When it comes to fundraising, motivation is everything. For Alison, the inspiration came from a desire to make a real difference for people who live with ME/CFS. She saw how little investment there was in biomedical research and chose ME Research UK because it offered a practical and realistic way to contribute to progress.
Alison has lived experience with ME. Fundraising for her was not just about raising money, but about creating awareness. In this article, Alison explains how you too can make a difference.
Start from the Heart
Alison believes that successful fundraising always begins with something personal. “It has got to be from the heart,” she says. Before asking for donations, she took time to write honestly about why the cause mattered to her and why she had chosen to take on the challenge. By sharing her motivation openly, she gave people a reason to connect with her journey rather than just the fundraising goal.
Value the Connections
For Alison, the most rewarding part of the journey wasn’t just the funds raised, but the people she met along the way.
One mother even climbed to Hayes Bluff, a steep 700-foot ridge, just to meet Alison and talk about her son who had been unwell for many years. They walked together for hours, sharing stories and hope.
“If that had been the only thing to come out of my walk, that would have been enough for me. I had helped one person,” Alison says.
Make It Personal
Instead of sending out a single generic message, Alison reached out to people one by one. She wrote individual emails to around 200 connections and explained her challenge and why it was important. Social media was part of the mix too, but she found that the personal touch—making people feel included in the effort—was what truly made the difference. Adding photos of her walking boots, her ME Research UK t-shirt, and training updates brought her story to life and helped supporters feel part of the journey.
Keep People Engaged
Fundraising is not a one-time announcement. Alison kept her supporters updated with countdowns, reflections, and challenges along the way.
She shared her excitement and her worries, keeping the campaign alive without overwhelming people.
“It’s a long-drawn process of getting people engaged,” she explains. By the time she set out on her 200-mile walk, her community was already walking beside her in spirit.
Believe in the Cause
One of the hardest parts of fundraising, Alison admits, is overcoming self-doubt. “Will anybody be interested? Can I do this? Is it worth my while?” These are the questions many fundraisers face. But for Alison, her belief in the importance of biomedical research for ME/CFS outweighed the uncertainty. She realised that awareness raising was just as valuable as donations—and that the two often go hand in hand. By keeping the focus on the cause, she found the motivation to push through the hard work.
Practical Tips
Alison’s experience highlights some simple but powerful lessons for anyone wanting to start their own fundraising journey:
- Choose something unusual – a challenge that will spark interest.
- Tell your story – explain why the cause matters to you personally.
- Reach out widely – don’t hesitate to share with everyone you know.
- Use visuals – photos and updates make people feel part of the journey.
- Say thank you – gratitude builds lasting goodwill.
- Show what you’re doing – wear a t-shirt or sign that makes your cause visible; it can even lead to spontaneous donations.
Walking Towards Hope
Fundraising can feel daunting, but Alison’s story shows how powerful it can be when approached with heart, honesty, and persistence. For her, every step of the 200-mile walk was a chance to raise awareness, inspire hope, and remind people affected by ME/CFS that they are not forgotten.
Her journey proves that fundraising is about more than money—it’s about kindness, connection, and change.
