Light Relief Week

On Sunday 30th October 2011, the clocks go back 1hr. What better way to help and support our charity for the blind than by donating your extra hour to fundraising for Royal Blind? Simply get together with friends, work colleagues or family and have an hour of light relief, knowing that the money you raise will help blind and multiply disabled children and adults.

On the Light Relief Week website you will find some great ideas to help inspire you to take part in Light Relief. Remember ideas don't have to be difficult or expensive, just something a little different to help raise money for blind and multiply disabled children and adults in the UK. You could use one of your favourite hobbies as your idea for fundraising - go for something simple that can easily be achieved in one hour. We will feature some of the best 1 hour fundraising ideas in our next issue of iSite magazine and on our website. You can fundraise at home, at work, at school, at university, or with your local group or club.

From one hour coffee mornings and pub quizzes, to one our discos, fun aerobics and games - there are so many ways you can raise funds to help and support the blind and multiply diabled children and adults of the UK.

To start you thinking we've gathered some fun ideas that you can try. Remember, you have an extra hour to play with so think creatively!

Sponsored Blindfold Hour

Get sponsored to carry out an hour of your normal day-to-day activities blindfolded. Experience what it is like to answer the phone, eat and talk to people whilst blindfolded whilst getting friends, family and colleagues to sponsor you to complete this challenge.....and remember, no peeking!

Car Wash Hour

See how many cars you can wash in an hour. Why not get your colleagues to take part and see who can get the most cars cleaned. I am sure many people would be willing to make a donation to get their car sparkling.

Alternative Cake Sale

Instead of the traditional Victoria sponge, try using food colourings to make an eye-catching treat or add secret ingredients such as chilli or mango juice and get people to guess what it is.

Baked Bean Contest

Compete with your friends or colleagues to see who can eat the most baked beans using a cocktail stick in an hour. Ask people to pay to guess the final winning figure.

Auction off an extra lunch hour

See who will make the highest donation to receive an extra hour at lunch time or perhaps at the end of the day. Not only will you be helping charity but you will be able to spend an extra hour doing what you love most, whether this be relaxing in a café or hitting the shops.

The 'Yes' 'No' Game

ake an hour to play this surprisingly challenging game where you can't say the words 'yes' or 'no' for a whole hour. Every time either of these words slip out you must make a donation!

Organise a Light Relief Lunch

Ask colleagues to make or bake something for lunch and bring in into work on a specific date during Light Relief Week.  In the lunch hour take a collection for lunch from all those who have participated and send it into Royal Blind.

Sponsored 3-legged walk

Get a friend to join you in seeing how far you can walk in an hour with 2 of your legs tied together. Ask friends, teachers, colleagues and family to sponsor you for every lap around the school field/office you complete.

Sensory Dining

Host a sensory dining experience with friends and colleagues to get a bit of a taste of what it is like to be visually impaired.  Invite people around to your house or work place for something to eat and ask for a donation towards Light Relief Week.  The host will need to remain sighted whilst everyone else puts on a blindfold. The host then serves the guests, informing them what is on the table and where everything is located (eg Your drink is on your right and the salt is straight in front).  The food on the dinner plate will also need to be explained (eg the meat is nearest to you at six o'clock, the potatoes are on the right at three o'clock) or you can let them discover the tastes for themselves! This is a popular idea and a great way to raise money to help and support the blind.

To make the most of fundraising why not set up your own online fundraising page?

Creating an online fundraising page allows you to reach all your friends, family and work colleagues wherever they are. It also collects the money and sends it to Royal Blind for you. It's quick and easy to do. Visit www.justgiving.com/royalblind and it only takes a few minutes to set up your page. Add a photograph and some text about yourself and your event or challenge. Email the link to your page to everyone you know and they can visit the page and sponsor you online. Please also send a link to Royal Blind so we can note the page address on our records. Justgiving pay the money direct to Royal Blind so you don't have to run around after the event trying to track down your sponsors.

For more information on how you can help support the blind by raising money for Royal Blind Contact Us Today!