This year team Fabulous 4 will be participating in Oxfam Japan Trailwalker for a second time. Last year, they enjoyed fundraising so much, that this year they hope to make their efforts bigger and better.

So what are their tips for fundraising?






■Q.1
Team Fabulous 4 participated in Trailwalker last year. How did you form your team and what is your relationship to each other?

Our leader Ms Kato found out about Trailwalker on the web and she sent an email asking for participants. The other 3 members answered straight away. That’s how we formed our team.
Ms Kato, Ms Shiraishi and Ms Yoshimura are colleagues and they take part in challenging events at work quite often. Ms Yoshise and Ms Kato met when they were studying abroad together.
Although Ms Yoshise had never met the other 2 members, they soon got along well.

■Q.2
How was the last event? Do you have any strong memories?

Oh, we have wonderful memories that we can’t even explain. When we were walking in line on the trail, the leading teams were cheering back down the line to the following teams, helping them to keep going. We felt a sense of belonging. Also, we all had a stomachache in the middle of the hike, we were very tired and were a bit grumpy, but these things are also good memories now.

■Q.3
What is the significance in participating for your team?

A sense of achievement. Definitely.
There is great fulfillment from fundraising and walking as a team with many other people’s help. We think it’s unusual to feel part of a team like that.

■Q.4
How do you train yourselves for the upcoming event.
Do you have something particularly do?

We always maintain our fitness levels. Also we will start training on the course from next weekend.

■Q.5
How do you plan and achieve your fundraising? What have you learnt from your experiences last year?
And how do you want to improve on that?

At first, we didn’t know what to do. We sent emails to our friends one after another but it wasn’t very successful. We wondered whether the concept of Trailwalker is difficult to understand for some people. However, we came up with a wine tasting party combined with fundraising, then people loved it. We thought this is a great idea that every one can enjoy. So using that experience, we planned three different wine tasting events.

Moreover, we noticed it’s better to explain face to face than just to send emails to people. Talking to people helps them to understand the concept of fundraising and the importance of supporting developing countries.

■Q.6
Will you tell us about the events you have planned so far, namely a South African wine party and a party with professional dancers…etc.
How did you find people willing to help?


We planned a New Year party for people who work for different industries since each of our team members belong to a different type of business. My colleague helped to amuse us with a quiz and some games.
Also, my friend who owns a liquor shop helped us hold a South African wine party.
Moreover, we collaborated with one of our members’ sister who is a professional, flamenco dancer and had a party at a restaurant in Roppongi. We were able to use the restaurant for free since the party was held after lunchtime at the weekend.

Many people, our family, friends and colleagues, helped us to realise these events. When we explained what we wanted to do, they put us in contact with somebody who might be able to help us. Then the number of people willing to give their time increased.

Through these experiences we learned how to come up with good fundraising ideas.

■Q.7
What was the reaction from people who came to your parties?

Everyone said they enjoyed it. We even received requests to plan another party from people who couldn’t attend.

■Q.8
Lastly, what advice would you give to those who struggle with fundraising?

The first step towards fundraising needs guts. But once you start it becomes a lot easier to come up with ideas and your circle of helpers and sponsors will widen.

It’s very important to fundraise as a team. Through this, we came to know each to other’s personalities and how we work best as a team. And this knowledge will be to our advantage when we actually walk 100km. Raising money is definitely a part of our training. So enjoy your fundraising!