Fundraising can take many shapes and forms - from bake sales to scaling Everest. This week, we wanted to celebrate the achievements and dedication of fundraisers and thank them for their time and perseverance in undertaking challenges to support Hope into Action. 

Mark Corson has just completed a twelve day cycling challenge, travelling from Lands End to John O'Groats to raise money for one of our newest franchises, Staffordshire, a franchise Mark himself is involved in. Mark set out on his challenge on Sunday 1st September, after setting up his Enthuse page. Enthuse is a fundraising platform designed to host fundraising challenge pages, where fundraisers can collect sponsorship for their event and raise money for a cause of their choice. 

Here, Mark shares with us a few words about organising his fundraiser and his thoughts on the challenge he set himself. 

"I have wanted to do the Lands End to John O’Groats cycle for some time and this year the opportunity arose, initially with my brother in law, but it turned out his was going to be fully supported and staying in first rate hotels, so was going to cost more than I thought I’d raise. So I decided to organise it myself…how hard can it be? Route planning, campsite booking, hotel booking, sourcing the necessary equipment for camping, bike maintenance, training (including three days cycling in wales to test the distance), publicity, etc. 

As we were discussing setting up a new franchise of Hope into Action, it all fell into place to do the ride for sponsorship for the local charity. 

In fact, it was all in God’s timing. We’d just been accepted by Hope into Action to have the franchise and were able to ask them to help with collecting the money…it would have been much more complicated without that.

The ride itself has been challenging but really enjoyable. I rode with my son and his girlfriend for the first five days, a few friends around my home town of Stafford and since then the last seven days are on my own, with my wife providing car support and lunches. Each day I’ve been riding about 120-130km, with various hills, especially in Cornwall and the Lake District."

Mark's fundraiser finished with a challenging ride through the Scottish Highlands. His Enthuse fundraising page, as of 27th September, has reached donations of £6041, with 99 people supporting him. It's wonderful to see the support Mark has garnered through his efforts, and how a simple idea can have a big impact, with one of our newest franchises, Staffordshire, being supported to help set up and begin supporting people in the local area affected by homelessness. 

Thanks to Mark for his perseverance and strength to complete such a difficult challenge and thank you to everyone who has supported Mark and Hope into Action Staffordshire, through your generous donations. 

If you have a fundraising idea and want to raise money for Hope into Action, you can set your Enthuse page up online for free here.