Hold your own event

No matter how small or how large, your contribution makes a difference in the fight against cancer. Help eradicate cancer by hosting an event to raise funds for the Canadian Cancer Society Newfoundland and Labrador Division. Develop your own fundraising event – it’s easy to do!

You create the event. It can be anything – an aerobics marathon, a stair climb, a bowling or golf tournament – or whatever else you can think of.

1. Before you start planning your event, be sure to contact your local Canadian Cancer Society office. We can help get you started!
2. Decide on your event – we’ve suggested some ideas below.
3. Determine your target audience for promotion and participation. Understanding who will support and attend your event is crucial to its success.
4. Set the date. Schedule your event for a day, time and location convenient for those who will be attending.
5. Submit an online application or print and complete an application form (PDF).
6. If your event receives approval, start fundraising!

Brainstorming – decide on your event

Chat with friends and colleagues to develop an idea for an event that excites you. Need a bit of inspiration? You can host:

• barbecues
• celebrity appearances
• holiday celebrations
• rummage sales
• parties
• theatrical events
• carnivals
• dinner/dances
• tournaments – baseball, pool
• sporting events
• fashion shows
• “a-thons” – walk-a-thon, dance-a-thon
• golf tournaments

Steps to a successful fundraising event

1. Form an event committee. It takes a lot of time and energy to plan a successful event. Recruit enthusiastic and dedicated people to help.  
2. Provide the Society with event updates. We want to know more about your event and be able to answer any inquiries that we may get. 
3. Set a budget. The budget should identify expected income as well as expenses. Remember – the lower your costs, the larger your contribution.  
4. Plan event logistics. Attention to detail is essential to the success of every event. We can review the logistics of your event to help ensure you’re on the right track and to help with materials, such as pledge forms or posters.  
5. Promote your event. Flyers, posters and other promotional materials will help make your event a success. We ask that all materials be sent to the Canadian Cancer Society for approval. And that way, we’ll have them on file if we get questions about your fundraising initiative. As a policy, the Canadian Cancer Society does not pay for advertising. You are responsible for all costs associated with promoting your event.  
6. Collect funds. We ask that you collect and submit the net funds raised to the Canadian Cancer Society within 14 days of your event if you require charitable income tax receipts. Charitable receipts will be issued after the submission if all Canada Revenue Agency guidelines are met.  
7. Say thank you. This is the most important step! Let those who helped organize the event and those who participated know how much you appreciate their support. Tell them how much money was raised and what that means to advancing the fight against cancer. Canadian Cancer Society brochures are available for you to distribute at your event.

For more information about how to hold your own event, contact your local Canadian Cancer Society office or email holdyourownevent@nl.cancer.ca.