Fundraising Ideas

Let us have your ideas and photos of what has been successful for raising money in these cash-strapped times.

The latest news is that a group of Lancaster youth walked across Morecambe Bay on Sunday 22 May, and got very sunburnt. Lobster is the word! 

Patricia Benson writes, ‘With the pilgrimage to Lourdes in the not-too-distant future, the Youth Service organised a walk across Morecambe Bay to raise funds. Patricia Benson reports, ‘It was great to meet everyone who could make the walk, there was a great atmosphere around the place. We were blessed with a hot sunny day and a lovely sea breeze. We never knew how damaging the sun could be to us until we had finished even though we were putting on factor 50 cream every hour. We were so excited meeting up with friends and we were laughing and joking most of the walk. From the beginning, we were having water fights and mud wrestling competitions so it was hard to keep dry. But parts of the walk were much wetter and there were parts where the water came up knee and even waist-high and the current was against us. The last mile was definitely a struggle; everyone was really wet, tired and aching all over, the sun was getting to us.  But if Jesus could walk in the desert for 40 days and nights, we were sure we could do this little walk (9miles) across Morecombe bay and especially just over the little mountain right at the end. The day was amazing – there were 140 people altogether with a good number of the youth from Lancaster Diocese doing the walk. Very proud of you all… Now where is the after sun? Thank you all who sponsored us to support the youth service around the Diocese’.

Rumour has it that some groups are cycling coast-to-coast, hiking from Blackpool to Lancaster, sponsored leg waxing, throwing themselves out of planes, even running marathons.

And how about this? Extreme dining – a three course meal, complete with champagne, candelabra and dressed for the occasion too, all on top of a mountain!

And some manual work at Hyning Hall Convent

A Saint George’s Day Beetle Drive extravaganza brought fun, fellowship and funds for this summer’s Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes.

English Martyrs’ church hall in Poulton-le-Fylde was bedecked in the red and white flags of Saint George on his feast day in April. 25 parishioners and friends battled it out in a traditional beetle drive and enjoyed refreshments including buns topped with edible beetles made from icing. The evening was a huge success and raised £230 for Jon Lord, pictured, for the Lourdes pilgrimage. Another of Jon’s ideas was a thirty-hour sponsored fast: “For millions of people all over the world going 30 hours between meals is the norm. Most of us wouldn’t normally go for more than three hours without eating something. That’s why I decided to take up the challenge of fasting for 30 hours to raise money for the pilgrimage to Lourdes. Starting at 12 noon on Friday 15th May I went without food until Saturday evening when I received holy communion at our 6pm vigil Mass at English Martyrs. So just before Midday on Friday I tried my best to fill my stomach with all manner of biscuits and chocolate as any student normally does. Knowing that I would not eat again until the following evening was indeed a sobering thought. But it wasn’t so much about the fasting itself. It was the time I spent in prayer and reflection with God when I would normally have been preparing or eating meals that made this prayer fast such a worthwhile and strengthening experience. I felt strength through the Holy Spirit which guided me through each hour and gradually the hunger for food dissipated into a hunger for my Lord. My faith grew stronger as I reflected on how fortunate we are to live in a country where we have no worries about food being on our plate. My relationship with God grew stronger as I realised the great love He has for us and His sacrifice on the Cross for our sake. It was a wonderful feeling to be in the presence of God without the distractions which are constant in our demanding 24/7 society. The fast ended after Saturday evening Mass when I tucked into a delicious cake courtesy of the world’s best baker, my Mum, Mary. Everyone gathered in the church hall for tea and cakes to celebrate. I would like the thank our parishioners at English Martyrs for their support through prayers and donations.”