Stride4Stroke: how to raise money for the Stroke Foundation

| 6 min read Charity

When it comes to rallying around a worthwhile cause and giving generously to charity, Australians are hard to beat. In fact, according to the CAF World Giving Index, Australia is the fourth most charitable nation in the world. 

If, like thousands of other Aussies, you want to raise money and make a big difference in the lives of people in need, then the Stroke Foundation’s annual Stride4Stroke challenge is the perfect place to start.

In this article, we explain what Stride4Stroke is, how you can register, and how GoFundMe can help you on your fundraising journey. 

What is Stride4Stroke?

Stride4Stroke takes place every November when people across Australia come together to raise funds to prevent stroke, save lives, and enhance recovery. The time you choose to spend being active for the challenge is measured in ‘moving minutes’, which accommodates the different lifestyles and abilities of participants. 

Across November, you can choose to set a goal of 600, 900, or 1,200 moving minutes, or personalise your moving minute goal to something entirely different that’s more suitable for you. 

The Stroke Foundation emphasises that Stride4Stroke doesn’t need to be an individual challenge and encourages family, friends, and colleagues to come together to make a bigger impact. Whether you choose to stride out solo or be part of a team is completely up to you.

About the Stroke Foundation

Stride4Stroke is just a small part of the amazing work and initiatives carried out by the Stroke Foundation. The foundation partners with the Australian community to raise awareness, facilitate research, and support stroke survivors. 

It offers life-saving information to stroke survivors, carers, and health professionals, to ensure that people impacted by stroke are supported and never feel alone.  

Whether it’s fundraising through an event, such as Stride4Stroke, giving a one-off donation, volunteering, or undertaking community advocacy, any contributions that are made to the Stroke Foundation make a huge difference in the fight against stroke in Australia.

Why participate in Stride4Stroke?

In Australia, stroke is one of the biggest killers, with one stroke occurring every 19 minutes. Concerningly, stroke doesn’t discriminate, affecting anyone at any time. This includes unborn babies and kids, with approximately 600 Australian children experiencing a stroke in the last year.

However, 80% of strokes can be prevented, which makes the invaluable work of the Stroke Foundation so important. This gives the foundation and other stroke charities hope that we can one day live in a world free from disability and suffering caused by stroke.

By participating in Stride4Stroke, every dollar you raise and every moving minute you record will go towards preventing stroke, saving lives, and enhancing recovery for Australians across the country.

How to register

If you want to make moves that matter and get involved, then registering for the challenge couldn’t be easier. To start raising money for this year’s event in November, simply follow this simple three-step process:

  1. Sign up and register: You can sign up as an individual or as part of a team, or you can join a team that’s already been created. You’ll then be asked to set your fundraising and moving minutes goals.
  2. Start fundraising: Reach out to friends, family, colleagues, and the general public to donate to your Stride4Stroke challenge. Here are some great fundraising ideas to reach your goal.
  3. Dust off your walking shoes: Get active in November and reach your fundraising and moving minutes goals.

Remember, there are no strict deadlines, times, or goals you need to stick to. Simply hit your pre-set goals in whichever way suits you, whether that’s sticking to a certain amount of steps every day throughout the month or completing blocks of minutes at a time that’s convenient for you.

Setting up your fundraising page

The easiest and most secure way of setting up a fundraising page for Stride4Stroke is by using GoFundMe. As the world’s #1 crowdfunding platform, we offer everything you need to help your fundraiser succeed and raise as much money as possible for the Stroke Foundation.

Here are some quick fundraising tips to get started:

  • Start your fundraiser early: By starting your fundraiser early, you can maximise the amount of donations you receive.
  • Create an engaging fundraiser description: The more details you’re able to provide, the more it will help potential donors feel ready to donate.
  • Provide training and challenge updates: Keep donors and potential donors in the loop with updates before and during the challenge. You could use photos and videos to do this.
  • Share your fundraiser on social media: Share your fundraiser far and wide across your social media platforms to boost your reach.
  • Ask friends and family to share your page: Ask others to share your fundraiser with their networks to encourage more potential donors.
  • Set realistic fundraising goals: Don’t be overly ambitious, make sure you set an achievable fundraising goal to avoid disappointment.

Stroke Foundation fundraisers

Don’t just take our word for it, countless Aussies have relied on GoFundMe to start a fundraiser for those impacted by stroke. Here are just a few Stroke Foundation fundraisers to help inspire you.

Mitch’s Cause

Jordan created a fundraiser using GoFundMe on behalf of his friend Mitch, who wanted to donate to the Stroke Foundation. Despite being a fit and healthy young man, Mitch suffered a bilateral stroke at the age of 25 and woke up from a coma four days later.

Family and friends rallied around Mitch, who continued to support him in his recovery. He wanted to start a fundraiser so he could help the Stroke Foundation in their goals to prevent stroke, raise awareness, and support survivors. In total, he managed to raise $15,603.

On the wagon for the Stroke Foundation

Madison, a 32-year-old nurse who dedicated 10 years to studying and working in the Neurosciences field, went sober for three months to raise money for the Stroke Foundation in honour of her mum. The charity is close to her heart because in 2017 her mum passed away suddenly at the age of 59 to a stroke.

She smashed her original $3,500 goal by raising $4,225 using GoFundMe, all of which went straight to the Stroke Foundation.

Archie & Felix raising money 4 Stroke Foundation

In December 2023, Felix and Archie ran 3km per day to raise money for the Stroke Foundation, after their uncle Hamish suffered a stroke. Although their uncle received excellent care in the hospital and with his recovery, Felix and Archie wanted to raise money to help those who experienced something similar.

The money they raised for their daily runs reached $5,426, impressively surpassing the $3,000 goal they originally set. 

Start your fundraising journey

Starting a fundraiser can be daunting at first, but it doesn’t have to be with the support and guidance of GoFundMe. 

We are on hand to help you effortlessly raise money for the Stroke Foundation, ensuring you move one step closer to hitting your moving minutes’ target for Stride4Stroke.

As a trusted leader in online fundraising, we’ve got you covered. Start your journey in helping those impacted by stroke and other medical conditions today.

Written by dina