Another crisis/advice sought... etc etc
Discussion
After seeing the incredible response "ashamed's" post heralded, I thought I might chance my arm & ask the Pistonheads bunch for advice on something rather different...
(this doesn't involve dogging or swinging, btw
)
Anyhow, as many of you know, I'm attempting to ski solo & unsupported to the North Geographic Pole from Canada next spring. If I crack it, I'll enter the record books as the first person to do so, and as the youngest ever to reach the Pole on foot (two new World Records). The expedition is supporting The Orchid Cancer Appeal, the UK’s first male cancer charity.
Everest has been climbed over 1,600 times, over 2,000 people have been into space, yet reaching the North Geographic Pole solo, unsupported and on foot from Canada remains one of the very few genuine world firsts yet to be achieved. I'm in a better position to pull this off than anyone else on the planet (came within 10 days of the Pole last year, after 8 weeks of skiing through the worst conditions for 17 years & set the record for the youngest ever attempt).
I'm being supported by the world's greatest living polar explorer - the Norwegian Borge Ousland, and the project has had input from Sir Ranulph Fiennes (whose Arctic distance record we broke last spring).
Now here's the problem - TWO major backers have pulled out, and I'm trying to raise a further £100,000 to get the project off the ground. I've spent 18 months knocking on the doors of Corporate Britain with very little success.
I've put everything I have into this dream (money, car, bike, lost my job, racked up £30k debts aged 23, etc etc) and I have *absolute* belief in my ability to pull it off. One of my principle aims is to use the expedition as an example to other young people that, with enough self-belief & tenacity, nothing is impossible - I give free talks to state schools
& the response I've had from schools/children so far is overwhelming.
Anyhow, long story short, etc - does anyone have any bright ideas on how to raise the last £100,000. I'm fast running out of ideas - media interest in the project is growing & I can't understand why companies aren't "biting". I need to secure funding by the end of the year or it all dies, I'll go and get a normal job & kids will have to be happy with just footballers to look up to as role models
edited to add that you can email me at ben@northpole2003.com - or have a look at www.northpole2003.com for more info.
Cheers,
Ben
>>> Edited by polar_ben on Tuesday 5th November 17:56
(this doesn't involve dogging or swinging, btw
) Anyhow, as many of you know, I'm attempting to ski solo & unsupported to the North Geographic Pole from Canada next spring. If I crack it, I'll enter the record books as the first person to do so, and as the youngest ever to reach the Pole on foot (two new World Records). The expedition is supporting The Orchid Cancer Appeal, the UK’s first male cancer charity.
Everest has been climbed over 1,600 times, over 2,000 people have been into space, yet reaching the North Geographic Pole solo, unsupported and on foot from Canada remains one of the very few genuine world firsts yet to be achieved. I'm in a better position to pull this off than anyone else on the planet (came within 10 days of the Pole last year, after 8 weeks of skiing through the worst conditions for 17 years & set the record for the youngest ever attempt).
I'm being supported by the world's greatest living polar explorer - the Norwegian Borge Ousland, and the project has had input from Sir Ranulph Fiennes (whose Arctic distance record we broke last spring).
Now here's the problem - TWO major backers have pulled out, and I'm trying to raise a further £100,000 to get the project off the ground. I've spent 18 months knocking on the doors of Corporate Britain with very little success.
I've put everything I have into this dream (money, car, bike, lost my job, racked up £30k debts aged 23, etc etc) and I have *absolute* belief in my ability to pull it off. One of my principle aims is to use the expedition as an example to other young people that, with enough self-belief & tenacity, nothing is impossible - I give free talks to state schools
& the response I've had from schools/children so far is overwhelming. Anyhow, long story short, etc - does anyone have any bright ideas on how to raise the last £100,000. I'm fast running out of ideas - media interest in the project is growing & I can't understand why companies aren't "biting". I need to secure funding by the end of the year or it all dies, I'll go and get a normal job & kids will have to be happy with just footballers to look up to as role models
edited to add that you can email me at ben@northpole2003.com - or have a look at www.northpole2003.com for more info.
Cheers,
Ben
>>> Edited by polar_ben on Tuesday 5th November 17:56
Polar
You probably have far greater experience of trying to raise sponsorship than I do - However
you need a hook for them to pin their brand on, as much as possible. whether thats a drugs company who want to be associated with orchid or a clothing manufacturer that wants to give you free stuff.
My top tip company is Qinetiq www.qinetiq.com
they have a low profile (which they are trying to change) they have money ! and they research all kinds of fantastic futuristic stuff - eg sponsoring the altitude attempt in a hot air ballon the size of the empire state building !
Try them - if you can give them a hook
Best of luck with your venture.
You probably have far greater experience of trying to raise sponsorship than I do - However
you need a hook for them to pin their brand on, as much as possible. whether thats a drugs company who want to be associated with orchid or a clothing manufacturer that wants to give you free stuff.
My top tip company is Qinetiq www.qinetiq.com
they have a low profile (which they are trying to change) they have money ! and they research all kinds of fantastic futuristic stuff - eg sponsoring the altitude attempt in a hot air ballon the size of the empire state building !
Try them - if you can give them a hook
Best of luck with your venture.
Gargamel said: you need a hook for them to pin their brand on, as much as possible. whether thats a drugs company who want to be associated with orchid or a clothing manufacturer that wants to give you free stuff.
Sounds like good advice! Why not try the various companies that sell their products via outlets like Field and Trek? The only problem I suppose is that they might prefer to give you products rather than hard cash.
I'll have another think...
bugger me - I don't think we've tried Qinetiq (despite having a fundraiser & a PR company working for me) - can't say I'd heard of them until now...
I'm off to draft a proposal
Cheers matey - this place never ceases to amaze me...
We actively support those individuals and teams of people who personally push themselves to their limits for a good cause.
I'm off to draft a proposal
Cheers matey - this place never ceases to amaze me...
SGirl said:
Gargamel said: you need a hook for them to pin their brand on, as much as possible. whether thats a drugs company who want to be associated with orchid or a clothing manufacturer that wants to give you free stuff.
Sounds like good advice! Why not try the various companies that sell their products via outlets like Field and Trek? The only problem I suppose is that they might prefer to give you products rather than hard cash.
I'll have another think...
Have tried ALL the drug companies - they all put huge amounts into research/charitable donation (which is great) but they tend not to sponsor individuals, and things seem to be approved by a committee several decades in advance
As for kit - I've got clothing sponsors etc - free kit is easy - hard cash is a different story...
Tried the Sun last year (they backed a Royal Marines attempt in 2000) - sadly I tend to get lumped in with single-handed sailors/mountaineers/etc etc and we meet a lot of "it's all been done before" crap
Someone said the UK media won't be interested unless either a)I pull it off, celebrate big style and get photographed staggering out of a brothel with a rolled up £20 note in my left nostril or b) get eaten by a bear.
Positive, inspirational news doesn't seem to sell papers. Interestingly, much of the media interest has been from the US (I'm being flown out to appear on the Tonight show soon)...
Someone said the UK media won't be interested unless either a)I pull it off, celebrate big style and get photographed staggering out of a brothel with a rolled up £20 note in my left nostril or b) get eaten by a bear.
Positive, inspirational news doesn't seem to sell papers. Interestingly, much of the media interest has been from the US (I'm being flown out to appear on the Tonight show soon)...
Take Mungo with you and we will all chip in..
Seriously Ben, I do admire what you are trying to achieve and the bit about giving kids hope is great and very commendable,as is raising raising money for a good cause.
However, realisticaly you are never going to hit the heights of people like Beckham etc. As unfair as that may seem, the fact is that playing for Man Utd (
) and England his global exposure is Massive. That's why they fall over thamselves to sponsor him because they need that exposure to the masses.
Whatever happens I wish you all the best,even though I think you are totally off your trolley and could die in the process. Hope you raise the money somehow.
Seriously Ben, I do admire what you are trying to achieve and the bit about giving kids hope is great and very commendable,as is raising raising money for a good cause.
However, realisticaly you are never going to hit the heights of people like Beckham etc. As unfair as that may seem, the fact is that playing for Man Utd (
) and England his global exposure is Massive. That's why they fall over thamselves to sponsor him because they need that exposure to the masses. Whatever happens I wish you all the best,even though I think you are totally off your trolley and could die in the process. Hope you raise the money somehow.
Respect for what you want to achive I know I havent got the commitment to try something like that.
We had a speaker at one of our companies presentations, she was one of a four all girl team to ski to both poles and the stories that came up were unbelievable. But the one that I always remember is that one of the girls had frostbite in both hands and could not move them, to such an extent that one of the others even had to wipe her bum after her ablutions
Good luck if you can raise the funds
Paul
We had a speaker at one of our companies presentations, she was one of a four all girl team to ski to both poles and the stories that came up were unbelievable. But the one that I always remember is that one of the girls had frostbite in both hands and could not move them, to such an extent that one of the others even had to wipe her bum after her ablutions
Good luck if you can raise the funds
Paul
This is not as off the wall as it seems, but try the Post Office who are now Royal Mail again after spending a heck of a lot of money being Consignia.
Go for something off the wall like being the 'first' postman to deliver actual mail to Santa in the North Pole. Sounds nuts but it is the kind of thing they will get their Marketing peoples minds working.
I think Helen Macartthur has a website (and e-mail) she has done very well with the Corporate World and maybe able to share some tips. Again BT had a link with her to allow her to feed progress live. BT's prospects are looking up at the mo and they have a history of backing young Brits.
Good luck with it all and let the PHer's know how you get on.
PC
Go for something off the wall like being the 'first' postman to deliver actual mail to Santa in the North Pole. Sounds nuts but it is the kind of thing they will get their Marketing peoples minds working.
I think Helen Macartthur has a website (and e-mail) she has done very well with the Corporate World and maybe able to share some tips. Again BT had a link with her to allow her to feed progress live. BT's prospects are looking up at the mo and they have a history of backing young Brits.
Good luck with it all and let the PHer's know how you get on.
PC
Qinetic are a privatized part of the DERA, formally the Defence Research Agency... I think they have only been privatised for a year or two, which may be why you haven't heard of them.
From the technology side, GPS receiver companies, and satelite mobile phone companies (inmarsat, iridium) may be able to help, particularly if you are portrayed as relying on their technology.
As you said, the American audience will probably enjoy your efforts more than the Brits... would you be prepared to offer someone like Discovery channel rights to footage that you would take on your journey? This kind of money is peanuts to them....
Could you bill yourself as a modern day Shackleton? He seems very popular at the moment, and I think its important to note that his popularity comes from being someone who survived incredible hardship but did not achieve his goal.
I bring this up because I think that people are fatigued by records, there are too many silly ones (days on a rollercoaster) and there are too many finely divided ones (first left handed lesbian to climb the peak three to the left of Everest) For this reason focusing on the hardship and and the human spirit (and how that spirit can be passed on to your sponsors) may be a better approach.
Hope this helps. Good luck with your efforts.
Steve
From the technology side, GPS receiver companies, and satelite mobile phone companies (inmarsat, iridium) may be able to help, particularly if you are portrayed as relying on their technology.
As you said, the American audience will probably enjoy your efforts more than the Brits... would you be prepared to offer someone like Discovery channel rights to footage that you would take on your journey? This kind of money is peanuts to them....
Could you bill yourself as a modern day Shackleton? He seems very popular at the moment, and I think its important to note that his popularity comes from being someone who survived incredible hardship but did not achieve his goal.
I bring this up because I think that people are fatigued by records, there are too many silly ones (days on a rollercoaster) and there are too many finely divided ones (first left handed lesbian to climb the peak three to the left of Everest) For this reason focusing on the hardship and and the human spirit (and how that spirit can be passed on to your sponsors) may be a better approach.
Hope this helps. Good luck with your efforts.
Steve
We had a speaker at one of our companies presentations, she was one of a four all girl team to ski to both poles and the stories that came up were unbelievable. But the one that I always remember is that one of the girls had frostbite in both hands and could not move them, to such an extent that one of the others even had to wipe her bum after her ablutions
Hmmm - never had that problem. Froze my eyelashes together (and hence eyes frozen shut) a couple of times. Managed to get a frostbitten big toe, and a broken tooth. We were attacked by a bear on day 2, and the gun jammed *five* times before we got a shot off
- scary canary... No luck with BT - "don't sponsor individuals"...
I'm not teaching you to suck eggs but here’s a list of my suggestions:
As you've employed the likes of a PR company, I take it they are sponsors themselves so to speak?
I would imagine as a fellow adventurer someone like Richard Branson at Virgin would chip in?
I suppose the time frame is too tight for the likes of the Lottery?
Prince Charles seems to go for 'young persons' charity type things; maybe the Duchy of Cornwall has something? Even better if you're from an inner city, which doesn't include Mayfair though
I take it you've done the FTSE 100 companies?
What about one of the Chronograph companies like Brietling(sp?)?
Duke of Edinburg does the schemes for young persons perhaps they do personal sponsorship as well?
Local boy does good type of thing, how about your local council and county council they do have sponsorship budgets? same for local newspapers?
Oh so many, but I bet you've done thousands, I suppose it's a bit like job applications after the first 50 they all seem the same.
I hope that helps, if not at least I tried, good luck btw you must be mad
.
Harry
As you've employed the likes of a PR company, I take it they are sponsors themselves so to speak?
I would imagine as a fellow adventurer someone like Richard Branson at Virgin would chip in?
I suppose the time frame is too tight for the likes of the Lottery?
Prince Charles seems to go for 'young persons' charity type things; maybe the Duchy of Cornwall has something? Even better if you're from an inner city, which doesn't include Mayfair though
I take it you've done the FTSE 100 companies?
What about one of the Chronograph companies like Brietling(sp?)?
Duke of Edinburg does the schemes for young persons perhaps they do personal sponsorship as well?
Local boy does good type of thing, how about your local council and county council they do have sponsorship budgets? same for local newspapers?
Oh so many, but I bet you've done thousands, I suppose it's a bit like job applications after the first 50 they all seem the same
. I hope that helps, if not at least I tried, good luck btw you must be mad
. Harry
Ben,
Will ask a friend at BT if she knows anything about the sponsorshp thing. She has a contact who may be able to shed some light on this. No guarantees, obviously, but maybe a better answer than the one you got.
How much for my company logo somewhere occasionally in camera-shot? (Go easy on me, I'm self-employed in the I.T. industry. No money, innit. )
--Chris
>> Edited by Marshy on Wednesday 6th November 01:08
Will ask a friend at BT if she knows anything about the sponsorshp thing. She has a contact who may be able to shed some light on this. No guarantees, obviously, but maybe a better answer than the one you got.
How much for my company logo somewhere occasionally in camera-shot?
(Go easy on me, I'm self-employed in the I.T. industry. No money, innit. ) --Chris
>> Edited by Marshy on Wednesday 6th November 01:08
How about we all chip in?
Many £10 make a **** load of money?
Or so the old proverb goes..
Bung me down for £10 and I can force Bonce to double it, there how is that for a ball rolling?
D.
Stupid question but have you asked Beckham? He would not miss £200k ( the reason I say £200k is that you could offer a special security service to protect Posh, it's not like anyone would find her if you took her along, she is so skinny you'd not notice the extra weight if you stuffed her in your rucksack).
Many £10 make a **** load of money?
Or so the old proverb goes..
Bung me down for £10 and I can force Bonce to double it, there how is that for a ball rolling?
D.
Stupid question but have you asked Beckham? He would not miss £200k ( the reason I say £200k is that you could offer a special security service to protect Posh, it's not like anyone would find her if you took her along, she is so skinny you'd not notice the extra weight if you stuffed her in your rucksack).
polar_ben said:
Positive, inspirational news doesn't seem to sell papers. Interestingly, much of the media interest has been from the US (I'm being flown out to appear on the Tonight show soon)...
Well there's a start... on American TV, tell them that your major sponsor has wimped out... can anyone help?
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