Thanks for your comments Tim, I appreciate similar things have been done before, but this is two people who simply want to raise some money for a worthy charity.
Its not unusual for big companies/names to get onboard with projects like this especially by assisting with accomodation/vehicles/equipment...etc. Rarely do they just hand over cash. Point taken re the logo! nuff said. Thanks for taking the time to look at their website, I think Phil did a great job of it. I know the whole project is still in the early stages and is still a work in progress, but I wish them all the best.

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Give a little,.. take a little,.. live alot.
Ride safe and stay happy!
FireHorse.

I'm afraid you'll find that big companies/names rarely get onboard with projects such as this as they get many, many requests like yours.
But good luck.

I've been involved with several charity events in the past and I've always been amazed at the number of big companies/names that have come onboard.
We've had bikes (loaned), meals, accomodation, servicing, clothing, equipment, publicity, transport (including flights) and many other things generously donated previously. I think sometimes it's how you approach these companies/names that makes a big difference (& sometimes it's who you know, plus a good track record).
I've got no personal involvement in this project, I just wish it well.

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Give a little,.. take a little,.. live alot.
Ride safe and stay happy!
FireHorse.

Apologies Firehorse.
I tried to help someone get sponsorship a while ago and we ended up, after an awful lot of work, with virtually zero.
Maybe the approach was wrong, I don't know, but it was very disappointing at the time.

Sorry it didn't work out for you Hustler. I had some great contacts which helped out hugely (although not always). I know cold calling is hard work and not always sucessful. Best wishes

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Give a little,.. take a little,.. live alot.
Ride safe and stay happy!
FireHorse.

I've always thought of it this way. What do the companies get back for there money? Because that's how you have to think of it. So any sponsorhip approach you make has to show what that company gets back, approaching the media before you approach companies seems to help, and being able to show existing media coverage helps even more.

I've also found that sometimes small companies respond better than big ones do. Sometimes a hotel chain's head office will turn you down but the individual hotel manager will do what they can. Big companies get loads of approaches, and also have big budgets to spend on publicity. Small companies don't have either of these, and sometimes they're happy to give you £50 worth to help on your way.

I'm not certain on the knockbacks page, it might put people off.

Good luck on this.

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I have always found it strange that people want others to pay for their jollies.

Why not just give the amount you would spend on the jaunt to the charity.
Its probably more than you would make in sponsorship anyway.

John

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Nostradamus Ate My Hamster

Hi Tim and thanks for the comments.

We have approached Long Way Round Ltd for their endorsement and are still awaiting their approval. Charley Boorman himself is aware of the trip so we're hoping for a positive response.

We're not in anyway attempting to pass ourselves off as Mr McGregor or Mr Boorman - what we are simply trying to do is raise as much money as possible for Cancer Research.

I have been riding for quite a few years on and off but both my girlfriend and I only passed our test via DAS in August 2007 and had already decided that this was a trip we wanted to do so we also decided to put the 2 together and raise money for a worthy cause.

If I had £5000 spare to give I would GLADLY donate it to Cancer Research - but I haven't so we're doing what we can to help.

The opportunity for big (and small) companies to get onboard is a chance for them to show themselves in a good light - all to often you hear of companies making tens of millions of pounds profit, sometimes billions, but very little is spoken of any charity work that they do.

Point taken about Premier Travel Inn's but I also think that it's important to show that some companies don't REALLY want to know you unless you are high profile.

There's an old story that goes something like this:

Traveller "Excuse me, do you have a room for the night?"

Innkeeper "No, we don't and besides you are wet and dirty - we don't want your kind here"

Traveller "OK, but if Prince Charles turned up in a similar state you'd find him a room wouldn't you ?"

Innkeeper "Well, of course we would - he's our future King"

Traveller "Well, he's not coming so can I please have HIS room"

You state you have approached Long Way Round Ltd & Mr C. Boorman Esq for 'approval' yet you HAVE used the Long Way Round Logo on your website, presumably without permission? Use of Logos, Trademarks, and other forms of Corporate Identification without permission is liable to win you zero friends and possibly a Copyright Infringement Court case!

Just thought you should be aware of that fact before you let too many people see that logo.

Martyn

I have no issue with raising money for charity while doing something you are essentially doing for your own benefit. I've done it myself so it would be hypocritical. My theory was "Well, I'm going anyway so if people are going to be kind enough to sponsor me then some starving kiddies will reap the benefit..."

However, I do find the 'Charity Knock Backs' page bordering on the offensive. Why the f*ck should someone provide you with free accomodation just because you are doing your jolly for charity? If someone offers you freebies then great, but criticising a company because they don't to join in is ridiculous. Who knows what other charitable commitments they have?

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http://scotlandnepal.blogspot.com/

*Disclaimer* - I am not saying my bike is better than your bike. I am not saying my way is better than your way. I am not mocking your religion/politics/other belief system. When reading my post imagine me sitting behind a frothing pint of ale, smiling and offering you a bag of peanuts. This is the sentiment in which my post is made. Please accept it as such!

Had you read my post above I have already said that I will be removing the knockbacks section.

There's no need to be offensive yourself with your bad language, I can swear with the best but feel that this is not the place to do it.

Also I cannot see how the page offends you unless you are connected to the organisation listed.

Travelodge advised us of their charity committments and we have listed that - as you would have seen had you correctly read the page. However Premier Travel Inns clearly stated that unless it involves NATIONAL coverage they weren't interested.

I'm not about to get into a slanging match with anyone, only to say that it's not big and it's not clever

Regarding the logo - seeing as it has generated a talking point then I'll look at producing a bespoke logo but if there's anyone out there with any ideas for it then please contact me with your ideas and I'll happily give you the credit.

I just did not want to see you getting yourself into hot water when all you were trying to do was raise some money for a Charity.
It appears that there are many differing ideas and attitudes as to the 'right' way to go about it, but I am sure your Hearts are in the right place and your motives are good.

Not a problem Martyn and I understand where you're coming from so I'm not taking it the wrong way.

Basically we are doing 2 things in 1 - touring the UK and trying to raise cash for charity. We do something for CR every year in one way or another and this seemed like an excellent opportunity to do 2 things that we enjoy. If we get accommodation then that's great - if not then the tent will be coming out and we'll still do the trip.

Thanks for your input - it's been appreciated

Phil

1: Good.

2: Yawn. Is the sun shining up there on your high horse?

3: Hmm, so listing a company for the heinous crime of not givng you free stuff and insinuating they are mean and uncharitable is'nt slanging?

Good luck with your trip all the same. I don't wish you to think I'm against your whole enterprise, just felt you'd misjudged the charity knock backs page, which you've admitted. I confess I didn't see that you'd already said you'd be removing it. Hope you have fun and raise lots of money for charity.

Matt

__________________
http://adventure-writing.blogspot.com

http://scotlandnepal.blogspot.com/

*Disclaimer* - I am not saying my bike is better than your bike. I am not saying my way is better than your way. I am not mocking your religion/politics/other belief system. When reading my post imagine me sitting behind a frothing pint of ale, smiling and offering you a bag of peanuts. This is the sentiment in which my post is made. Please accept it as such!

Hi Matt

The sun isn't shining but it's bloody cold and lonely

I wasn't saying they were mean, just saying in their own words "Our central marketing department focus solely on national
advertising as the main aim is to drive the awareness of the
Premier Travel Inn brand on a much larger scale eg via national
newspapers or websites"

Basically, unless you are national news then they don't want to know.

Thank you for your good wishes and please think about us in the wilds of Scotland when we're up your way sometime in July We'll actually be stopping over in Edinburgh on the way back down as we have some friends who live near the centre, near the Botonical Gardens

Cheers matey

Phil