Welcome to the Big Fun Walk 2009

Frequently Asked Questions

1. I want to contact you/ask a question not answered here/make a suggestion or complaint.
2. How do I register and get the forms I need?
3. Is there a registration fee?
4. Can I walk without registering?
5. Can I bring my children and/or my dog(s)?
6. Can my children bring skates/skateboards/scooters/bikes?
7. My son/daughter is under 17 but wants to walk independently. Is this OK?
8. Can I run the Big Fun Walk?
9. I am a wheelchair/electric buggy user. Can I take part?
10. I am visually disabled. Can I take part?
11. I am raising sponsorship through Just Giving. Must I register separately for the Big Fun Walk?
12. I want to take part but I’m not sure if I can come on the day.
13. Can I bring extra people with on the day?
14. I registered but now I know I won’t be able to come. What should I do?
15. I can’t take part this year but I would like to know about next year’s Walk.
16. Can we do the Walk as a team?
17. Can I take part as a practice for a different sponsored walk?
18. I have lost my sponsor form/check-in form/guidance notes. What should I do?
19. How much money must I raise?
20. What happens on the Walk?
21. What should I wear?
22. Will I need any money?
23. My friend wants to meet me at the end. Is this OK?
24. What if I feel ill or am hurt while taking part?
25. I don’t understand about Gift Aid.
26. How and when should I send you my sponsor money?
27. Can you accept charity cheques and vouchers?
28. What happens to my personal information after I register/send in my money?

1. I want to contact you/ask a question not answered here/make a suggestion or complaint.
   We of the North West Support Group are community-based volunteer fundraisers who have other ‘day jobs’ and we do not work at the North London Hospice premises. Staff and the team of in-house volunteers at the Hospice are not involved with the organisation of the Walk and do not have detailed information. A response to your query, suggestion or complaint made through the NLH may therefore be delayed and/or incomplete. Therefore, please use only the contact information below to get in touch with the Organisers of the Big Fun Walk.
   
   Phone: In the first instance call us on 020 8202 5586.
   This is a dedicated 24-hour line where you can leave a message and we promise we will call you back with the minimum of delay. In the period around the BFW we monitor this line every couple of hours and you should be called back the same day unless you phone late at night. Speak slowly and clearly and please spell any unusual names. If your contact information is clear we will phone you back, we promise. If your query needs lengthy attention we may give you our direct phone number so that you won’t need to leave messages if you have to call again.
   
   Email: bigfunwalk@netscape.net
   Post: Big Fun Walk, c/o 11 Westchester Drive, London NW4 1RD
   
   Please note that a phone message or email arriving between 5pm on Friday 19th March and 9am on Monday 22nd March 2010 will not be seen or answered until after the Walk. We hope that any late query you may have is answered in these FAQs.
2. How do I register and get the forms I need?
   The quickest way is to click on the Register tab above. Fill out the Registration page and then you will be able to download your sponsor form, guidance notes and check-in form. If you don’t want to register online, please phone us on 020 8202 5586 and leave a clear message including your first and last name, your full postal address and your phone number. Please speak slowly and clearly and spell any difficult or unusual words. We will either post the forms to you promptly or if we need to clarify anything we will phone you back as soon as we can. Alternatively send us an email at bigfunwalk@netscape.net giving your first and last name, your full postal address and your phone number and we will email the forms for you to download.
3. Is there a registration fee?
   No, but you must register in advance. We also require every adult walker to raise a minimum of £25 in sponsorship or donations. We provide refreshments, a sandwich lunch, hot drinks and pastries, musical entertainment and face painting and we aim for everyone to have a fantastic day, but please remember that there is a serious purpose to this event.
4. Can I walk without registering?
   We require everyone taking part to register in advance. It is vital in helping us to be as efficient as possible with our administration and avoids wasting resources. It also ensures that we have appropriate stewarding, insurance, first aid cover, food and drink etc. The last item is very important!
5. Can I bring my children and/or my dog(s)?
   We have lots of children of all ages taking part. The route is suitable for pushchairs and buggies and we are often surprised by the number of quite tiny children who insist on toddling at least part of the way. It’s a good idea to bring extra drinks and/or snacks to keep your children going between the refreshment stop, lunch and the finish point. 16-and-unders receive a souvenir medal when they reach Storeys Gate. Well-behaved dogs on leads are welcome. Some even register and have their own sponsor form. We provide dog bowls and water at the checkpoints and there are also doggy treats at Storeys Gate.
6. Can my children bring skates/skateboards/scooters/bikes?
   Please don’t bring these on the Walk as they can be a hazard to the owners and other people, particularly at the start and end points where there is inevitably occasional congestion. As the Walk takes place entirely in open, public areas there is also a risk that unattended items may be stolen. And do you really want to have to carry skates and all on the Tube when you go home?
7. My son/daughter is under 17 but wants to walk independently. Is this OK?
   If your child is under 17 we ask that they walk either in the company of a responsible adult or (if they are old enough) with your knowledge and consent that they are walking independently, ie without a parent or carer. Please be aware that everyone taking part in the Big Fun Walk does so at their own risk. It is your responsibility to make appropriate arrangements to get your child to the start point and home again from the finish point of the Walk.
8. Can I run the Big Fun Walk?
   Whilst we reassure the vast majority of participants that the Big Fun Walk is not a run or a race, yes, you can run if you wish.
9. I am a wheelchair/electric buggy user. Can I take part?
   Yes, we have wheelchair and electric buggy users taking part. There is a slightly modified route for wheelchair users. Please contact us (see above) for more details. If you feel the entire route is too long for you please feel free to leave at any point. Please note that you are responsible for making your own way to the start and from the finish point of the Walk or any other point on the route should you decide to join or leave the Walk part way. At Storeys Gate there is a short flight of steps up to the green in front of the QEII Conference Centre and a further flight of steps up to the area where we serve hot drinks and pastries, but we will show you an alternative path up to the green and would bring your refreshments to you. The public toilets at Storeys Gate are reached via steps and are not wheelchair accessible.
10. I am visually disabled. Can I take part?
    Yes, we regularly have at least one visually disabled walker with a guide dog and a companion.
11. I am raising sponsorship through Just Giving. Must I register separately for the Big Fun Walk?
    Yes, if you have a Big Fun Walk fundraising page on Just Giving you still need to register separately with us. If you are a Walker and would like to raise money via Just Giving go to www.justgiving.com/nlh/. Then click on 'Make your page' and then choose ‘An Organised Event’. From the list of events choose ‘Big Fun Walk 2010. Then follow the directions given on screen to create a fundraising page with your own URL, photos and content. The finished page will be displayed with the correct event title which helps us keep track of everyones' fundraising efforts. Remember that you also need to register separately with us for the Big Fun Walk here. Signing up with Just Giving does not also register you for the Big Fun Walk. After the Walk, please send us your sponsor form (together with any ‘real’ money you’ve collected) and tell us somewhere on the form that all/part of your results are via Just Giving. Whilst we’re very glad for you to collect money the way you and your sponsors find most convenient, please be aware that Just Giving deduct an admin fee (5% at the time of writing) from sponsored amounts/donations before they pass the balance to the charity, so we encourage you to collect ‘real’ money if possible.
12. I want to take part but I’m not sure if I can come on the day.
    If you are uncertain that you will be able to come on the day, just register in the normal way and if you cannot come please let us know that you cannot/could not take part. You can tell us either in advance or after the Walk. We would rather have a few no-shows of registered walkers than have people turning up to register on the day, which increases congestion at the start point and poses an admin headache. We have deliberately introduced a ‘late registration fee’ of £25 payable by cash or cheque at the start of the Walk, to encourage people to register in advance rather than turning up on spec. We do not have credit/debit card facilities.
13. Can I bring extra people on the day?
    Please see the answers to questions 3 and 11: the same principle applies.
14. I registered but now I know I won’t be able to come. What should I do?
    No problem. If you can, please let us know either before or after the Walk that you can’t/didn’t come. Just phone, email or drop us a line. If you have already collected any money you should ask your sponsors if they would like it back or if they are happy to donate it to the Walk. If the latter, please send us your sponsor form and money in the normal way and add a note to let us know of your sponsors’ kindness. Also, tell us if you would like to be put on the mailing list for next year’s Walk.
15. I can’t take part this year but I would like to know about next year’s Walk.
    Please contact us giving your title, first name, last name and full street address including your post code and we will add you to the mailing list. News of the next Big Fun Walk will be sent out in December.
16. Can we do the Walk as a team?
    If you would like to form a team with friends and family and do the Walk together, please do. You can either settle on one person to be responsible for sending in your sponsor money collectively or you can send it in individually. If it is a group effort please send in all your sponsor forms together or alternatively let us know by means of a note with the lead sponsor form(s) all the names and addresses of the people that the one amount covers. Please be sure that your co-walkers understand which option your team chooses, as this will save us much time and effort in chasing money after the Walk. Our experiment in 2008 of keeping records of teams and their members was only a partial success and actually made a lot more work for us than sticking to the previous informal arrangements you make amongst yourselves. Please note that we still require you to raise the equivalent of a minimum of £25 per adult walker.
17. Can I take part as a practice for a different sponsored walk?
    Yes, if you feel you need to get limbered up for a different sponsored walk taking place at a later date then by all means join us. However, please be aware that we still require you to raise a minimum amount of £25 for the Big Fun Walk in addition to sponsorship you are gathering for the other event. This applies even if the other event is in aid of the North London Hospice.
18. I have lost my sponsor form/check-in form/guidance notes. What should I do?
    Please go to the home page and click on the relevant link. This will allow you to enter the name and postcode you used when you registered and to download another copy of your forms. Please do not use this facility to obtain forms for anyone who has not yet registered.
19. How much money must I raise?
    We ask that every adult walker raises at least £25 in sponsorship or donations, and most people raise considerably more. There is no maximum limit! Please also see ‘How and when should I send you my sponsor money?’
20. What happens on the Walk?
    The Big Fun Walk follows a 7½ mile route from the forecourt of East Finchley underground station through Cherry Tree Wood, Highgate Woods, Primrose Hill, Regents Park, Hyde Park, Green Park and St James’ Park and finishes at Storeys Gate SW1 not far from the Houses of Parliament. Check-in at East Finchley is between 9.30 – 10.15 am. Please have your check-in form completed ready to hand in at the check-in desks, where you will be given a route map, instructions and a checkpoint form. If you feel confident or have done the Walk before you can set off immediately or you can join a group with a leader. If there are queues at check-in we ask you to be patient as our volunteers are working hard to see you all off to a cheerful start as quickly as possible. Handing in your check-in form is important as it confirms that you have taken part in the Walk. If we don’t get your check-in form it looks like you may be a no-show and we won’t know if it is appropriate to expect any sponsor money from you or to chase you if we don’t get it. BFW stewards at the start point wear blue/grey Big Fun Walk jackets and can answer any questions. After check-in, cross the road to Cherry Tree Wood and you are on your way. Along the route are marshals wearing day-glo yellow Big Fun Walk tabards. At the Belsize Park checkpoint there are bottled water and biscuits to refresh you before you proceed. At Regents Park we stop for a sandwich lunch (provided) before resuming the route. The finish point is at Storeys Gate (which is the name of the road, not the exit gate from St James’ Park). There you check in, receive your souvenir medal if you are 16 or under and have a hot drink and a pastry from our catering tables (no charge). There will be musical entertainment from our favourite Dixie jazz band, the Silk Street Hot Five, and face painting for the children (courtesy of Voluntary Service Unit of UCL). Public toilets are located here; these require 50p in the turnstile. We have always found these loos to be clean and well stocked with an attendant present. We hear that the public café in the Methodist Hall across the road is not bad for snacks and light meals, and there are vendors’ carts around the area offering a variety of food and drink. The majority of walkers reach Storeys Gate by 4 pm and we have never had complaints that we have packed up and gone home before the last walkers have arrived! You are responsible for making your own way home from Storeys Gate: the nearest tube station is Westminster.
21. What should I wear?
    We recommend comfortable layered clothing which will keep you warm if there is a chilly start to the day and which you can gradually remove if and when it warms up later. Wear well-fitting, comfortable footwear such as trainers or flat shoes. You will regret wearing ballet pumps, high heels, wellies, loose-fitting shoes or flip-flops, whereas walking boots such as those worn in the Peak District are definitely overkill. If it looks like rain a folding umbrella is a good idea, and a light rucksack may be useful, especially if you have your children and/or dog with you. If you are in a team you can wear suitable matching items, and fancy dress and barmy headgear will definitely increase your chances of featuring in our online photo gallery.
22. Will I need any money?
    You must get yourself to the start point of the Walk at the forecourt of East Finchley tube station and home again from Storeys Gate, so if you are using public transport you will need fare money. We provide refreshments, lunch, hot drinks and pastries, all at no charge, but you may also want to buy something en route if you get particularly low in energy (any excuse for a Mars bar). The loos at Storeys Gate require 50p to get you through the entrance turnstile but we generally find this is 50p well spent. No pun intended. There is face painting for the children at Storeys Gate, courtesy of the Voluntary Services Unit of UCL and we ask for a nominal donation for this amusement. The definition of ‘children’ is very flexible, should you fancy having a go yourself.
23. My friend wants to meet me at the end. Is this OK?
    Yes, they will be very welcome. The best way to reach Storeys Gate is by public transport. The nearest tube is Westminster. Parking spaces are in extremely short supply in that area and our own vehicles will be using most of the spaces in Storeys Gate immediately next to the finish point. If they do come by car they may have to use a public car park or drive around the area to find a parking spot and walk back to Storeys Gate to meet you.
24. What if I feel ill or am hurt while taking part?
    If you know or suspect that there is a possibility of being taken ill or incurring or aggravating an existing injury, we recommend that you do the sensible thing - stay safely at home and just enjoy the photos on our website after the Walk. For an unforeseen accident or illness we have qualified first-aiders amongst our Organisers, marshals and stewards and we have ambulance and paramedic cover for fast response to a medical emergency. By registering for the Big Fun Walk you accept that you are taking part at your own risk. The checkpoint form you will receive at the check-in desk gives guidelines for a safe and enjoyable day.
25. I don’t understand about Gift Aid.
    Gift Aid, a terrific concept which means we benefit from an extra 28p for every £1 you donate, at no extra cost to you! This is how it works: if you donate or pledge sponsorship money to a registered charity and you are a UK tax payer (ie you pay income tax or capital gains tax on your wages, savings and investments) and you ‘Gift Aid’ your donation, for every £1 you give us HM Revenue and Customs give us an extra 28p. This extra bit comes out of what you have paid (or will pay) HMRC in that tax year. It doesn’t cost you anything extra and you don’t have to worry about complicated calculations or anyone knowing any of your private information. On the sponsor form all you have to do is put your first and last name, your full home address (or at least your house name or number and full postcode) and tick the Gift Aid column. We do the rest, and you have a nice warm glow.The 2009 Big Fun Walk raised over £15,000 extra in Gift Aid so we are very keen for your supporters to Gift Aid their sponsorship. Please note that a donor who is not a UK taxpayer should not tick the Gift Aid column. Donations and sponsorship paid by charity cheque or voucher or paid from a business cannot be Gift Aided.
26. How and when should I send you my sponsor money?
    As soon as possible after the Walk, please collect the money pledged by your sponsors and send a cheque made payable to ‘Big Fun Walk’ to Ted Newman, Big Fun Walk, 16 Beech Walk, London NW7 3PH. If you registered by mail you should have received a pre-addressed envelope for this purpose. Please do not send uncrossed Postal Orders nor any cash through the post (we lose a significant amount this way!) The volunteer Organisers of the Big Fun Walk do not work from nor run the Walk from Hospice premises, so please do not take or send any forms, money or cash to the Hospice itself nor to any of the Hospice shops as it makes for an admin problem for both the Hospice staff and volunteers and us and delays dispatch of your certificate.
27. Can you accept charity cheques and vouchers?
    Yes, we are happy to accept cheques and vouchers from KKL, Cafod and similar organisations. These should be made payable to ‘Big Fun Walk’ and sent to the same address as the rest of your sponsor money. Please note that donations and sponsorship paid by charity cheque or voucher or paid from a business cannot be Gift Aided.
28. What happens to my personal information after I register/send in my money?
    After we have received all the sponsor money due and completed the Gift Aid process we make up a mailing list of names and addresses (no phone numbers) which we use to send out information about the following year’s Big Fun Walk. Copies of sponsor forms which bear Gift Aid donations are kept (this is a HMRC requirement). We securely shred the registration forms, check-in forms and sponsor forms without Gift Aid. The Gift Aided sponsor forms are also securely destroyed when they are no longer required. We don’t and won’t make your personal information available to any other organisation unless required to by law. If you want to be taken off the mailing list please let us know and we will remove you immediately. The North London Hospice holds separate lists which may contain some of the same names and addresses as ours: please contact them directly for removal from their lists.