AFC Wimbledon Minithon

STOP PRESS

On Sunday 17 October (noon start), the Dons Trust will be holding a sponsored minithon in Morden Park. This is for supporters of all ages, shapes and sizes: if you can run, walk or crawl three miles, then you can take part. And if you can't do any of those things, then you can volunteer to help on the day, provide sponsorship or just come along and enjoy the fun.

We are not alone

A number of clubs will be holding minithons on or around this date, including FC United of Manchester (and various of its supporter groups including Los Angeles, Boston, Sydney and London), Merthyr (in Wales) and Rochdale Hornets. We want to make this event as successful for AFC Wimbledon as it has been for FC United over the past two years by enlisting as many participants and raising as much sponsorship as possible. Whilst our run is taking place in Morden, the clubs participating will allow entrants from the other participating clubs. So, if you would like to take part on behalf of AFC Wimbledon (and raise money for the AFC Wimbledon ground fund, Macmillan Cancer Support and Wimbledon Civic Theatre Trust), you can do so by running at any of the above locations. Just let us know and we will make arrangements with the groups concerned.

Charities

This isn't just a fundraising event for the ground fund. 50% of the proceeds will go to the Mayor of Merton's charities which, this year, are Macmillan Cancer Support and Wimbledon Civic Theatre Trust.

Macmillan is a major national charity, which improves the lives of people affected by cancer. You can find out more about the work of Macmillan at www.macmillan.org.uk

Wimbledon Civic Theatre Trust is a local charity whose primary aim is to help young people in our local community, especially those with some form of disadvantage, by facilitating exciting and innovative theatre education projects. You can find out more about the work of WCTT at www.wctt.org.uk

Fun and Prizes

We want to make this a fun event for participants and spectators.

Further details will be published over coming weeks. In the meantime:

• Terry Brown and the first team coaching staff, including our very own mascot, Haydon the Womble, will be taking part. You can sponsor them here.
• Prize to be awarded for the best fancy dress costume.
• Prize to be awarded for the largest amount of funds raised.
• Prizes to be awarded for the fastest competitors (by age group).

To enter the minithon

To enter the minithon, download and print off an entry form here. If you are unable to download and print off a form, email fundraising@thedonstrust.org or telephone the club on 020 8547 3528. All entry forms must be received by 13th October.

When returning the form, please remember to include a cheque (made payable to The Dons Trust) for the entry fee of £10 (£5 for under-18s).

Sponsorship forms will be sent out upon receipt of your entry form. [Coming shortly: see how much competitors have raised so far at the Stroll of Honour.]

Help!

You can help us to run the minithon successfully. If you can help out before, during or after the event – marshalling, face-painting, clearing up, refreshments, etc - then please email fundraising@thedonstrust.org. And there's no reason why you shouldn't raise sponsorship from friends and relatives for acting as a volunteer, rather than participant.

It would also be an enormous help if supporters could persuade friends, relatives and colleagues to participate in the run. One way of doing this is to download and print off a poster (A3 version here, A4 version here) and post it on noticeboards at work, school, etc (remember to seek permission where necessary).

Another way of letting people know about the minithon is to send them a link to the online movies advertising the minithon. See;

• Sarah Palin coy about whether she'll run - Watch here
• HRH and the Prime Minister urge you to take part - Watch here

Corporate Sponsors

We are grateful to thinkFolio for sponsoring the AFC Wimbledon Minithon.

Enquiries

For any enquiries, please email fundraising@thedonstrust.org or leave a message for Mark Davis via the club on 020 8547 3528.