As we enter 2026, your training will be kicking into a higher gear and, with a little bit of inspiration, you can do the same with your fundraising. To help, here’s some New Year’s fundraising inspiration for TCS London Marathon.
Raffle off unwanted presents
Research shows that around half of us will have received a present that we didn’t really want this Christmas. But, as the old saying goes, one person’s trash is another person’s treasure.
So why not ask people you know if they’d donate unwanted presents for you to use as prizes in a fundraising raffle? Or you could use them as prizes for other fundraising events like quizes or board game nights.
We arranged a fundraising raffle and an evening of quizzes and Easter games inspired by things Emily loved. We were so humbled by people's generosity to donate prizes for the raffle and buying tickets. That event raised nearly £4000.
Andrew and Sarah, 2024 TCS London Marathon Runners.
Host a Scrabble tournament
9 Jan is National Word Nerd Day, which means it’s the perfect time to host a Scrabble tournament – whether you bring you local community together for some friendly competition or pit colleagues against each other for the Scrabble crown.
And, if Scrabble isn’t your cup of tea, you could host a bingo night or board game night instead.
Join our Facebook Group
We’ve got a dedicated Facebook Group for our TCS London Marathon runners. It’s a great place to get New Year’s fundraising inspiration for TCS London Marathon or share what’s worked for you to help inspire others.
Memory Miles is when you ask friends, family and colleagues if they’d like to sponsor a specific mile of the marathon in memory of a loved one.
You can also ask local businesses if they’d like to sponsor a mile in return for you posting about their support.
Sponsorships is always a success, whether it's sponsorship of a cape with names on like I did , or sponsorship of each mile. The key is keep sharing and asking.
Dawn, 2025 TCS London Marathon Runner
Raise some dough on National Pizza Day
National Pizza Day is 9 February and it’s a great time to raise some dough by hosting your own pizza party for friends and family! Simply provide all the ingredients for everyone to make their own pizza and ask people to donate in order to attend.
Ask your employer about matched funding
Lots of workplaces are happy to contribute to their employees’ fundraising efforts and will often do so using matched funding. This is where a company donates an additional pound for every pound you raise, up until a certain amount.
This can be extra effective if you’re hosting a fundraising event at work. You might find that colleagues are motivated to donate a little extra if they know your employer will have to match it.
Need to order fundraising materials?
From banners and bunting to collections tins and buckets, you can make sure your New Year’s fundraising looks the part by emailing us to order fundraising materials.
The winter weather can make it difficult to host more traditional fundraising events to boost the money you raise, so why not try your hand at streaming or gaming?
You can find everything you need to get started on our website and it’s a great opportunity to talk about why you’re raising funds for The Brain Tumour Charity.
Have a big spring clean
There’s nothing like having a big spring clean and clearing out your wardrobe. But, did you know you can also turn this into an easy way to raise funds without asking people you know to donate?
Simply sell your pre-loved items on second-hand marketplaces like Vinted and Ebay to boost your totals.
And, if people you know are having a spring clean too, you could even ask them to donate their pre-loved items to the cause.
Host an Oscar party
15 March will be the 90th Academy Awards and hosting an Oscar party can be a great way of raising funds – whether it’s at home or at the office.
Ask everybody to dress up as their favourite film character, then give out prizes for the best and worst costumes. Get everybody to predict who’ll win what awards, with a prize for whoever scores the highest.
You could even have a mini awards ceremony with trophies for made-up categories like Most Generous Donor, Best PowerPoint Presenter or Best Training Buddy – whatever’s fun and works best for those attending.
Book in a fundraising call
We’re here to support you at every step with your festive fundraising plans. Book in a call with one of our Events team if you’d like expert fundraising tips and advice.
