About the challenge
What is the challenge?
The challenge asks you to Swim 8K in October in any way that suits you. You can split these out
however you like to help you hit your target!
How do I sign up? How does it work?
It’s free to take part in Swim 8K and easy to sign up:
1. Sign up here to request your free t-shirt and swim hat
2. Once you sign up, you will receive your own fundraising page. You can personalise this
page to make it uniquely yours!
3. Share the link to your fundraising page with all your friends, family and colleagues. Tell
them about your challenge and ask them to sponsor you.
4. Swim 8K throughout October and share regular updates.
5. Feel a huge sense of pride and joy for completing the challenge!
Can I alter my challenge, so I cover a longer or shorter distance, or start and finish earlier or later?
With it being a personal challenge, you can alter the challenge as needed as we understand that it’s not always possible to complete the challenge as planned. We want you to take part in whatever way works best for you, whether you reduce or increase the distance you cover or give yourself a different time frame to complete it within.
You aren’t required to let us know, unless you wish to, but it’s best to let your supporters know by posting an update on your page.
Please note, the distance leader board and badges are set to 8 kilometres and run between 1 – 31 October. If you hit milestones outside these dates, you can request these badges by emailing facebookchallenge@gosh.org
How do I track my swims?
Please visit the Resources tab within My Dashboard to find our swim tracker poster to keep a count of your activity. You’ll also receive a printed one with your t-shirt and swim hat.
You can also add your distance manually to your fundraising page by adding this from within your Dashboard too.
The most important thing is that you post updates on your fundraising and social media so your friends and family can see how hard you’re pushing yourself.
Fundraising
Is there a fundraising target?
There is no fundraising target, but we ask everyone to raise as much as they can.
Do I receive a fundraising page when I sign up?
Yes! Once you sign up to Swim 8K in October, you will receive your very own fundraising page, which you can personalise with your story, updates and pictures. From your fundraising dashboard, you can also create a team, send out messages asking for support and access our Swim 8K in October resources.
Can I fundraise offline too?
Yes, you can fundraise offline as well as online. You can download a sponsorship form within the Resources tab of your fundraising dashboard.
To pay in your offline donations, you can either:
Pay it directly onto your fundraising page.
Pay online using our website form. Please select Facebook Fundraiser to then click Swim 8K in October in the list of events.
Call us on 020 3841 3131 to pay over the phone. Be sure to mention Swim 8K in October!
I’ve got a BFF/TGF/I’m a corporate partner. Can my fundraising go towards my specific fund?
Yes, we can arrange this for you. Please email us at facebookchallenge@gosh.org and we can make sure this sorted for you.
Can I choose what my fundraising goes towards?
If you would like to talk to us about a specific area you would like to fundraise for, please email us at facebookchallenge@gosh.org and we can talk you through your options.
Where does my fundraising go? What does it pay for?
Every day brings new challenges at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH). Every day around 750 children and young people from across the UK arrive for life-changing treatments.
Every day, doctors and nurses battle the most complex illnesses, and the brightest minds come together to achieve pioneering medical breakthroughs. And every day you run you'll help Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity (GOSH Charity) give seriously ill children the chance of a better future.
The money you raise will help GOSH Charity to fund groundbreaking research, child and family support services, life-changing state-of-the-art medical equipment, and new child-focused environments at GOSH.
