Make 2026 the year you give something back; the year you do something totally amazing - like organising a charity dance-a-thon - for your local cancer and bereavement charity.

Each month, we’re giving you a fun, easy and impactful fundraising idea that you could take on in aid of CancerCare. There’s something for everyone!

The concept of fundraising can be daunting if you’re new to it, but CancerCare’s friendly and experienced team of fundraisers are here to help you every step of the way.

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August: Host a sponsored dance-a-thon for CancerCare

Whether you're dancing solo or getting friends together, a dance-a-thon is a brilliant way to have fun while raising money for Cancer Care. You can make your event as relaxed or as challenging as you like – from a two-hour dance party to a 12-hour endurance challenge!

What is a Dance-a-thon?

A dance-a-thon is exactly what it sounds like – dancing for a set amount of time to raise sponsorship or donations. Take part on your own or gather friends, family or colleagues for an unforgettable fundraising event.

Plan ahead

You can hold your dance-a-thon almost anywhere, including:

• A local church or community hall
• A pub or social club
• Your own home or garden
• A workplace or school

Remember to check with your chosen venue about availability, costs and any permissions you may need. Safety is paramount with all fundraising events, consider scheduling regular breaks, having plenty of water available for hydration and first aid just in case.

Most importantly make sure you have a good choice of music for the event, choose something that you will all enjoy, that has a good beat and rhythm that will get everyone up and moving.

Choose a challenge that suits you:

• A fun two-hour group dance session
• A six-hour dance marathon
• A solo 12-hour dance-a-thon
• Dance in themed costumes or fancy dress for extra fun!

If you're taking on the challenge by yourself, ask someone to film parts of your dance-a-thon so you are able to share this with your friends and family so they know how your challenge has gone.

Fundraise with ease

There are lots of ways to boost the fun and your fundraising:

• Charge an entry fee for participants.
• Hold a raffle during the event.
• Offer prizes, such as "Best Dancer", "Most Enthusiastic", or "Longest Time Dancing".
• Decorate the venue and encourage fancy dress or themed outfits.
• Invite spectators to cheer you on and make a donation.
• Provide refreshments such as cakes or drinks for sale.

We're happy to provide sponsorship forms and help you set up a JustGiving page, making it easy for friends, family, and colleagues to support your challenge.

Sharing your event on social media is a great way to encourage donations and tell people why you're fundraising for CancerCare.

Celebrate Your Success

Once you've completed your challenge, let us know! We'd love to celebrate your achievement and, with your permission, share your story and photos on our social media channels.

Thank you for supporting CancerCare through your dance-a-thon challenge.