arrange a drop-off point for unwanted or duplicate household items, course books and clothes for a pop-up charity shop.
Turn a room or office on campus (or in the town/city) into a shop for a day or week and have fun sorting, selling and raising funds for whales and dolphins - and keeping unwanted items out of landfill and the oceans!
Contact events@whales.org for a chat and ideas for your pop-up shop
Photos above courtesy of Eiric Solheim, Prudence Earl & Jade Masri on Unsplash
More Ideas and Inspiration
The Stay Inn or Home Cinema
Host a Quiz Night and charge a small fee to take part - 50% to the winner and 50% to WDC. Contact us for a quiz about whales and dolphins.
Use Netflix Party Chrome Extension to host a movie night for friends and family and donate the cost of a cinema ticket and/or popcorn to WDC.
Share your Skills
Do you sing, dance, play an instrument, paint, draw, knit, sew or bake beautiful cakes?
Can you give a photography tutorial, teach yoga, Pilates, Tai Chi or a foreign language?
Give a class (online or in person)and set up a JustGiving page for donations.
Gained a few lbs or £s
If you want to get fit, why not be sponsored to run, cycle or walk to do just that! Set up your own sponsored event or join the WDC Great Migration to walk for whales.
Alternatively, if working from home saves you £s on bus, train or tube fares, or putting petrol in the tank, a few £s would help us to empty more tanks of a different kind.
Virtual Sleepovers
If your Brownies, Cubs or other group is still meeting online, it's still possible to earn a badge or two!
Use Zoom to enjoy a bedtime story together (whale or dolphin-themed of course) then complete our Dolphin Defender Award after breakfast together the next day.
For simple ideas and activities, contact events@whales.org
Brave the Shave
Three of our fantastic supporters raised over £1,500 by being sponsored to lose their hair. One even pledged to shave his eyebrows in return for more donations and another let her children cut her (very) long locks.
Send us a 'before' and 'after' photo so we can admire your new look and, with your permission, feature you in our magazine.
Flippin' Awesome
More easy fundraising ideas for children at home or at school.
And for more information on our Dolphin Defender and Porpoise Protector awards for children, please visit Kidzone.
Get Crafty
Sell home-made whale and dolphin-themed items to raise funds to support our work.
Cakes, sweets, painted stones, crocheted whales and jewellery are all very popular.
Seriously Challenging
Fancy skydiving, climbing Kilimanjaro or El Teide? How about a coastal walking or running challenge or a cycling event?
We'll help you find what you're looking for!
Contact events@whales.org.
In Memory Giving
Donating or fundraising in memory of a loved one is an incredibly special way to remember them. Your funeral director can forward cheques to us or you can set up a page for donations on JustGiving, Memory Giving or Muchloved.
Amazon Wish List
Support our vital research projects by purchasing something from our Amazon Wish List for our Science team. Items can be sent directly to our office but please let us know via events@whales.org what you're buying so that we can thank you.
