300,125 Steps in July FAQs

2022 is Blue Cross’ 125th Anniversary, so rather than simply doing a well-rounded 300,000 steps, we’re asking you to do an extra 125 to celebrate our anniversary!

This event is FREE for anyone to take part, get involved and you'll be sent your free t-shirt when you've signed up and created your Facebook Fundraiser or Just Giving Page

Firstly, join our Facebook Group and complete this short form to join.

Registration for this event will close on 30 June so please sign up as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

To set up your Facebook Fundraiser for Blue Cross please click here.

Of course, you can create a Just Giving page instead if you prefer.

If you’re not able to, or would prefer not to create an online fundraising page, you can make use of a good old fashioned sponsorship form, collect money in, then pay in by sending a cheque made payable to BLUE CROSS and addressed FAO: Community & Events, Blue Cross, Shilton Road, Oxon, OX18 4PF. Please include a note to say the money was raised for the 300,125 Steps for Pets in July Challenge so we know how it was raised. Or alternatively, you can email [email protected] to arrange to make a bank transfer.

Once you have set up your Facebook Fundraiser, click ‘edit’ or ‘manage’ – here you can change anything you want to from the name of your page to the amount you’d like to raise.

All sponsorship will come directly to Blue Cross. You don't have to worry about this as it happens automatically.

Once you've created your fundraising page and completed this short form, your free 300,125 Steps for Pets in July Challenge t-shirt will be sent to you. You can either get your fundraiser started by donating yourself or you can get a friend, family member or colleague to donate to your page.

Please allow up to 10 days for your FREE t-shirt to arrive due to potential delays in the postal system as you continue to raise vital funds to help us pets in need.

To qualify for a FREE t-shirt, each person taking part needs to register under their own name and set up either a Facebook Fundraiser or Just Giving Page. Once this is done, it triggers the sending of the t-shirt to the person who registered and set up the fundraiser.

Don't worry, please just set up a new Facebook Fundraiser for Blue Cross.

No. You can take part if you’re 10 or 110! But, if you’re under 18, you will need a parent or guardian to agree that you can take part. By completing this form you are agreeing that if you are under the age of 18 you have advised your parent or guardian that you are fundraising for Blue Cross, and they are in agreement with this.

You can take part however you like. This challenge can be completed alone, with your household, even virtually with friends and family!

You can do as many or as few steps a day as you like, there’s no minimum or maximum limit, in fact you may even choose to take day off – all we ask is that you complete the 300,125 target within in the month of July. Join our Facebook group and complete this short form to begin!

You can download our handy Steps Tracker then print and use to keep on track with your progress. Posting photos of your filled in tracker along with pictures or videos of you doing your sit-ups is a great way to promote your progress and share your successes with family and friends, which will also increase your fundraising. Don’t forget to post your progress in the Facebook group too!

You don’t have to prove this but we recommend that you post pictures and updates on your fundraising page with your daily or weekly step count so everyone can see your progress including the friends and family who have sponsored you. Don’t forget to post your tracker progress in the Facebook group too!

We only ask that you raise as much as you’re able. Facebook will automatically set the target on your page at £150, which could fund vaccinations for ten cats, provide flea and worming treatment for thirteen rabbits or fund a vet check and neuter for one dog.

Here are some tips for how you can get your first donation and continue to receive more:

• Share your fundraiser on all your social platforms, with your colleagues, friends and family.
• Invite people to your fundraiser using the invite button at the top of your fundraising page.
• Donate to your own fundraiser to get it off the mark

There are a few key things you can do to make the most of your fundraising page, including:

Share your fundraiser:

At the top of your Fundraising Page, you'll see a button which says "share", click on that and follow the steps to post it to your Facebook page and/or copy and paste the link (URL) to share it on email, Facebook messenger, WhatsApp, or any other social platforms to ask for donations from specific friends, family or colleagues.

Tell your story:

Tell your supporters why you are taking part in the challenge and what a difference their donations will make to Blue Cross and the pets/people we support.

Post photos and content:

Keep everyone updated. Try to share regular updates and progress pictures on your fundraising page AND on your main social media accounts. Your supporters will enjoy sharing your journey with you and want to know how you’re getting on. Don’t forget to include with the link to your fundraising page people will likely see how amazing you're doing and donate to show their support.

You could post photos of your tracker with daily or weekly updates or post photo / videos of you doing some steps.

Why not share a photo of you in your FREE t-shirt?

Match Funding

Ask your workplace if they can match fund your fundraising total as this will really help to maximise vital funds.

Other hints and tips

Increase your target by £100 whenever you're within £50 of reaching it as people are more likely to donate to help you reach your target.

Are you a member of other Facebook groups? Share your Fundraiser in those groups and let people know why you are fundraising.