Ground view of blue trainers running past camera

Fundraising and Training Tips

We want the Dash to be inclusive and celebrate the work that Sue Ryder does and so we’ve made sure that fundraising isn’t required. That being said, the funds Sue Ryder receives are vital and we’d love to add to the amazing total already raised by the dash to date.

Fundraising for Sue Ryder through the December Daily Dash means you’ll be there when it matters. You’ll be supporting people through the most difficult times of their lives, whether that’s a terminal illness, the loss of a loved one or a neurological condition. You’ll be enabling doctors, nurses and carers to give people the compassion and expert care they need to help them live the best life they possibly can in our care centres, out in the community, and online.

Register
A group of people in a photo together, all wearing orange t-shirts

Fundraising Top Tips

Maximise your fundraising efforts by perfecting your JustGiving page. We’ve included some ways you can make the most of having a page below, making it easier for you to get started:

  • Give us a smile: pages with selfies can raise 23% more.
  • Tell your story and share why you’re taking part.
  • Tick off a target: setting one will raise a whopping 45% more on average.
  • Go viral: Share your page on Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, and LinkedIn…
  • Keep it current: add images and updates to keep your fans engaged.
  • Track your activity: Link up your Strava account to your JustGiving page to keep your sponsors up to date.

Fundraising A-Z

Download

Fundraising Top Tips

Download

How Your Money Helps

Download

Training Advice

From England Athletics and GB squad coach Nick Anderson and the team at Running With Us.
  • This is a month of running, jogging or walking, not a sprint. Take it easy and build up slowly; don't overdo it early on. Have patience.
  • Spoil yourself and go for a proper gait analysis shoe fitting well before we begin in December. Not only will this help avoid injury but it sounds impressive in the pub. What works for one doesn't work for another, so make sure your footwear is suitable for you and most importantly comfortable!
  • Add some speedwork for a fast time. Training for something else? Not got much time today? Interval or Fartlek runs will help you build up your stamina and pace. There are plenty of different types of effort you can be doing within your training runs that bring different benefits. Take a look at the Running With Us glossary for some inspiration.
  • Find a training partner. It's much harder to skip a day's dash when someone's waiting for you to turn up. It’ll also keep you focused on getting out in the rain or snow!
  • Track your progress. Log your training to see the improvements you're making and be inspired by other dashers too.
  • Drink water – although it’s cold in winter, it’s important to stay hydrated and drink water little and often. Nutrition is also a key part of training. Refuel with good sources of quality carbohydrates and repair and regrow those muscles with good sources of quality protein. Aim for 10 portions of fruit and veg a day - variety is key. Find out more with Nutrition Tips from Nick and the team.
  • Stretch! As boring as it can be sometimes, it helps to warm up and down after each day to keep your muscles relaxed and is vital for preventing injury! Make time for this… Look at Running With Us' guide here.
  • Don't neglect rest/recovery - however much the training is important, it won't last and nor will you get faster and fitter if you don't rest, so be aware of what you are doing the other hours of the day to make sure rest is at its best!
  • Strength and conditioning is also a must to stay injury-free! It doesn't need to take hours, nor do you need to hit the gym . Have a look at these strength training ideas and getting to the core guide.
  • Don't ignore the warning signs of niggles, if there is an ache or pain one side and not the other, chances are something is occurring. Please don't ignore this ! Pull back the effort of your run and get to see a specialist ASAP.
  • Avoid two hard back-to-back days... if you give it some effort one day, always make sure the next day is a very easy run or walk.

You can download all these training tips in a handy document here.

Three people wearing bright yellow t-shirts running with their dog

If you’ve got any questions, get in touch with the Sue Ryder coach: Nick Anderson at info@runningwithus.com.

There are plenty of videos that can support you with all the aspects of taking part in the Dash. There are a couple of our favourites below, and you can head to the Sue Ryder YouTube channel to find out more about their work, training and fundraising advice.