Why fun runs can be a great earner

How much can you actually raise?

This is usually the first question, and it’s worth knowing that a well-run sponsored event can be really worthwhile.

For most schools, you’re looking somewhere between £2,000 and £10,000, depending on the size of the school, how many children (and adults) take part and how easy you make it for participants to collect sponsorship.

• A small entry fee for taking part, even £3–£5 per child can add up quickly
• Sponsorship on top of the entry fee is where most of the money comes from, especially when each participant can share their own page
• Local business sponsorship covering costs or contributing in return for a mention or logo
• Refreshments on the day such as tea, coffee, cakes and ice lollies will always do well

1. The formats that work best

Keep the format simple. If it takes more than a sentence to explain, it’s probably too complicated.

Sponsored lap run

This is what most schools do. Children run or walk laps for a set time, usually around 15–20 minutes.

• Works for all ages
• Easy to run on a playground or field
• Supporters can sponsor per lap or give a fixed amount

This is usually the easiest option and the one we’d recommend for most PTAs.

Distance challenge

Something simple like “run 1km” or “see how far you can go”.

• Very easy for supporters to understand
• Works well if you have space to map a simple route

Whole school challenge

Some schools set a shared target, like “run the distance to Paris” or “complete 1,000 laps together”.

• Nice for building a sense of everyone contributing
• Good for updates in the lead-up to the event

2. Fun run ideas that get more children involved

You don’t have to add a theme, but a simple one can really help with excitement and turnout.

Colour run

Powder stations, lots of colour and great photos. This is often the version children get most excited about. See how to run one safely and simply.

• Children absolutely love it
• Feels like a bigger event without needing to be complicated

Fancy dress run

Superheroes, animals, silly hats, anything that makes it feel fun without adding too much work.

• Easy to organise
• Gets even reluctant children involved

Seasonal run

A Santa dash, Easter run or summer challenge can work really well when it links to something already happening in school.

• Easy to promote
• Families tend to get behind it

Obstacle-style run

This doesn’t need to be complicated - cones, tunnels, hoops and simple challenges are often enough.

• Makes the event feel more memorable
• Works well with a small entry fee if you want one

3. Longer runs and community fun runs

Most school fun runs happen during the day and focus on children, which works really well.

But group runs are popular for a reason. A slightly bigger event can bring in parents, carers, staff, local clubs and the wider community, and it can raise more through entry fees, sponsorship and local business support.

Family fun run

A simple 1–3km route around the school, local park or village can work well if you want families to take part together.

• Encourages parents, carers and siblings to join in
• Works well with a higher entry fee than a school-day run
• Can attract local sponsorship if it feels like a community event

Going bigger

Some groups turn their fun run into a proper community event, with race numbers, a marked route, finish-line photos or even professional timing.

• It can feel more exciting and memorable for participants
• It may justify a higher entry fee
• It can be easier to promote to local runners, families and businesses

The trade-off is that it becomes more work. You’ll need to think carefully about route planning, permissions, safety, volunteers, insurance and whether it’s worth bringing in a company to help with timing or event support.

For most PTAs, the best place to start is still a simple school fun run. But if you have enough volunteers and a good location, a community version can become a much bigger fundraiser.

4. What makes the biggest difference to how much you raise

This is the bit that really matters.

Similar events can raise very different amounts. It usually comes down to how easy you make it for parents and supporters.

• Each participant having something easy to share, a link works much better than paper forms (especially when each person has their own page)
• Starting fundraising well ahead of the event, and promoting the event through various channels
• Providing an approximate target, so people know what to aim for with their sponsorship
• Making payment simple, especially for grandparents, family friends and supporters who are not at the school gate

Moving even part of the sponsorship online can make a big difference. People are much more likely to donate if it takes 30 seconds on their phone.

5. How to organise a school fun run

You don’t need a huge plan. A simple version usually looks like this:

1. Pick a simple format, usually laps
2. Agree whether there will be an entry fee, sponsorship, or both
3. Set a date and time
4. Sort a basic route or space
5. Share the event widely and start fundraising early
6. Run the event
7. Share the total raised afterwards

That’s genuinely most of it.

For a more detailed step-by-step plan, use our sponsored event toolkit.

6. A few things we’ve learned

• Keep it simple, complicated plans don’t neccessarily raise more money
• Focus on participation, not competition
• Make it easy to share and donate
• Don’t create extra admin if you can avoid it
• Give yourself enough time to promote it before the day

The best events are the ones that feel easy to run, simple for families to support and fun for the children.

Want to sense-check the numbers? Try the fun run calculator. Still exploring ideas? Use the fundraising ideas generator.