8 Fundraising Tips to Help You Hit Your Goal for Cure Cancer
By The Cure Cancer Team | 21 September 2026
Whether it's your first time fundraising for Cure Cancer or your fifth, these tips will help you feel confident asking for support. Every step you take and every dollar you raise goes toward backing emerging researchers whose bold ideas could change how we prevent, detect, and treat cancer.
Fundraising can feel like the hardest part of race day prep, but it doesn't have to be. Here are eight tried-and-tested tips to help you hit your goal, drawn from the runners who've done it before you.
Your 8-step fundraising checklist
1. Set up your page
Your fundraising page is the first thing people see, so make it personal. Add a photo, and write a short note on why you're running for Cure Cancer, whether that's a personal connection to cancer, a love of research, or simply wanting to make a difference.
Once your page is live, kick things off with a donation of your own. It shows commitment, and it means your page isn't sitting at $0 when the first visitor arrives. Then set a bold goal. Aim a little higher than the minimum: a stretch goal gives your supporters something meaningful to rally behind.
Once your page is live, kick things off with a donation of your own. It shows commitment, and it means your page isn't sitting at $0 when the first visitor arrives. Then set a bold goal. Aim a little higher than the minimum: a stretch goal gives your supporters something meaningful to rally behind.
Team Fearlss' Fundraising Page, Sydney Marathon 2026
2. Share it everywhere
Don't rely on a single post to do all the work. Share your fundraising link in your social media bios, posts and stories. Email it to friends, family and colleagues with a personal note explaining why you're taking this on.
It often takes several reminders before someone donates, since people are busy and a first mention can easily get lost. Keep your page visible across the weeks leading up to race day. And to help you spread the word visually, check out our Fitness Resources for downloadable social tiles you can share straight to your feed or stories.
It often takes several reminders before someone donates, since people are busy and a first mention can easily get lost. Keep your page visible across the weeks leading up to race day. And to help you spread the word visually, check out our Fitness Resources for downloadable social tiles you can share straight to your feed or stories.
Share a social tile with your networks and link to your fundraising page!
3. Rally your network
Some of the best fundraising results come from asking specifically. Try asking five friends for $20 each, a small, achievable ask that adds up quickly.
Don't forget your workplace, either. Share your page on LinkedIn, add it to your email signature, and ask your employer whether they offer matched giving. Many workplaces will double a donation, turning a $50 gift into $100 for cancer research.
Don't forget your workplace, either. Share your page on LinkedIn, add it to your email signature, and ask your employer whether they offer matched giving. Many workplaces will double a donation, turning a $50 gift into $100 for cancer research.
4. Add some fun incentives
A little friendly incentive can go a long way. Organise a raffle or giveaway for a lucky donor, or offer something personal: "$20 and I'll buy you a coffee" or "$100 and I'll mow your lawn" are simple, effective ways to make giving feel rewarding.
If you want to go bigger, consider hosting a mini-event: a morning tea, a BBQ, a bake sale, or a trivia night. These bring people together in person and often raise more than a single social post ever could.
If you want to go bigger, consider hosting a mini-event: a morning tea, a BBQ, a bake sale, or a trivia night. These bring people together in person and often raise more than a single social post ever could.
5. Build momentum in the lead-up
The weeks before race day are your chance to bring people along on the journey. Share weekly training updates: a photo of you training, a screenshot of your training route, a quick reflection on how training's going.
Alongside your own story, share why Cure Cancer's work matters. A stat or an example of the impact of cancer research gives your network a reason to give beyond personal loyalty to you.
Alongside your own story, share why Cure Cancer's work matters. A stat or an example of the impact of cancer research gives your network a reason to give beyond personal loyalty to you.
Share a Cure Cancer post to show why you are running for #TeamCureCancer
6. Send a reminder before event day
As race day approaches, send one more email to your network with a link to your fundraising page. This is often the nudge that gets people to act, especially those who meant to donate earlier but got busy.
7. On the day: go live and capture it
Race day is the payoff for months of training and fundraising, so make the most of it. Encourage last-minute donations with live updates on your social channels as you run.
Capture plenty of photos throughout the day, and tag @curecancerau and #TeamCureCancer so we can share your journey. You're also welcome to email your favourite pics to community@curecancer.com.au
Capture plenty of photos throughout the day, and tag @curecancerau and #TeamCureCancer so we can share your journey. You're also welcome to email your favourite pics to community@curecancer.com.au
Jo Nikhalje, Bridge to Brisbane 2026
Luke Quinlan, Sydney Marathon 2026
8. Thank your donors
Once the event is finished, take a moment to thank everyone who supported you. A personal email or text message goes a long way. Let your donors know how much you raised and the difference their contribution will make.
This step is often overlooked, but it's one of the most important. It closes the loop on your fundraising journey and builds goodwill for the next time you (or a friend) decide to take on a challenge for a cause.
This step is often overlooked, but it's one of the most important. It closes the loop on your fundraising journey and builds goodwill for the next time you (or a friend) decide to take on a challenge for a cause.
A milestone reward
As a thank you for your effort, raising $250 unlocks your official fitness pack, something to wear with pride on event day.
What if your effort funds the next breakthrough?
Every dollar you raise brings us closer to backing the next brilliant idea in cancer research. What if the funds you raise today help an emerging researcher make the discovery that changes outcomes for patients tomorrow?
From bold ideas to lasting cures. Thank you for running for Cure Cancer.
From bold ideas to lasting cures. Thank you for running for Cure Cancer.
