Sunny days and generous ways: Join CAFOD for a Summer of Hope
As summer approaches, and with the promise of warmer weather on the horizon, there are plenty of opportunities to get outside and get together with friends and family. This year, we’re treated to a summer of sport, with the Euro’s, Copa America, Tour de France, Wimbledon and the Paris Olympics and Paralympics taking place between June and September. With a particularly sporty summer ahead, why not make the most of this and organise a Summer of Hope fundraiser for CAFOD!
There are so many ways you can raise money for CAFOD while getting sporty this summer. You could host your own tennis or cricket tournament, penalty shootout or Olympic games in your local park, and ask people to make a donation as a way of entering your competition. Or, take on your own sponsored swim or cycle.
Meet the Denning family. The Dennings decided to fundraise for their Summer of Hope by taking on their own cycling challenge, cycling 67 miles together and raising just short of £600!
Victoria, mum to Eva and George, said:
“We started off when Grandad dropped us and our bikes off in Newcastle and rode from there to Durham along mainly old railway tracks. We stayed in Durham overnight and the next day rode back to Richmondshire, North Yorkshire. The first day was 32 miles and the second day was just short of 35 miles.
“My children have been delighted and excited to see the total of our fundraising going up! They really enjoyed the bike ride too!”
Of course, you don’t have to be sporty to host a Summer of Hope event. The possibilities for activities this summer are endless – and the choice is yours! If you’re a foodie, why not get your Bake Off or Masterchef vibe on with a fun and fabulous food fundraiser; a curry or Jollof rice cook off, or a ‘rise and shine’ pancake breakfast, or how about a veggie or meat BBQ grill off – there are so many exciting foodie ways to bring people together and raise money.
Using our A-Z of fundraising ideas, you could get inspired to organise your own fundraising event with your friends, family or parish! Here are some ideas to get you started:
- Eating al fresco: Nothing beats gathering your friends and family in the summer, soaking up the sun in your back garden or local park, and sharing a meal together. Whether it’s a BBQ or a picnic, encourage your guests to bring a dish and ask for donations.
This is one of Nisha’s favourite things to do with her local parish. Nisha, a CAFOD volunteer and staff nurse, shows us her recipe of a traditional Indian dish – tuna cutlets – that is perfect for summer!
She says: “It’s like a starter before your main meal. You can have it like a snack as well, and for when you go for picnics.”
Nisha spoke about when she cooked an Indian meal for all her parish last summer:
“All my friends helped me with the cooking, and my family as well. We cooked some onion bhaji’s, fried rice and we made some other things like cakes and puddings. We had some entertainment in between while people were having food, kids were dancing and there was music. All the community were involved. It was a really blessed day.”
You can hear more from Nisha and find her tuna cutlet recipe here.
- Afternoon tea: Roll out your best china and serve your favourite afternoon tea to your guests. This doesn’t have to be traditional tea and scones! Why not change up your afternoon tea event and explore serving teas and snacks from different cultures? You could serve Indian chai tea with snacks like pakoras or gulab jamun, Latin American coffee with empanadas or churros, or a selection of African teas like roobios or hibiscus tea with mandazi.
- Tennis fundraiser: Getting into the Wimbledon spirit? Why not join the fun and hold your own tennis fundraiser this Summer Of Hope! You may want to get involved in the action and hold your own tennis-a-thon. Or, perhaps you prefer the role of spectator, relaxing with a glass of Pimms and some strawberries and cream. If that’s more your style, you could host a Wimbledon-themed garden party, or a ‘watch’ party for a match of your choice! Visit our Tennis fundraiser page for more inspiration.
The last step is to set up your JustGiving page and start collecting sponsors, then share your fundraising page on social media, email and with your parish.
Tag any photos with @cafod and #SummerOfHope on social media. If you have any questions or comments, or want to send us any photos, please email events@cafod.org.uk.