The Paw Power #Gimme5 Challenge
We are so sad that Suffolk Dog Day won’t be taking place this year. The cancellation of the event means that around £50-60k that would have been raised from the event will now not go to local charities at a time when they need it most.
And so…we are asking fans of the annual event, affectionately known as Woofers, to lend ‘Paw Power’ to a brand new #Gimme5 Challenge.
The Paw Power #Gimme5 Challenge has been created for all the family – on two legs and four – and can be enjoyed safely in line with the latest social distancing guidelines. Getting fresh air and staying active is so important, so what better way to do so than on a scenic dog walk through our beautiful Suffolk countryside? You’ll be raising money for important causes along the way too, so it’s a win win!
On this occasion, every penny raised will be used to support Suffolk young people by funding local charities and community groups who work with them to achieve their full potential.
In the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic and as lockdown restrictions are gradually eased, funds raised will be distributed to help re-build the lives of young people through two specific funds administered by Suffolk Community Foundation, The Youth Intervention Fund and the #iwill Fund.
Funding will be awarded to groups across the length and breadth of Suffolk who create and deliver projects which focus on improving life skills, support employment opportunities, increase life chances by providing preventative services that educate young people around drugs and alcohol, improving mental and physical well-being, tackling county lines and gang culture and reducing crime and anti-social behaviour and creating safe spaces. There will also be a continuing focus on creating opportunities and encouraging young people to volunteer in their local communities.
To find out more about our ongoing support of young people in Suffolk, here are some stories that will inspire you to join in the #Gimme5 Challenge!
Want to get involved? It’s simple!
Head out with your furry friend on a 5K walk, taking in some of the beautiful Suffolk countryside as you go!
Make a donation of £5 using the donate button above. Your donation will go to help vulnerable young people in Suffolk.
After sharing a picture of you and your dog ‘hi-fiving’ on social media, nominate 5 doggy-loving friends to do the #Gimme5 Challenge too!
Don’t forget to tag Suffolk Dog Day @suffolkdogday, and hashtag #Gimme5 in your pictures, so we can share the posts on Suffolk Dog Day’s social media accounts and website. And don’t forget to encourage your fellow Woofers to make a donation too!
A word from the team…
Safety and enjoyment have always been fundamental elements to enjoying Suffolk Dog Day. We know how much people and their pooches are going to miss this year’s event, but we are determined to keep our loyal ‘Woofers’ active and feeling united, until we meet again at Helmingham Hall on July 25th, 2021. Also, we couldn’t give up on the Suffolk charities who need our support more than ever and, like everything else in life at the moment, we just had to find new ways to support them by having everyone join in the Paw Power #Gimme5 Challenge safely where they live!
The Paw Power #Gimme5 Challenge is really simple idea. All we’re asking is that you do a 5K walk with your four–legged friend, make a donation of £5 to support young people in Suffolk, then share a picture of you and your pooch on social media and tag 5 friends to do the same! We hope there will lots of evidence of ‘Gimme5’ paws online as people celebrate completing the challenge! This will really help us to spread the word to every corner of our wonderful County. #Gimme5 will be great for the mental and physical health of everyone involved, and the money raised will help support charities working with vulnerable Suffolk young people as they rebuild their lives after lockdown. It’s something the everyone can get involved with and, of course, smaller paws don’t have to do the 5K all in one go!
The Suffolk Dog Day Team
The cancellation of this much loved event has been a sadness for all, but as a team we knew we couldn’t give up on those Suffolk charities who need our support now more than ever! The #Gimme5 appeal is a really simple and fun idea for us all to get involved with as we enjoy time outdoors with our dogs during this fantastic weather. We’re asking the people of Suffolk to do a 5K walk with their four-legged friend, kindly make a donation of £5 to the #Gimme5 appeal, where the money will go straight to helping the young people across the county. And then…to simply nominate 5 friends to do the same! Do get involved – if we can’t all be together at Helmingham Hall this summer, let’s have some fun with our dog-loving friends, whilst still raising vital funds for those young people that really need our support during this crisis.
FAQ’s
I don’t have a dog but want to show my support. Can I just make a donation to the fund instead?
Of course, we would welcome any donations to the fund! However, we’re hoping that our Woofers will help spread the word of the #Gimme5 Challenge across the county, so taking part in the challenge, sharing your pooch pics and tagging your doggie friends to do so helps us to reach as many people as possible. If you don’t have a dog, you could always nominate some friends who do to give it a go!
What does Suffolk Community Foundation have to do with Suffolk Dog Day?
For over a decade now, a team of over 100 volunteers have come together every year to put on the most fantastic event for dog lovers at Helminghall Hall in the heart of the Suffolk countryside. Many thousands of people attend Suffolk Dog Day every year and over £500K has been raised in support Suffolk Community Foundation’s work to fund local causes. The Foundation was created by Suffolk and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for the people of our County by providing grants to inspirational community groups and local charities. Part of the UK Community Foundations movement, it has created a bridge in our County between causes that matter and people who care. Find out more here.