In 2010 our midnight walkers pledged more than £100,000 in personal sponsorship for Saint Michael’s, and this year we want to raise even more!

We’ve put together a list of top tips to help you help us achieve this goal.

• Never leave home without your sponsor form – the moment will be lost if you don’t have it to hand.

• Recruit your biggest sponsors first – this will encourage the following sponsors to increase their support.

• Make sure everyone who sponsors you claims Gift Aid. Gift Aid allows UK charities to reclaim tax from the Inland Revenue on every £1donated by UK taxpayers. So, for every pound you raise, an extra 28p will be donated at no extra cost to you – so for sponsorship of £50 that would be £14 extra for no additional effort. Simply ask your sponsors to provide their home postcode and tick the Gift Aid box.

• Ask people to sponsor you up front if possible, as it can be very time-consuming for you to collect sponsorship money after the event.

• Ask your employer to match whatever you raise – this could automatically double your fundraising.

• Spread the word! Ask your company to include your story in your company newsletter or website and pin your sponsor form to the staff room notice board.

• Email everyone on your contact list, tell them what you’re doing and include a link to the www.midnight-walk.org website or to www.justgiving.com.

• And finally – ask! Most people will be more than willing to support your fundraising efforts when they hear what you’re doing and why.

If you have any questions or queries about gathering your sponsorship, just call Saint Michael’s on (01423) 879 687 or see if your question is answered in our FAQs.