Got your own marathon place?

We’d be delighted for you to run for EJF. There’s no minimum fundraising target if you have your own place but you can be assured that anything you do raise will be put to very good use. All you need to do is send your contact details to larissa.clark@ejfoundation.org or setup your own online EJF fundraising page on www.justgiving.com. Run the 2010 London Marathon for EJF

The 2010 London Marathon will be held on Sunday 25 April. With over 35,000 runners taking to the streets of London it is one of the world's most prestigious and exciting sporting events.

For millions of people around the world, a degraded natural environment means hunger and brutal poverty that costs lives. So often the voices of these people go unheard. EJF believes that protecting the environment is not just about quality of life, it is a question of life and death for the world’s poorest people. We believe that environmental security is a human right.

From the highest levels of the United Nations to villages in Cambodia we have witnessed how dedicated individuals can change our world for the better. This is why EJF was established - to act as a catalyst for change. Our work is simple, direct and very effective and we hope you’ll break a sweat for us and our partners around the world.

EJF makes a direct link between the need for environmental security and the defence of basic human rights

For millions of people around the world, a degraded natural environment means hunger and brutal poverty that costs lives. So often the voices of these people go unheard. EJF believes that protecting the environment is not just about quality of life, it is a question of life and death for the world’s poorest people. We believe that environmental security is a human right.

Johnny Depp, supporter of EJF's campaign to Save the Sea says "I support the work of the Environmental Justice Foundation to raise awareness and provide ‘real-world’ solutions to the issue (pirate fishing). Their efforts to engage in effective action to protect both people and planet will help to bring an end to pirate fishing, once and for all".

EJF campaigns:

EJF for climate refugees Climate Refugees
Climate change is set to create millions of environmental refugees.
EJF Forced child labour on cotton production Cotton
Ethical and sustainable cotton production free from forced child labour and deadly pesticides.
EJF on pirate fishing in developing countries Pirate Fishing
An end to illegal fishing, that causes massive damage to the marine environment and livelihoods of coastal communities in developing countries.
EJF campaigns against damages of shrimp farming Shrimp
The protection of coastal regions and communities from the destruction of precious natural habitats caused by shrimp farms.
EJF campaigns on the ban of deadly pesticide Endosulfan Pesticides
Governments to ban the use of Endosulfan, one of the world's most dangerous and pervasive pesticides.
EJF campaigns for the end of fish trawling and bycatch Bycatch
Every year, millions of tons of fish are accidentally caught and discarded.
EJF campaigns on illegal animal trade Wildlife
Illegal trafficking of plants and animals is reducing wildlife populations, some to the verge of extinction.

Our top 10 fundraising tips

Finding time to raise money and train for your running event can be daunting, but it needn't be. Fundraising can be simple, rewarding and fun!

As well as raising lots of money and raising awareness of a worthwhile cause, it’s great for meeting people and challenging yourself to do something different!

1. Target carefully

The trick to successful fundraising is to choose a method which best suits you and your potential sponsors. Before you begin think about how much time you have, make a list of potential supporters and how can you approach them and most importantly focus on simple fundraising ideas.

2. Get started early, well before the run

Adopt a similarly determined and planned approach to your fundraising as you do for your training. Carry a sponsorship form with you at all times.

3. Set up on-line sponsorship

Take the hassle out of sponsorship by creating a free personalised online sponsorship page. It’s fast and easy to make, and it’s free! You can do this at www.justgiving.com. This allows supporters to donate by credit or debit card and the money goes direct to your chosen charity. Furthermore, it’s all tax-efficient – earning your charity even more and making your target easier to reach.

4. Get it matched

At work, or through colleagues in other businesses, target managers who control budgets. Approach your boss and ask if you can tell sponsors that their donation will be matched pound for pound by your company.

5. Remember Gift Aid

You’ll need to explain what this is to your sponsors. The charity can claim 28p for every £1 donated, provided that it is a personal donation and the donor is a UK taxpayer. Gift Aid is a system administered by the Inland Revenue to promote charitable giving. It is important you understand it as it could boost the amount you raise by 28%. For example, if you are a basic rate tax payer (ie 22%), for every £1.28 you earn you only take home £1.00. If you give that £1.00 to charity with a Gift Aid declaration, the charity can claim back the tax you paid to make your £1.00 back up to £1.28.

6. Email updates on your running progress

Let supporters know how much you’ve raised so far. An update is interesting for those who’ve already supported you and a reminder for those who haven’t.

7. Sponsorship quiz nights

Organise a quiz night at your local pub, charge teams to enter (for example £20 a team of four, with either a small percentage of the takings as a money prize or donated items to the winning team).

8. Car boot sale for sponsor money

Take unwanted items to a car boot sale – you can also ask friends, family and colleagues if they have unwanted goods they can contribute.

9. Create a just giving widget or badge

A widget is like a mini version of your fundraising page which you can use to spread the word about your page. A badge is a simple button that links to your fundraising page which you can paste into your email signature in Outlook, which is a great way to tell everyone you email about your page.

Widgets and badges are an eye-catching, colourful and fun way of sharing your fundraising page. They attract people’s attention more than a text link so they drive more people to your page, increasing your donations. You can put them anywhere online – on your personal website, your business website or your employer’s website, in your email signature and on your blog or social profiles or get friends and family to put it on theirs.

For more information on how to set them up go to Just Giving's website. Run the 2010 London Marathon for EJF

10. EJF is here to help

Don’t hesitate to call us if you have any queries. Larissa Clark will be on hand to answer any questions you have and help with your fundraising. Contact Larissa on 0207 239 3310 or by email at larissa.clark@ejfoundation.org.

Our 10 top training tips

London Marathon 2010 - stretching for EJFLike EJF, this may be your first marathon. Whether you’ve been running for years or are new to the challenge we’ve got important advice to get you started and training tips to help you every step of the way. Whatever your reason for running, it's important to follow a training plan and set yourself goals so you have something to aim for which will keep you motivated.

1. Before starting your training

It's advisable to see your doctor for a medical or health assessment, particularly if you're a current smoker, overweight or if there's a history of heart disease in your family.

2. Treat your feet well

It’s really important to get a good-quality pair of running shoes – there are lots of specialist running stores who will not only measure your feet correctly, but will analyse your running style to ensure you have a pair of shoes suitable for you.

3. Choose your running surface

If you’re used to running on treadmills, it's generally a good idea to recreate outdoor conditions as much as possible by setting the treadmill to a 1% incline or increasing the speed slightly, to adapt slowly to outdoor running. When you do get going outside, gradually get yourself used to the change by starting on a soft surface like grass or trails.

4. Pace yourself

Start slowly - walk first, gently jog and then speed up until you hit the right pace. This will give your muscles a chance to warm up and prevent injury. If your running is to progress you will need to work harder over time, but if you punish your body too hard too soon you won’t improve and you’ll increase the risk of injury.

5. Build stamina

Long runs are the definitive way to build endurance; strengthening the heart, the legs and the ligaments in the process. However you must build this up over a period of time. If the longest you are used to running for is 30 minutes, gradually build up to an hour by adding five minutes to your run each week.

6. Make sure you stretch

To avoid muscle soreness later on, make sure you stretch thoroughly after running. Stretching makes muscles more flexible, increases mobility and reduces the chances of injury. The best time to stretch your muscles is after a run when your muscles are already warmed-up and elongated.

7. Warm up and cool down

Warm-ups let your body gradually adjust to the exercise, preparing you for the harder work to come and actually making the session easier. Five to 10 minutes of running or walking before you start putting your body through its paces will also lessen the strain on your heart and reduce the chances of injury.

An abrupt finish to exercise can cause cramps, dizziness, abnormal strain on the heart, and hamper the removal of the body’s waste products such as lactic acid. Make sure you cool down to keep the blood flowing to the muscles and allows your body to work its way down from a state of high exertion to the eventual resting condition. Keep walking for a few minutes at the very least after every run until you have cooled down. Metabolites can be removed from your muscles and you'll be more prepared for the next time you run.

8. Eat well

Nutrition is also key for early-morning runners. Have an early breakfast and make sure you drink plenty of water. Also make sure you refuel within 20 minutes of finishing your run.

9. Keep track of progress

Working towards running long distance races is a gradual process. The best way to keep track of your progress and detect possible errors in your training is to keep a running log and training schedule.

Charting your distance, pace, type of course, running and weather conditions can also be of great help and visually acts as a great motivator. For a quick way to determine your pace over any distance use the Pace Calculator on the Runner's World website.

10. Use resources available

We’re always here to help but Realbuzz and Runner's World have lots of useful information about what to wear, the right things to eat and drink and training programmes to help you get the best preparation you can:


 
running fundraising activity for EJF