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Search 69,459 Camino Questions

Have you been sponsored?

Sue127

Veteran Member
Time of past OR future Camino
Mozarabe Feb 24
Hi,

I wonder if this is thought of as an 'OK' thing to do when walking the Camino. I'll be starting my first - Camino Frances - at the end of May and wondered whether anyone else has used this personal experience of walking as a way to also fund raise for charity? Last year, my husband and I did a 24 hour non-stop music event to raise money for Médecins sans Frontières and I thought about asking for sponsorship for them when I walk this year. What are your thoughts on this?
 
The focus is on reducing the risk of failure through being well prepared. 2nd ed.
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I met one person 2 years ago who said he was being sponsored on his walk. I felt it was was placing additional stress on him - it was as if he had an obligation to complete the walk so as not to disappoint others. He was gym fit but not used to walk up and down hills.
If you are going to to raise sponsorship, allow yourself time to take rest days or go at a slower pace, so that you can enjoy the journey and not only focus on the finishing line.
 
St James' Way - Self-guided 4-7 day Walking Packages, Reading to Southampton, 110 kms
Sponsorship is fine providing that you meet the Camino costs out of your own cash. It does not seem quite right to expect sponsors to pay for your Camino.
The sponsorship would be purely for Médecins sans Frontières and, as I previously stated, I would not be asking people en route. I may well wear one of their shirts and if people ask, I’d explain. No, the asking for sponsorship in general would be via Justgiving, so I don’t even touch the money, it goes straight to MSF.
 
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Hi,

I wonder if this is thought of as an 'OK' thing to do when walking the Camino. I'll be starting my first - Camino Frances - at the end of May and wondered whether anyone else has used this personal experience of walking as a way to also fund raise for charity? Last year, my husband and I did a 24 hour non-stop music event to raise money for Médecins sans Frontières and I thought about asking for sponsorship for them when I walk this year. What are your thoughts on this?
Hi Sue Yes interesting subject. The first Camino I walked three years ago, our granddaughter died before I left to walk of Cystic Fibrosis. So we did a fundraiser for CF and raised 5000$ yes very successful I even got two Tshirts with her face printed on the front and CF on it as well. DID NOT WORK. As we live in New Zealand people had little connection to our fundraising effort also people have their own reasons for walking. The walker is usually on a tight budget and the locals will not be able to connect with the fundraising reason.I think at times it detracted from getting the true meaning out of the Camino. When I say it did not work, we did raise 5000$ but it was all from New Zealand and mostly all from before I started to walk. Having said all of this it was a beautiful experience having my grandaughters picture on my Tshirt as I walked it was a great conversation piece
I hope this has not sounded too negative,if you can make it work then go for it.
Good luck God bless.
 
Hi Sue Yes interesting subject. The first Camino I walked three years ago, our granddaughter died before I left to walk of Cystic Fibrosis. So we did a fundraiser for CF and raised 5000$ yes very successful I even got two Tshirts with her face printed on the front and CF on it as well. DID NOT WORK. As we live in New Zealand people had little connection to our fundraising effort also people have their own reasons for walking. The walker is usually on a tight budget and the locals will not be able to connect with the fundraising reason.I think at times it detracted from getting the true meaning out of the Camino. When I say it did not work, we did raise 5000$ but it was all from New Zealand and mostly all from before I started to walk. Having said all of this it was a beautiful experience having my grandaughters picture on my Tshirt as I walked it was a great conversation piece
I hope this has not sounded too negative,if you can make it work then go for it.
Good luck God bless.
Hi Terry,

I'm sorry for your loss, so sad to lose a young child. I'm aiming on the same as you, gaining sponsorship from those that are back home, watching my progress. It seemed like a good chance to raise some money for a worthy cause - I'll be out enjoying myself (I hope) and they'll be sitting at home thinking she's nuts, and will maybe be willing to donate to Medecins sans Frontieres. All the people that I will ask back home are aware of my support for this cause - this will be the fourth time of asking. I'm not aiming for a target - as my mum always used to say "something is better than nothing". My main reason is a journey for me, so asking for sponsorship for charity will be an added bonus.
 
Sponsorship is fine providing that you meet the Camino costs out of your own cash. It does not seem quite right to expect sponsors to pay for your Camino.
PLease read above - this has been explained - I am not raising money for myself - I would not even dream of that.
 
The focus is on reducing the risk of failure through being well prepared. 2nd ed.
I met one person 2 years ago who said he was being sponsored on his walk. I felt it was was placing additional stress on him - it was as if he had an obligation to complete the walk so as not to disappoint others. He was gym fit but not used to walk up and down hills.
If you are going to to raise sponsorship, allow yourself time to take rest days or go at a slower pace, so that you can enjoy the journey and not only focus on the finishing line.
the journey is my goal.
 
The sponsorship would be purely for Médecins sans Frontières and, as I previously stated, I would not be asking people en route. I may well wear one of their shirts and if people ask, I’d explain. No, the asking for sponsorship in general would be via Justgiving, so I don’t even touch the money, it goes straight to MSF.

This was not clear to me either in your original post. Some people have floated the idea of getting sponsored to fund their own journey, so I think it's important to make that distinction. I'm glad you clarified.
 
I would describe what the OP is suggesting as fund raising, not sponsorship. That said, I have seen pilgrims taking both approaches in one way or another.

As for whether the OP should completely fund their camino, something it appears was not what in doubt anyway, I don't see the compelling reason for this. We accept mendicant pilgrims, beggars as well as people who might make small or no donations at donotivos. None of these are completely funding their own camino journey, and we accept, even welcome them in our midst. So what would be different about some other form of sponsorship?

ps. my biggest and only sponsor? My wife, who accepts the time and financial imposts that travelling to Europe to undertake a pilgrimage entails.
 
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For me I would never accept a sponsorship.

I do walk for myself and pay my expenses by myself.
If you will be sponsored for charity, that's fine.

From time to time we have a sponsored charity-run in my school, where every student will get an amount of money for every round he is doing by different sponsors (businesses, craftsmen, family, local politicians, etc.). Last run resulted a total of almost 24.000€ for toilets and secure watersources in developing countries.

That's one of our commitments to the global goals.
 
In 2014 I walked 1,500km on a combination of camino routes with my four youngest children (8-13 years at the time) fundraising for charity: water. As per Terry’s experience, MOST of the money we raised was from people who we had a personal connection with. However, I was astounded and greatly humbled by people we met en route who responded generously (we had a sign on our packs which prompted many to chat with us as we walked). Perhaps the novelty of kids doing something hard helped our cause, I don’t know.
It did put a bit of pressure on us to make sure we succeeded (our initial goal was 1,000km so we certainly went the extra mile!!) - but part of my motivation was to show my kids they could make a difference in someone’s life. May they never forget.
Our money (US$8,001) went towards these two wells in Ethiopia:

Incidentally, we contacted every school in New Zealand, asking if any would partner with us - we offered for the kids to come and do a presentation if the school would just do a coin trail or something simple to raise a few dollars - not one responded, not even the ones that we had connections with.
We also contacted water companies. Same result!
I reached the conclusion that I don't really know how to fundraise. but the little efforts we have made over time have been better than doing nothing at all.

All the best to you @Sue127
 
The focus is on reducing the risk of failure through being well prepared. 2nd ed.
One of my first "encounters" with the Camino was reading this wonderful book by Laurie Dennett who used her walk on the Camino several decades ago when conditions were mush simpler, to raise money for MS. You might find it inspiring. It's a great book:
A Hug For The Apostle
 
I know that philanthropy is viewed very differently in different parts of the world. Not wanting to derail the thread, but I think that those differing views may influence our answers. I have never walked for charity but did walk with someone who raised a lot of money for the International Rescue Committee. She would say that a key component of her very successful effort was for her to have some skin in the game as well. Her daughter made this point most clearly to her when she told her -- mom, you are going to go have the time of your life, doing something you love, and others are supposed to contribute? Where's your contribution? So what my friend decided to do was to match a certain percentage of all contributions, I don't remember the exact details, but I did see the logic in her deciding that it was kind of self-indulgent for her to spend as much money walking as she was likely to raise via donations.

I'm not saying that people won't give otherwise, because at least in the US, we are constantly hit up with similar efforts. Nor am I being critical of people who just ask others to contribute, but I can understand how some people would be more likely to give if the walker him/herself donated to the charity as well.
 
I walked the Via de la Plata in 2016 and raised money for two charities. I've walked several caminos but this was the only time I sought to raise money. I called it Walking with Purpose and I agreed to carry hopes and wishes and regrets and prayers to St James or to Muxia in exchange for a fee (they decided the amount)... a bit like a medieval pilgrim walking by proxy for the sins of his rich master.

I was prompted because a young family member was going through cancer treatment at the time and also a close friend's son sadly took his own life... which prompted the choice of charities.

The 'thoughts' that I carried greatly affected my walk. I learned secrets from friends I've know for 40 years and I carried the hopes of strangers battling terminal illness... indeed some of those dear people never lived to see me reach Santiago. It was very moving and humbling. And I couldn't and would never share those secrets... so they were between me and the Saint.

This was my last blog from Muxia : https://caminobrassblog.wordpress.com/2016/11/08/50-the-real-end/

I did consider that perhaps there are so many requests for money that I was just one more of many... but in the end I decided that every little helps.

I met a guy walking at the same time as me raising funds for Breast Cancer research in Australia. He lost his wife to breast cancer and I guess it was part of his grieving process. I remember one day he had a lot of pain in his feet and legs but he wouldn't rest as he said he had been sponsored for every km walked... so every penny mattered. He was a lovely chap.

Good luck with your walk.
 
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Hi Terry,

I'm sorry for your loss, so sad to lose a young child. I'm aiming on the same as you, gaining sponsorship from those that are back home, watching my progress. It seemed like a good chance to raise some money for a worthy cause - I'll be out enjoying myself (I hope) and they'll be sitting at home thinking she's nuts, and will maybe be willing to donate to Medecins sans Frontieres. All the people that I will ask back home are aware of my support for this cause - this will be the fourth time of asking. I'm not aiming for a target - as my mum always used to say "something is better than nothing". My main reason is a journey for me, so asking for sponsorship for charity will be an added bonus.
Thank you for your thoughts Sue it sounds like you have it well sorted and I wish you well God bless.:):)
 
Many have done so. I considered doing so when I walked with my son in 2016. A number of people where I work do long distance walks, runs or cycling for charities so I thought this walk of 800+ km might be a good idea. But my son wasn't interested so I dropped the idea.

I recently finished reading a book (recently out in a new edition) called A Hug for the Apostle, written by a Canadian woman who walked in 1985 from Chartres to Santiago de Compostela, raising money for the fight against MS (multiple sclerosis). She got a lot of publicity both at home and en route and her walk, in addition to raising money, helped establish several MS groups in Spain. So the idea of walking for charity goes well back in the modern pilgrimage tradition.
 
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For my first Camino (SJPdP to SdC) I held a fundraiser for our local drop-in center for Homeless Youth (where I volunteer). We just set it up through their website. Raised about $1800 U.S. Although the $ came mostly from my friends, extended friends and family, I doubt most of them would have given to this organization otherwise. It worked out well.
 
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First, I am all for supporting great causes.
But IMHO, at least your first camino pilgrimage should be just you walking the Way. It is not a time for multi-tasking. A pilgrimage is a giving thing in itself, a great personal challenge designed to show you to the end of yourself. THat first time out is about You, and how the Way opens itself to you.
Fund-raising is an added burden, even a distraction. Let the Camino just be the Camino, not an "opportunity to take advantage" of. Even for a great cause.
You can raise funds on your NEXT camino! Let this first one be just the Camino, just for itself.
 
Thank you all for your thoughts and suggestions. I am at last, on Camino, now resting at Orisson. As I stated earlier, I have a Just giving page which links directly to my chosen charity, so I have nothing to do with any donations (except to thank everyone, of course). All costs for the Camino are my own, that would seem obvious to me. I'm looking forward to the next few weeks, hopefully without too much wind and rain.
 
St James' Way - Self-guided 4-7 day Walking Packages, Reading to Southampton, 110 kms
The one from Galicia (the round) and the one from Castilla & Leon. Individually numbered and made by the same people that make the ones you see on your walk.
Hi @Levi I have just completed my fifth day and arrived at Puenta la Reina. Long day and first blister, but enjoying the fantastic scenery. Felt odd being in a city yesterday.
Keep going and have a safe journey. Keep updating as you go...it is lovely to see that others will benefit from your experience...not everything is about "me".
 
I am staggered by people's generosity, especially in these difficult times. My page closes soon and, with a small amount to be added from friends who do not do Internet payments, MSF will be better off by €2500. My Camino was special for me and will help a charity that I have enormous respect for.
 
The one from Galicia (the round) and the one from Castilla & Leon. Individually numbered and made by the same people that make the ones you see on your walk.

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