Make every step count at this year’s Mini Marathon and raise much-needed funds for Aidlink. Register HERE or email info@aidlink.ie.
Join us this June bank holiday weekend for the VHI Women’s Mini Marathon! The Mini Marathon is always a great day out, with our Mini Marathon team members showing up in high spirits, in rain or shine, and raising vital funds for Aidlink’s work.
This annual 10km race through the streets of Dublin is the largest women’s event of its kind in the world! In 1983, the inaugural event had 9,000 women entering, flash forward to 2014 and there were over 41,000 women taking part. Women of every walk of life take part, from those running the route to those taking their time walking. Women from every age bracket get involved on the day. In fact, in 2018, more than 370 of the women were over the age of 70!
All funds raised for Aidlink will go towards our work with some of the world’s poorest and most isolated communities in Kenya and Uganda, focusing on the most basic of human needs: water, education, health and food. Aidlink is a small organisation, but our impact is mighty!
Our plans for 2019 include the support of 9 primary schools in Kenya with access to clean, safe water, and girl-friendly latrines (toilets) with a changing room that provides a safe space for girls to wash and change, particularly during menstruation. As a result, girls will have a fairer chance of attending school and these interventions will help make school a safer, healthier and happier place for 5,000 boys and girls. With a stronghold in the school, Aidlink and our partner the Girl Child Network are able to reach out into the community to make sure every child who should be in school, is in school, that girls are secure in the knowledge that they will not be married off in their early teens and will be allowed to complete their education.
Aidlink relies on the generosity and support of the Irish public in order to carry out our work.We are extremely grateful to all our volunteers that help fundraise on our behalf, we really cannot thank you enough. Aidlink is committed to the highest standards of accountability and good governance. For two consecutive years, in 2017 and 2018, Aidlink won awards at both the Carmichael Centre Good Governance Awards and the Chartered Accountants Ireland Publishes Accounts Awards.
Help us to continue our work by joining us for the mini marathon this year and raising funds to support our programmes. You do not need to register with the mini marathon website, Aidlink will book places for the group. To sign up, fill out the registration form by clicking here or contact info@aidlink.ie/call 01-4736488. There is a €25 registration fee and details on how to pay this will be sent to you after registration.
The Race
Date: Sunday 2nd June 2019
Race Start Time: 14:00
Meeting Point: TBC
Meeting Time: 12:30
Your race number and Aidlink T-shirt will be available to collect at the meeting point before the race on race day!
Fundraising
Aidlink will be on hand to help with any questions you have regarding fundraising. There are many ways you can fundraise for the race, and have some fun while doing it! You can start off by asking friends and family to sponsor you using our sponsorship card, or you may wish to set up an online donations page.
Setting up an online donations page means that you can simply email the link to friends and family, or share on your social media, and the money will be transferred to Aidlink directly, so you don’t have to worry about handling cash.
You can now set up a fundraising page directly through your Facebook account, just log in to your account, visit the Aidlink page here and click “Create a Fundraiser”. Staying social online about your training and preparation will keep you motivated but also remind people to donate to your cause. Alternatively, if you don’t have a Facebook account, visit our Altruism page to set up your own online fundraising page, select ‘join the campaign’ on this page here.
Holding events is also a great way to raise funds. Some event ideas include coffee mornings, holding a casual day at your workplace or even asking friends and family to place bets on your race time. An additional option is to check with your employer to see if they will match how much you raise. Often companies have schemes pledging to match funds raised by their staff, and it’s great to be able to tell your supporters that you will double their gift!
Every euro fundraised by our volunteers makes an impact. The following are some costs to give you an idea of how far the funds you raise can go:
- €9 provides daily lunch for a child for three months (€3 per child, per month)
- €20 buys a pig for a family in Uganda
- €100 provides hand-washing facilities (tank and taps) in a Ugandan school
- €250 support mentorship programme for 30 at risk boys and girls in Kibera informal settlement (slum)
- €350 provides animals, seeds and crops to 25 families in Uganda
- With €500 125 families in Uganda can be trained in sustainable farming
- €2,400 is enough to set up a water tank in a school in Kenya
- €3,500 will build a 5-cubicle toilet block in a Kenyan School
Join the Aidlink Mini Marathon Event on Facebook:
httpss://www.facebook.com/events/254552228807265/
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch! Contact Aisling at info@aidlink.ie or call 01-4736488 for queries or to sign up (you can also register by filling out this form.)
A Few Extra Details:
Some items to bring with you on race day:
- Your sponsorship money and sponsorship card. Cheques payable to Aidlink. (Thank you!)
- Suitable clothing and comfortable footwear
- Water
- Weather-suitable gear: Sun cream and a peaked cap OR Light waterproof jacket and a change of clothes
