Most competitors will need sponsorship to enter for the Marathon of the Sahara.
Your local library should have a reference book called "The Directory of Grant Making Trusts" (Amazon.co.uk) - the section on expeditions by individuals will help you with useful names and addresses.
I would suggest that you prepare a letter which should include
the list of essential equipment, a schedule of
your training plans and routine which clearly shows potential sponsors
how much time, energy and effort you are prepared to put into this
event and any other information that you think may be of use in
influencing your potential sponsors. You should send, if possible,
personalised letters to the following:-
Your Bank, your employers, ALL your friends, your old school /
university; suppliers of equipment (Reebok, Adidas, camping stores,
power food suppliers etc); local press; photographic companies; your
car dealer; your local supermarket (Sainsbury, Tesco etc); your local
police authority; church - in fact anyone you think might put £20
or more towards your achieving a place in the Marathon.
These may be manufacturers, retailers etc, all of whom have one factor in common, they all expect a return on their investment which you may provide in 2 different ways:-
- Outside action
- To promote the product or the company
- To promote sales
- To increase visibility of the product of the company (exposure)
- Internal action
- To motivate company staff
- To make a statement on the company's values and principles
- Ultimately, a sponsor is seeking media exposure in press and TV coverage of the event.
Establish a clear and concise file
Before embarking on a search for a sponsor, you must create a file and
for that purpose you will need to get the media in your area involved
in your participation in the Marathon (local newspapers, radio and
TV). Local media is always interested in "exotic adventure"
stories - "local man/woman runs 140 mile marathon in the Sahara Desert". In
order to arouse the interest of a sponsor, you will need to
demonstrate that the media is following the Marathon. The sponsor may
also have contacts in the media world and obtain additional coverage,
especially if they are local or perhaps even National advertisers.
Websites: Best of Morocco offers, as part of your registration, a website for you to personalise with the reasons why you are running etc. You should update this, possibly with a fully personalised design, and pass the link as part part of your contact details. You can then add links, and other information, about your sponsors to the website.
Getting the money: It is also important to make it easy for potential sponsors and donors to your chosen charity to actually make the donation. For instance, your website can accept online payments (if you are running for a charity they probably already have this). Simon Fraylich, a runner in 2006, operates a system where donations can be made by SMS - see www.24xsms.com/mds for more details. Whatever methods you use, set them up early, so that the details are included in all your publicity and media.
The competitor will undertake to return from the Marathon with pictures of the event together with notes which the local media will use (interviews etc). It is even possible to communicate with your local radio,TV or newspaper by fax or phone, live from the desert at the end of each daily stage.
Compiling your file:-
After you have gathered media interest you can then establish your
file which usually groups 4 items:-
- Event description: For that you can use information on this website which describes the main characteristics of the Marathon (self sufficiency in food, miles covered, the different stages of the race, camping in the Sahara, climate etc)
- Media: This section defines the media interest you have created illustrated by letters you have received from the media.
- Opportunities of sponsoring: details of what you are offering your sponsors before, during and after the event
- Your budget: this is a suggested budget that you will submit to
your sponsors and which should include the following:-
- Registration fees
- Equipment: say £400 - £500 (shoes, ruck-sack, food etc)
- Telecommunications: say £100 (optional)
- Miscelaneous expenses: say £200
Before the event - one month before the event, distribute leaflets and public notices announcing your participation in the race on which you will show your sponsors' and media partners' logos. Two weeks prior to the event, hold a press conference in conjunction with your media partners and sponsors.
During the event - Presentation of the advertising spaces on your sports wear and equipment giving details of:
- T-shirt (front, back and sleeves) - you see it every year at Wimbledon !
- Shorts
- Backpack
- Caps, socks, small flags
- Transmission of fax or phone reports to your media partners and sponsors
After the event - When you return, give your impressions and stories to your media partners and sponsors. Arrange a date soon after your return to organise a "reception" when you will be able to show the video of the "Marathon des Sables" as well as slides and the equipment and clothing that you used during the race.
Charities: Linking your entry to a charity does much to attract potential sponsors. If, for example, you tell sponsors that you are doing this to raise money for a children's hospital, lukemia, AIDS, cancer research etc, they are more likely to take a sympathetic view. Many of the larger charities may help you with raising the registration fee as this will ultimately benefit them when you raise money by entering the Marathon des sables. Keep away from controversial or low profile charities e.g. the protection of dog-fish in British streams, blood sports etc. The British competitors in 1999 raised about £1 million for a variety of charities. Apart from anything, if you are going to trash your feet and suffer for 6 days in extreme conditions in the Sahara, it is only sensible that someone should benefit from your efforts.
It soon adds up and you will have the necessary funds. In the meantime, keep up with your training as you still have several months in which to gather all the money needed.
If you have not yet started looking for sponsors, but are fairly certain that you will be able to achieve the registration fee and equipment costs, then make a firm decision and send in your registration - this will make it even more urgent for you to get on with finding the necessary sponsors.
Good luck. It's not as hard as you may think - people will always give support if they can be convinced that it is in a good cause - your nominated charity!
Find sponsors to cover your costs
The Grand Alpha Club is a community web site for sports men and women of all disciplines and all abilities. They are proactive in finding you the funds you will need to compete in the MdS. See the Grand Alpha website for more details.