What are Get Kids Going! – My Virtual Runs
Get Kids Going! – My Virtual Runs are a series of virtual runs which can be done over a distance of 5k, 10k, 10 miles, half marathon or marathon, all of which have been designed by Get Kids Going! specially for our runners and are here to help you achieve your personal goals. By doing your own virtual run of a 5k,10k, 10 miles, half marathon or a marathon distance it will help keep you fit, healthy and active. My Virtual Runs may also help you achieve and maintain your target weight and improve your mental wellbeing.
You can do your runs; when you can, however you like and where it’s safe for you.
You can choose your distance, time, pace and safe place. This could be your local area, home, park or even on a treadmill.
Once you have chosen your distance, all you have to do is choose when, where and how you do your training and your run. When you’ve got that sorted you’re ready to get up and going!
What’s also great about Get Kids Going! – My Virtual Runs is that all our runs are absolutely free – there’s no entry or sign-up fee.
When can I start and finish my run?
You can start your run whenever you want. There is no set date. So you decide your own training days and on which date you decide to run your full distance. So, you choose your own start and finish date. We advise that you set a start date and also a finish date so that you focus on completing your distance on a specific date. If you need to extend your finish date a little to ensure you complete your chosen distance then you can do that. It’s not a problem. The main thing is that you do your training safely and complete your target distance – ie. your 5k, 10k, 10 miles, half marathon or marathon.
How can I do my virtual run?
You can do it; when you can, however you like and where it’s safe for you.
You can choose your distance, time, pace and safe place. This could be your local area, home, garden or park.
Do I have to pay an entry fee or registration fee?
Signing-up to Get Kids Going! – My Virtual Runs is free! It is, however, a challenge so we do kindly ask everyone who signs up to fundraise for Get Kids Going! to help disabled children to participate in sport. Get Kids Going! encourages disabled children to play sport by providing them with sports wheelchairs and sports grants so they too are active and healthy.
Is there an age limit to take part?
There is no age limit. We welcome everyone. Participants under the age of 16, however, should ask their parent or guardian to send us an email to confirm that they are happy for you to take part. We advise anyone under the age of 16 years to take part in the 5k or 10k distances only. Please ask your parent or guardian to email us at – [email protected] or call us on 0207 481 8110.
What is JustGiving, how do I set up my online fundraising page?
JustGiving is an, easy to use, online fundraising website which helps you with your fundraising and lets you tell everyone about your challenge and about everything you want to say while you are doing your virtual run. It’s a great way to communicate with everyone.
Not only is it a great way to fundraise but you can share your page with friends and family to encourage them to donate to your run.
You should set a fundraising target and share your online page with your friends and family.
You can upload your own images and write your own daily blog.
You can set up your JustGiving page now but we will also send you a link to remind you to set up your page when you have completed the Sign Up page.
How do I get help with my JustGiving fundraising page?
If you need help setting up or using your fundraising page, making a donation, or anything else just get in touch with us on – [email protected] or call us on 0207 481 8110.
Not only does JustGiving help you with all the technical kinds of things, they also have got lots of tried and tested ideas to help you with your fundraising!
What happens when I have signed up and what support do I receive from Get Kids Going!?
The Get Kids Going! team are here to support you with your running and fundraising. You can contact us at any time by email or phone. We will be in touch with emails that will provide you with inspiration, motivation, top tips and fundraising resources and ideas. You can also download fundraising information such as our; bright ideas for fundraising, sponsor forms and information leaflets from our website at www.getkidsgoing.com.
You can also get lots of information from our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. We would like you to upload lots of stories and images to the Get Kids Going! social media pages, your own Facebook and Twitter and also to your JustGiving fundraising page. The more images and stories you give us the better we like it! So, get your social media and fundraising pages going as soon as you can. Our social media manager may also be in touch kindly asking if you have any stories and images you would like to share. So, we want to hear all about your training and your run!
I’m having problems signing up, who can help me?
If you have any problems signing up just get in touch with us by email or phone at – [email protected] or phone 0207 481 8110. We’ll be pleased to help.
Do I have to fundraise?
Get Kids Going! – My Virtual Runs are a series of virtual runs set up by Get Kids Going! to help raise funds for the many disabled children who need our support, so we ask and encourage all participants to kindly fundraise. If you don’t want to set up a JustGiving page then you can collect your donations by cheque or cash. That’s not a problem. But, we do encourage everyone to set up their own JustGiving page so you can tell us all about your run and everything you are doing to reach your goal! All your kind donations are given to Get Kids Going! – registered charity 1063471 – to support the many disabled children who need our help. Please help us turn their dreams into reality by enabling them to play sport. Thank you.
Is there a minimum fundraising amount?*
No, there is no minimum fundraising amount, however, if you raise £200 or more we will be pleased to send you a Get Kids Going! sports shirt. We would really like you to enjoy and make the most of your running by asking all your friends and family for sponsorship to help us encourage more disabled children to play sport.
Everyone who takes part in a Get Kids Going! – My Virtual Run will receive a Get Kids Going! Certificate of Achievement and a Get Kids Going! sports shirt when you have completed your chosen distance. To be awarded a Get Kids Going! sports shirt you need to have run your total distance and raised £200 or more for Get Kids Going! So, don’t miss out on your Certificate of Achievement and a Get Kids Going! sports shirt.
We are here to encourage you with your training, nutrition and help you to set yourself a fundraising target on your JustGiving page to keep you really motivated and excited about your participation in your Get Kids Going! – My Virtual Runs.
Is there a fundraising pack?
Yes, you can download a Get Kids Going! fundraising and information pack from www.getkidsgoing.com or click on our fundraising downloads here.
Is there any help to get me started?
If you need any help or inspiration to get you started then just get in touch with us. We’ll be pleased to hear from you and give you lots of help and support.
A great way to get started is to decide which distance you would like to run for example a; 5k, 10k, 10 miles, 13.1 miles or 26.2 miles and when you plan to start. It’s a great idea to get started straight away – set a start date and set an end date so it keeps you focused. If you download our training programme this will help you plan your runs and help you increase your fitness and distance until you reach your final distance goal. You can log all your running days on your JustGiving page with images and a daily write up telling everyone how you are doing! Also, we encourage you to put lots on the Get Kids Going! Facebook and Twitter pages along with your own social media pages. It’s a great way to communicate with everyone.
It’s great to get out there and get going! You can plan your running distance, time and pace – stick to your training plan and days if you can. If something puts you off track then don’t worry you can pick it up a day or two later but make sure you keep your running distance goal in the forefront of your mind. That’s important. You will feel a lot fitter, healthier and pick up a daily dose of positive vibes when you are out doing your run.
So, if you need any help or inspiration then don’t hesitate to get in touch with us – remember we are there to help you all the way!
If I don’t want to sign up online or set up a JustGiving page can I still take part?
We like to encourage you to sign up online to ensure you receive all our motivational emails, free training programmes and fundraising support however, you can still take part in Get Kids Going! – My Virtual Runs without registering online. All you have to do is get in touch with us by emailing us on – [email protected] or call us on 0207 481 8110. We will be pleased to hear from you.
How do I tell you when I’ve achieved my running distance?
We hope you will keep in touch with us throughout your training and let us know when you plan to do your big run – ie. your 5k, 10k, 10 miles, 13.1 miles or full marathon distance. Also, please keep your JustGiving page updated so we can see how your training is going, how you are improving and extending your training runs as you go along. As soon as you have completed your big run all you have to do is send us an email or give us a ring to tell us you have completed your virtual run. We can then say a big thank you, congratulations and send you your Certificate of Achievement and your Get Kids Going! sports shirt. Remember, to qualify for your sports you must raise £200 or more for Get Kids Going! on your JustGiving page or you can give us your kind donation over the phone by a debit or credit card.
We will send you a Certificate of Achievement no matter how much you raise. So, everyone who takes part in Get Kids Going! – My Virtual Runs receives a certificate and a big thank you!
Can I create a team?
Yes! Once you’ve signed up to your virtual run you can create a team on your JustGiving page so you, your best friend or friends can all join in. You can either set up individual fundraising pages or one joint fundraising page together so your fundraising contributes to a bigger goal. If you decide to set up a JustGiving joint page please let us know by emailing us on – [email protected] so that we know who is in your team. We can then send everyone their own Certificate of Achievement. We would also love to know what distances you are all running. So, if you want to set up a joint fundraising page that’s absolutely great but please let us know.
Remember, you must sign up as an individual before creating your JustGiving page.
How can I collect sponsorship?
The quickest and easiest way to collect sponsorship is through donations directly to your JustGiving fundraising page. However, you can also send us any kind cheque donations you might receive for your virtual run in the post. If you need a sponsor form then just download it here.
If you receive any cash donations please just add the cash to your JustGiving fundraising page. Or, if you have any questions about a cash donation then please get in touch. We will be pleased to help you.
How do I pay my donations or sponsorship to Get Kids Going!?
We really would like you to set up your JustGiving page so that everyone can give a kind donation to you online. By doing this all your kind donations will come to Get Kids Going! automatically. JustGiving is a fantastic way to fundraise and tell everyone, including us, what you are doing and how you are really conquering your challenge. It’s so important to set up your fundraising page straight away so you get everyone on board and you feel inspired to do your best and achieve your goal!
If you have collected any cash then you can pay the money yourself (using a credit or debit card) to your fundraising page.
Or, you can send us a cheque (made payable to Get Kids Going!) to: Get Kids Going!, 4 Chandlery House, 40 Gowers Walk, London. E1 8BH.
If you are mailing us any kind donation cheque/s please remember to add a note in the envelope, with your cheque/s, so we know they are from you and we can add it to your total.
If you are mailing a cheque please do remember to fill out a sponsor form and tick the gift aid box so we can claim the gift aid too! Which all adds to your fundraising amount. Or, if you would like us to email you a sponsor form just ask. It’s not a problem.
How long do I have to pay in my donations or sponsorship?
If you have set up your JustGiving fundraising page your kind donations will come to us automatically. We would like you to set a time limit for your run if you can so that you keep focused and achieve your challenge and fundraising goals.
If you have decided to undertake a long run – ie. marathon distance or more then that’s great but please keep us informed about everything you are doing and how long you think it will take you. And, please keep the fundraising going on your online page.
What is Gift Aid and how it helps Get Kids Going!
Gift Aid adds 25p to every £1 donated, at no cost to the donor. It’s a Government scheme that enables Get Kids Going! to claim this ‘extra money’ from Income Tax already paid to HMRC. To allow us to claim Gift Aid, the kind donor has to be a UK taxpayer and have paid sufficient Income Tax and/or Capital Gains Tax to cover the amount we will reclaim in the tax year.
If you have set up your JustGiving page then any Gift Aid will automatically be given to Get Kids Going! by JustGiving. So, every little helps us and also helps you to achieve your fundraising goal!
If you are collecting your donations by cheque/s please send them to us in the post but before doing so please make sure you download a sponsor form, fill in the form and tick the gift aid box so we can reclaim the Gift Aid. Please send both the cheque/s and the Gift Aid form in one envelope.
If you need any more help to explain Gift Aid then please do not hesitate to ask.
How will I know when I’ve finished my virtual run?
If you have been using your own fitness tracker, health app on your mobile or any other tracking device such as Strava or MapMyFitness whilst doing your run you will be able to keep an eye on your training and the mileage. Or, you may have a tracking app which will automatically alert you when you have completed your distance. Or, just as easy you can manually update your JustGiving fundraising page yourself to keep an eye on how you are doing and when you have finished.
How do I track my distance, miles, steps etc?
It’s easy! The best way to track your distance, miles, steps etc. is by using your own fitness tracker, health app on your mobile or any other tracking device such as MapMyFitness or Strava. Or, you can write up manual notes in your diary or in your notepad.
Remember, to also upload your distance, miles, steps, etc. to your JustGiving page so all your supporters can see how great you are doing with your challenge.
What is MapMyFitness and Strava – and how do I use them?
MapMyFitness and Strava are training apps which tracks and records your distance, weight, training and lots more. You can set up your own MapMyFitness or Strava by just going to Google and signing up to the app. There are a number of other fitness, distance tracking apps on the market so you have lots to choose from if you want to have your own tracking app.
We have found that if you set up your JustGiving page and link it to your tracking app you may well find that you could raise up to 45% more donations! All your supporters will take a great interest in what you are doing and will love to see how you are getting on and the fantastic progress you are making!
What if I don’t want to use a tracking app?
How can I track the distance, miles, steps etc. I’ve completed?
Don’t worry, if you don’t want to use a fitness tracking app, you can still easily keep track of your miles or distance through your JustGiving fundraising page by manually updating your page. Also, remember you can keep your own log in your diary or in your notebook. Or, you can write up your own blog on the JustGiving page so everyone knows how you are doing! It’s all easy to do!
How does Get Kids Going! benefit from the kind donations I raise?
Get Kids Going! is a registered national charity (no. 1063471) which gives disabled children and young people, up to the age of 26 years, the wonderful opportunity of participating in sport. We provide them with specially built sports’ wheelchairs so they can do: athletics, marathons, tennis, skiing, rugby, sailing, boccia, basketball, snowboarding, shooting and many more sports. Get Kids Going! inspires British disabled youngsters to compete in sporting events, from start to paralympic level, by also giving them annual sports grants to help with their; training, travel, competition fees and much more. With your help many can become world record holders and paralympic champions.
Get Kids Going! usually raises, on average, £1m a year with a small, dedicated team of staff and volunteers to help and support all our kind runners, supporters and donors along with the many disabled youngsters who need our help. Sadly, because of Covid-19 the charity’s income and fundraising events have been severely reduced. This is why we have introduced a series of new virtual fundraising runs called, Get Kids Going! – My Virtual Runs for all our wonderful supporters to participate in to help them keep healthy, motivated and achieve their lifelong goals and also to help give much needed support to our fantastic disabled youngsters who need everyone’s support right now.
So, we are asking everyone to get going and start your virtual run today – this is just the right time to start a challenge, be outside and get running!
I am unable to find an answer to my question. What do I do?
Don’t worry, please send your question to us by email – [email protected] or you can phone us on – 0207 481 8110. You are always welcome and we will be very happy to help. You can contact us at the Get Kids Going! office at any time.