Moving into marketing -- and more donations!

It's been too long since my last update, please forgive me loyal followers, supporters and sponsors!

Since my last update, I have got a new job -- leaving behind the grey, drab world of purchasing I have become the new marketing guy for my company. What this means most importantly is I have almost complete control of my Peru trek publicity. The local "operating company" of my much larger company have formally agreed to sponsor me a very generous sum towards my final target. Putting my PR and journalistic skills to good use, I have produced press releases publicising the fact -- from a local angle (company gives money to local man) and the more corporate angle, for the trade press.

There has been a warm response from two local paid-for newspapers in Essex, with one daily evening paper sending a photographer round to my house this evening to take pictures. The other paper is very keen to run the story but is asking me to provide the pictures. Of course, I should have thought of this in the first place before sending the releases out -- they will get much more interest if they come with pictures. This will be remedied in the next day or two.

In other sponsorship news, my first fundraising event has been confirmed for the evening of October 22. A charity quiz night, hosted by a local DJ and renowned quiz master, is in the process of being booked -- the idea is for there to be six people to a team, paying £5 each, with the hall holding about 60 people in total. I have begun soliciting local shops and businesses for raffle prizes, next I need to work out some kind of advertising.

The Facebook group has swelled in numbers since my last post, it is now up to nearly 60 members and is a great way to publicise the fundraising events I am planning. It is also an easy way of keeping supporters updated with the sponsorship progress.

Money donated (or promised via my paper sponsorship form) to date totals almost £500! The handy little graphic in the sidebar tells me this makes it up to 15%. In the last three days I have had three separate donations; the Lions Club of South Woodham Ferrers have generously donated £100, my uncle sent me a cheque for a further £50 and a good friend this evening has donated £15.

I aim to have hit the £500 by the end of this weekend -- but let's see if I can smash through that target!

As always, anyone wanting to find out more information about the Peru hiking challenge, or the work of Macmillan, please visit http://www.macmillan.org.uk/peru. And any kind souls who would like to help support my great Peru trek for Macmillan Cancer Support can do so on my JustGiving page.

Things moving along very nicely

Ten days on from the blog and my Justgiving page going live, and I am pleased to report things are going along very well indeed. To summarise, briefly:

The dedicated Facebook group is nearly up to 50 members, with friends, family and friends-of-friends all joining to wish me luck with my trek and with the cause. Now, how to convert "members" into "sponsors" :)

Speaking of sponsors, sponsorship is currently at £275! It is nearly an even split between online and offline donations, which is interesting to know. Give it time, and I will be producing piecharts for this info. And for anyone wondering, the current total is 8% of the required £3,300. What does this mean? We are nearly into double figures already! I expect to break through the £300 barrier in a matter of days.

Initial negotiations with my company regarding corporate sponsorship have been positive, so I am hopeful that I will have more good news to report there soon. I am also in negotiations regarding having a "dress down" day, with £1 to join in -- and tomorrow I will be floating the idea of a Halowe'en theme and prize for the best dressed. Even if I have to provide the prize myself.

Contact has been established with my area's fundraising rep for Macmillan, who will be dutifully putting me in touch with the local team. I expect promotional materials, collection boxes and information about how to go about public collections to follow in short order. Along with lashings of moral support.

Finally, initial reports from the gym show that my fitness is moving in the right direction since my last reassessment. My body fat is down to 20% (and hopefully falling), and we have now completely redesigned my fitness program to incorporate much more climbing, walking, and CV work. I might try wearing a freezer bag over my head next time I'm using the step machine, for that authentic Inca Trail experience.

Remember, if you would like to help contribute towards my challenge and support Macmillan Cancer Support, please visit my JustGiving page.

Going to Peru for Macmillan Cancer Support

In December last year, my aunt lost her long battle with cancer. In her memory I have signed up to hike the Inca Trail for Macmillan Cancer Support. My aunt spoke of the Macmillan nurses as if they were saints to her, and I can think of no better tribute to her memory.

I will be joining around 60 people trekking the Inca Trail as part of Macmillan's Peru Hiking Challenge, between 29 May and 7 June 2009. The 10 day challenge will take us through cloud forest to a 4200m Andean peak, trekking along high mountain passes to Machu Picchu, Peru's famous lost city of the Incas. It promises to be an extremely testing physical challenge as we will be trekking and camping in remote and dramatic conditions. The event, and the months of preparation, will be tough but I am doing this to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support (registered charity no 261017).

I have to raise a minimum of £3,300 to take part in the event, of which at least 67% will benefit Macmillan Cancer Support. I hope to raise much more than this and hope that you will all consider sponsoring me in my challenge, which I am aware is a very minor compared with the challenge that cancer patients face each day.

If you are able to support me in my challenge, please visit my JustGiving page