Fundraising Ideas for Bladder Health Charities

Why Fundraising Matters for Bladder Health

Bladder conditions like interstitial cystitis and painful bladder syndrome affect hundreds of thousands of people in the UK, yet they receive relatively little public attention compared to other chronic conditions. Research funding is limited, and many patients feel isolated because so few people understand what they’re going through.

That’s where fundraising comes in. Beyond the obvious financial benefit—supporting research, patient education, and helpline services—fundraising activities serve another purpose: they get people talking. When someone runs a marathon for a bladder health charity, their friends and family suddenly learn that these conditions exist. That awareness ripples outward, reducing stigma and helping other patients feel less alone.

Over the years, COB Foundation supporters have organised an impressive range of events. Some are physically demanding; others focus on bringing communities together. All of them make a difference.

Sponsored Physical Challenges

Endurance Events

Long-distance runs, cycles, and obstacle courses remain popular choices for sponsored fundraising. They attract attention, create natural conversation starters about why someone is putting themselves through such effort, and tend to bring in significant donations.

Matthew Gough, a sport and exercise psychology student from Lowton, has become something of a serial fundraiser for bladder health causes. He ran coast to coast one year, then cycled the 130-mile Leeds-Liverpool Canal the next. His goal was not just raising money but spreading awareness of interstitial cystitis, a condition he has personal experience with. As he put it: “I will not stop until I have spread the word significantly about IC and also improved treatment and eventually found a cure.”

That kind of determination is infectious. People notice when someone commits to gruelling physical challenges for a cause, and it often prompts questions about what interstitial cystitis actually is.

Siobhan Dean took on the Tough Mudder challenge—12 miles of obstacles designed by Special Forces personnel to test strength, stamina, and mental resilience. She completed the entire course, coming away with cuts and bruises but also having raised over £550. The event pushed her to her physical limits, but she described it as offering something back to the organisation that had supported her through difficult times.

Jamie Harris ran the Bristol Half Marathon for his eighteen-year-old daughter Emily, who lives with IC. The half marathon is a manageable distance for someone with reasonable fitness but still impressive enough to attract sponsorship. For Jamie, the motivation was deeply personal—he wanted to do something tangible for his daughter and others dealing with the same condition.

Matthew Parnell chose something more unusual: running up Pen Y Fan in the Brecon Beacons. This mountain is used by the military for harsh training exercises, and Matthew’s plan was to summit within 24 hours. His wife has interstitial cystitis, and the challenge was his way of supporting her and raising funds for research.

Why Physical Challenges Work

There’s something about watching someone push their physical limits that inspires generosity. Research into charitable giving suggests that people are more likely to donate when they perceive the fundraiser is making a genuine sacrifice 1. Running a marathon or climbing a mountain clearly fits that description.

Physical challenges also provide excellent opportunities for social media content. Photos of muddy obstacle course survivors or exhausted marathon finishers get shared widely, extending the reach of the fundraising campaign far beyond the participant’s immediate network.

Community and Social Events

Not everyone wants to run a marathon, and that’s perfectly fine. Some of the most successful fundraising activities focus on bringing people together socially rather than testing physical endurance.

Craft Days and Hobby Events

Morag Cutts organised a craft day at her local community centre in Solihull. Thirty crafters came together to enjoy classes, work on projects, and participate in a raffle with prizes donated by local businesses. The event raised £764 for COB Foundation.

The genius of this approach is that participants are doing something they already enjoy. Crafters, knitters, quilters, and hobbyists of all kinds are often looking for excuses to meet up with like-minded people. Adding a charitable component gives them that excuse while also doing some good.

Similar events could work for almost any hobby: book clubs, gardening groups, running clubs, wine tasting societies. The key is finding something that people would want to do anyway, then adding a fundraising element.

Raffles and Prize Draws

Raffles remain a fundraising staple because they work. The Christmas hamper raffle at the COB Foundation AGM attracted attention precisely because the prize was appealing—“everything you could wish for to make Christmas really special,” as the organisers described it.

The psychology here is straightforward: people get excited about the chance to win something, and a small ticket price feels affordable even to those who might not otherwise donate. Prize donations from local businesses keep costs low while creating goodwill in the community.

For those organising raffles, it’s worth noting that there are legal requirements in the UK around lotteries and prize draws. Small society lotteries (which most charity raffles are) have relatively simple rules, but it’s worth checking the Gambling Commission guidance to ensure compliance.

Fashion Shows and Social Evenings

Fashion shows, wine and cheese evenings, quiz nights, and similar social events offer another avenue for fundraising. They tend to work best when organised by someone with good local connections—the success depends largely on getting enough people through the door.

One word of caution: these events require significant planning and sometimes don’t come together as hoped. The COB Foundation once had to cancel a planned fashion night due to unforeseen circumstances. That’s not a failure; it’s just a reminder that fundraising takes work and things don’t always go to plan.

Awareness Merchandise

Wristbands and Accessories

Matthew Gough has also been selling rubber wristbands to raise awareness of interstitial cystitis. The proceeds are split between COB Foundation and the Bladder and Bowel Foundation.

Wristbands became popular as awareness tools following the Lance Armstrong Foundation’s yellow Livestrong bands in the early 2000s. While some might argue the trend has faded, there’s still value in visible symbols that prompt questions. When someone notices your wristband and asks about it, you have an opening to explain what interstitial cystitis is—which is often the hardest part of raising awareness.

Other merchandise options include badges, car stickers, t-shirts, and tote bags. The key is choosing items that people will actually use, so the awareness-raising continues long after the purchase.

Digital Fundraising Options

Text Giving

Modern fundraising has moved substantially online, and text-to-donate services make giving quick and easy. COB Foundation’s text giving service (COBF01 to 70070) lets supporters donate £2, £5, or £10 with a single text message.

The appeal is convenience. Someone hearing about the charity at an event can donate immediately rather than having to remember to do it later. That immediacy typically increases conversion rates substantially.

Online Fundraising Pages

Platforms like JustGiving and Virgin Money Giving (previously MyDonate) allow fundraisers to create personal pages where friends and family can donate. The pages handle payment processing, Gift Aid declarations, and running totals, making administration much simpler.

Most of the physical challenges mentioned earlier used these platforms successfully. The ability to share a fundraising page on social media extends reach far beyond what would be possible through traditional sponsorship forms.

Getting Started with Your Own Fundraiser

If you’re considering fundraising for bladder health charities, here are some practical suggestions:

Start with what you enjoy. The most successful fundraisers tend to be those where the participant is genuinely enthusiastic about the activity. If you hate running, don’t sign up for a marathon—find something that feels less like punishment and more like an adventure.

Tell your story. People connect with personal narratives. If you have interstitial cystitis, or someone you love does, sharing that story (as much as you’re comfortable with) will make your fundraising more compelling than generic appeals.

Set realistic targets. It’s better to exceed a modest target than fall short of an ambitious one. You can always increase your goal if donations come in faster than expected.

Thank your donors. A personal message to each person who donates goes a long way toward building relationships and encouraging future support.

Consider matching donations. Some employers offer matched giving programmes that double or even triple charitable donations made by employees. It’s worth checking whether this option is available.

The Bigger Picture

Fundraising for bladder health isn’t just about the money, though the money certainly helps. Research into conditions like interstitial cystitis remains underfunded compared to many other chronic conditions, and patient support services depend heavily on charitable contributions.

But the awareness component may be equally important. Studies have shown that patients with chronic invisible illnesses often experience psychological distress related to feeling misunderstood by those around them 2. Every conversation that starts with “Why are you running a marathon?” and ends with “I never knew that condition existed” chips away at that isolation.

The NHS estimates that around 400,000 people in the UK live with interstitial cystitis or painful bladder syndrome 3. Many more have overactive bladder, recurrent UTIs, or other urological conditions that affect their daily lives. Better awareness means earlier diagnosis, more understanding from friends and family, and reduced stigma.

If you’ve ever thought about doing something for bladder health charities—whether that’s running up a mountain, organising a craft day, or simply donating via text message—now is a good time to start. The people these organisations support will thank you for it.

How to Get Involved

Contact the COB Foundation office if you’re planning a fundraising event or want to learn more about how you can help. The team can provide sponsorship forms, fundraising advice, and materials to help spread awareness. Every contribution, whether large or small, makes a difference to people living with chronic bladder conditions.