The Gladstone LCC team switched gears for this year’s annual Tour de Chaplain fundraiser to great effect, with event organisers attracting record participant numbers and chaplaincy donations.
Historically, the 100-kilometre cycle through the picturesque Boyne Valley, south of Gladstone, has been billed as a ride for school-aged children and young people. Demonstrating how important intentional branding is for growth with a fundraiser, the Gladstone LCC team changed the emphasis this July to a ride for adults.
“This year we promoted it as a ride for people who enjoy riding of adult age. For the $90 cost of registration, we ensured that there were support vehicles to follow the ride. We also gave the participants lunch; drink spots along the ride; and, an event at the finishing line with ‘Lucky Door’ prizes. This was the first time we’d run the program that way and we had more participants and raised more money this time than previous years,” says, Gladstone LCC Chairperson, David Young.
Not looking to rest on their laurels, the Gladstone LCC team organised a post-event hotpot dinner and gathered participants and volunteers together, who were eager to communicate their feedback and have their say on growing the event.
This was a really successful evening and we expect to see the event grow in the future with a clear vision, and a good sense of which aspects worked and which didn’t. Feedback to come from this meeting included: having a large time clock at the finish line to show participants how quickly they completed the course; improving course signage; and that the donation/registration website was a great feature.
“We got a website built so that people could donate via the website, and it made it a lot easier for everyone because you could register online as well, which took a lot of work away from us. It took a bit of setting up and organising but it was a really positive feature,” says David.
Under no illusion as to why they’re seeing growth for the Tour de Chaplain, David knows that different people get involved for various reasons.
“There are people who just enjoy a ride, so if you make the ride enjoyable, safe and you provide food for them, they’ll come back. Then there are people who just love chaplaincy and will do anything for it because it’s such a great cause. So if they can support it and get some exercise at the same time, they think that’s a good thing. Then there are others who just have a heart for young people and get involved in whatever way they can, whether that’s drink stops, making food or other capacities.”
The Gladstone LCC team have done a great job in making it appeal to all three types of people. The wider Gladstone community are also demonstrating their gratitude by rallying around this annual fundraiser.
“The whole Gladstone community has come on board to support the Tour de Chaplain,” says David.
TIPS:
- Websites are a great resource for donations and registrations. If someone in your team is able, consider building a page for your participants to use.
- Take time to make clear signage for any outdoor event (Roadside signage must comply with Main Roads requirements)
- Hold post-event meeting to discuss possible improvements and debrief volunteers.
- Consider target audience when creating and advertising an event.
- For a bike ride fundraiser, advertise in bike shops and coffee shops in order to attract more participants.
- Make the ride course as smooth, safe and scenic as possible to attract those participants who enjoy a ride.
- Make sure you find a course with as much well-tarred bitumen as possible and organise support cars with communication set up.