Organise your own walk
Take on a solo challenge, team up with friends, or organise a big walk and get your whole community involved this winter.
Taking on a walking challenge for Macmillan is a fantastic way to keep healthy, enjoy the great outdoors, and support people living cancer. You decide where, and you decide when you do it.
From a morning walk in the park to steep hill climbs - whatever kind of walk you do, we'll support you every step of the way.
You choose the route. You make the rules.
If you need to work out the details and aren't ready to register your challenge, then check out the info below that will help you form a plan.
How it works
Quick steps to plan your walking challenge
Choose a route
Choose a date(s)
Get your team together
Register your challenge
Set up your fundraising page
Helping you raise money
Your impact
In 2020, over 1000 determined supporters organised their own walks and raised over £460,000. An incredible amount of money that could pay for seven Macmillan nurses for a year, helping people living with cancer and their families receive essential medical, practical and emotional support.
Frequently asked questions
If you can’t find the answer you’re looking for below, please email fundraising@macmillan.org.uk and the team will be happy to help.
Fundraising
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I need some help with fundraising ideas, can you help?
We love fundraising and want to help make sure it's as easy as possible for you. We've got lots of ideas to help get the money rolling in.
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Can I get another sponsorship form?
Yes, you can download another sponsorship form here.
If you don't have access to a printer, you can ask us for one us by emailing fundraising@macmillan.org.uk and we'll post one straight out to you and you can carry on with your fundraising.
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I’ve done my walk, how do I pay the money in?
Pay your money in using this online form. If you would rather pay in another way, we have other options. Find out more.
Planning and preparation
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How do I find walking route?
We can recommend a few popular routes across the UK, but many more can be found on the National Trail website (England and Wales) or on Walking Scotland.
You can also use helpful websites like Komoot where you can map out any route.
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How far in the future should I pick a date for my walk?
Lots of things can affect how far in advance you plan your walk. Will you need to do some training? Will you want to hold extra fundraising events to help you reach your target?
If you're hoping to lead a large walk, how much notice might people need to get it in their diaries? And will you need time to apply for permission from the council or land owners?
Lots of our walkers start planning three to six months before their walk to give them plenty of time to fit fundraising and planning around their busy lives. If you're planning something ambitious, you might need a bit longer. Don't underestimate the amount of training you may need to do to feel ready for your walk, so give yourself plenty of time.
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What can I do to make sure my walk is safe?
Solo walking events
If you are taking on a solo challenge, it can be safer - and more fun - to have friends or family meet you at points along the way. If that's not possible, make sure there's someone who knows your route and is waiting to meet you at the end.
For an excellent and detailed safety checklist, have a look at the Mountain Rescue website. Their advice is tailored for hills and mountains but is well worth a read whatever kind of walk you're planning.
Group walking events
If you are leading or organising a walk, one of the most important things to do is a risk assessment. This will help you to anticipate and plan for anything that might go wrong. You can find advice about how to do a risk assessment at the Health and Safety Executive.
There's also some useful information on organising your own event from the Institute of Fundraising.
You will also need to consider whether you need insurance. This might be insurance for yourself if you're doing an overseas walk, or public liability insurance if you're holding a public event. For private events, this may not be necessary.
Planning a large walking event can seem a bit daunting but we've teamed up with Walk 4 Life to help make planning your own event easy with lots of useful online resources. Simply visit the Walk 4 Life website for more information.
If you need further advice, get in touch with our Supporter Care team on 0300 1000 200 or by emailing fundraising@macmillan.org.uk.
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What walking gear do I need to take?
This depends on the type of walk you'll be doing. Please make sure you have the correct supplies, for example:
- Water
- Snacks
- Map
- Compass
- Mobile phone
- Suitable footwear
- Waterproofs
- Warm clothing
We have more information about choosing the right walking gear.
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What is the countryside code? Do I need to follow it?
You can read about the countryside code on the gov.uk website. Please make sure you follow the code and make others in your group aware of it too.
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Where can I find help with walking training?
We have training plans to get you in tip-top shape. You should also check out our practical tips and information and guidance on how to stretch, strengthen, and fuel for your walk with professional advice from our training partner Running with Us.
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Do I need to tell the local council about my walking event?
If you're organising a large event you may need to check with your local council about whether there are any special permissions required. Does the walk cross any local farms or private land? If so let them know about your event as this will ensure that they know in advance and will help avoid problems.
Macmillan materials
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Can I get a t-shirt for my event?
We'll send you a t-shirt in the post. If you would like more, you can buy other clothing, water bottles, and other useful items from our online shop.
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How can I get posters and flyers to advertise my event?
You can create your own event materials on be.Macmillan. Once you've registered on the website you can create any materials you need for your event.