Fundraising Pack

Mother and son, Piers & Gail, after running the Bedford Half Marathon for Action on Male Suicide in honour of Sean

TAKE ACTION ON MALE SUICIDE Your Fundraising Guide 1

CONTENTS 4.

Welcome

5.

Gail’s story

6.

Why your support matters

8.

Find your fundraiser

10.

Set up a fundraising page

11.

Completed your event?

12.

Ria’s story

www.actiononmalesuicide.org | Registered Charity No. 1216792 2

READY TO TO TAKE TAKE READY ACTION? ACTION? Imran after completing the Kenilworth Half Marathon for Action on Male Suicide.

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WELCOME

THANK YOU FOR TAKING ACTION You might be raising money in memory of someone you love.

You might have your own experience of suicidal distress. Or you might simply believe that too many men are dying by suicide and that more can be done to prevent it.

Whatever has brought you here, thank you for choosing to take action with us.

Action on Male Suicide is a research-led charity working to improve how we understand, talk about and prevent male suicide.

By fundraising for us, you are helping turn that ambition into action.

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We’re here to help.

This guide will take you through the essentials — from choosing an idea and telling your story to promoting your fundraiser and paying in what you raise. If you have any questions, email: fundraise@ actiononmalesuicide.org

GAIL & PIERS: RUNNING

IN HONOUR

OF SEAN Pictured are mother and son, Piers & Gail, after running the Bedford half marathon for Action on Male Suicide in honour of Sean

“I am running my FIRST ever Half Marathon.

Why??

In February 2026 my son Piers and his best mate Sean ran the Bedford Half Marathon.

Piers had been coaching Sean for this and other running events, raising money for Keech hospice who looked after his Dad. In April Sean took his life devastating all of us who knew and loved him.

Unfortunately Sean’s story is not an isolated one. So many men are taking their lives causing a ripple effect of grief and emotion across families, friends and communities.

So this run — my first ever Half Marathon — is not just a challenge. It is a call for ACTION. For Sean. For every man who feels he has nowhere to turn.”

WHY YOUR SUPPORT MATTERS

WHAT YOU’RE HELPING MAKE POSSIBLE Male suicide is complex. There is no single reason why men die by suicide - and no single solution. Action on Male Suicide works to improve how we understand, talk about and prevent male suicide. Your fundraising helps make that work possible.

Our vision is clear: Action on Male Suicide exists to support more men who are suicidal to access meaningful and fulfilling lives through evidence-based research, interventions, policies, and public engagement.

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Our approach is simple: RESEARCH

Understand what drives men’s suicidal distress.

EVIDENCE

Identify what truly helps.

ACTION

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Develop, strengthen and deliver interventions that create real, lasting change.

“I think this work is a breath of ice cold fresh air - it’s hard-hitting, brutally emotional but powerful and important.

“The research really gets beyond the often lazy narratives around male suicide - it brings the human reality to life through lived experience and offers a coherent framework for understanding the specifics of male risk.

“It’s inspirational work - and so badly needed in the face of often apathetic acceptance of high rates of male suicide.”

Neil Ingham, Executive Director of Wales Samaritans 7

FIND YOUR FUNDRAISER There’s no right way to fundraise. The best fundraiser is one that feels right for you. Choose something you enjoy, something that challenges you, or something that brings people together.

Whatever you decide to do, we’re here to help you take action on male suicide.

1.

Pick an idea

Fundraising Inspiration: GET ACTIVE: Walk, run, cycle, swim or climb; organise a local hike; take on a fitness challenge; or host a football, golf or other sports tournament.

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GET TOGETHER: Host a supper, coffee morning, barbecue or quiz; put on a music, comedy or arts event; or bring your community together for something you enjoy.

TAKE ON A CHALLENGE: Give something up, learn something new, complete a challenge over a set number of days, or set yourself a personal goal.

CELEBRATE: Ask friends and family to donate instead of giving birthday, wedding or anniversary gifts.

DO WHAT YOU LOVE: Turn your interests into a fundraiser: bake, make and sell crafts, artwork or photography; organise an auction, raffle or sale; or fundraise through gaming or streaming.

AT WORK: Organise a workplace fundraiser, challenge colleagues, run a sweepstake, or ask whether your employer offers matched giving.

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2.

Set up a fundraising page

Setting up an online fundraising page with a platform like Just Giving makes it easy for friends, family and colleagues to support you - and gives you one place to share your story, your target and your progress.

TIPS FOR A STRONG FUNDRAISING PAGE: Make it personal: Add a photo and explain what you’re doing, why you’ve chosen to fundraise for Action on Male Suicide, and what the challenge or event means to you.

Set a target: A fundraising target gives people something to get behind.

Choose an amount that feels ambitious but achievable - and remember, you can always increase it later.

Share your story: People are more likely to connect with your fundraiser when they understand the reason behind it. You don’t need to write a lot. A few honest sentences can be enough.

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Keep people updated: Share photos, training updates, milestones and reminders in the run-up to your fundraiser. Regular updates can help keep people engaged and encourage more donations.

Don’t forget Gift Aid: Eligible UK taxpayers can add Gift Aid to their donation, allowing Action on Male Suicide to claim an extra 25p for every £1 donated, at no additional cost to them.

Ready to get started?

Set up your fundraising page at

justgiving.com

Fundraising in memory of someone?

Family and friends may choose to fundraise for Action on Male Suicide in memory of someone precious they have lost.

Your fundraiser can be a way to remember them, bring people together and support work to prevent male suicide. To

COMPLETED YOUR EVENT? You raised money. You raised awareness. You took action on male suicide. Thank you.

Here are a few things to wrap up your fundraising efforts.

Thank your supporters Let people know how much you raised and what their support meant.

Share your photos We’d love to see how it went. Send your photos and story to fundraise@ actiononmalesuicide.org.

Pay in offline donations If you raised money through JustGiving, donations will reach us automatically. If you collected money offline, get in touch and we’ll tell you how to pay it in.

Tell us how it went We’d love to hear about your experience - what you enjoyed, what worked well and anything that could have made fundraising easier.

RIA’S STORY: RUNNING IN HONOUR OF HUGH

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“I’m running for Hugh, for his family and friends, and for all the men and young men who are struggling in silence. These men could be your husband, cousin, son, nephew, brother and uncle.

Hugh

“I’m also incredibly proud to be raising money for Action on Male Suicide, a charity whose work I feel passionately about.

Here are some words from Hugh’s mum: ‘The pain of losing a much-loved son to suicide is indescribable. What makes that pain even harder to bear is knowing that my kind, clever, funny, considerate and loving son’s death was preventable. Life for my family is forever darker without him.

75% of suicides are male, so we need a suicide prevention strategy designed specifically for men.

Viewing suicide purely as a clinical or mental health issue is outdated. Research shows

Ria running for Hugh 12

male suicide is often a response to external pressures. Men can talk differently from women, and when they cannot see a solution, suicide may feel like the only option. Reducing male suicide is not only the responsibility of men themselves; it is also the responsibility of society, public institutions and services.

Urgent education is needed on causes, risk factors and the correct support. Many public institutions, services, employers and even some suicide prevention services remain poorly informed.

I truly believe Action on Male Suicide can meet this urgent education need and save lives. It is too late for my son, but I am hopeful it can help prevent other families experiencing the same loss’.

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Why this matters to me?

As a counsellor, I see how important it is that people feel able to talk, feel heard and receive the right support at the right time. Action on Male Suicide’s research-led approach is particularly important to me because we need to understand what genuinely works for men, rather than making assumptions about how men should seek or receive help.

Hugh was just 19 when he died. Four years later, I wanted to remember him by doing something positive in his memory and by supporting a charity whose work is focused on understanding male suicide and finding better ways to support men who are struggling.

So, on 25th October, I’ll be putting one foot in front of the other and running for Hugh, and Action On Male Suicide raising as much money as I can.

For Hugh. For men. For those who are struggling. And for those who are still here.”

For Hugh.

For men. For those who are struggling. And for those who are still here.”

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THANK YOU FOR TAKING Contact hello@actiononmalesuicide.org actiononmalesuicide actiononmalesuicide.org

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