Buzz
While the traditional appeal of fetes and raffles remains timeless, the modern world never fails to surprise us with waves of inventive fundraising trends. From the ingenious to the absurd, creative approaches to elevating fundraising efforts are always emerging.
Say goodbye to selling candy, magazines, or gathering pledges for a walkathon! Here are ten charity challenges sparked by unconventional, out-of-the-box thinking.
10. The Endless Song Loop
An unusual but effective twist on fundraising came when Tenino High School in Washington decided to annoy people into donating. In 2014, the school began playing Justin Bieber's “Baby” on a continuous loop during breaks (recess, lunch, and between classes). As frustration grew, students contributed money to make it stop.
Students expressed sentiments like “my head is about to explode” and “I just want to go home.” The purpose was to raise funds for orphaned children in Ghana, and in just a day and a half, the school exceeded its fundraising goal. The idea was originally conceived by students at Evanstown Township High School in Illinois, who started their campaign called “Stop the Bieber” in 2011.
9. Tower of Cupcakes
Baking for charity has reached impressive new heights in recent years. In 2017, South Africa's Cupcakes of Hope built a towering 10.7-meter (35-foot) structure made entirely of cupcakes to fundraise for children’s cancer research. This magnificent structure, constructed in Vereeniging, South Africa, was made possible by local business partnerships and a community-driven baking effort. The cone-shaped frame supported 6,370 cupcakes and weighed a staggering 1,200 kilograms (2,646 pounds). It makes you wonder how the old-fashioned “cake sale on a card table” would compare to this challenge, complete with the cranes used to set up and dismantle the display.
The Tower of Cupcakes raised significant funds for Cupcakes of Hope, and at the end of the event, boxes of cakes were also donated to children’s homes, hospitals, and volunteers. From 2017 to 2019, the charity proudly held the Guinness World Record for the World’s Tallest Tower of Cupcakes.
8. Hands Across America
In 1986, millions of Americans took part in Hands Across America—a 15-minute chain of people holding hands that stretched from New York to Los Angeles. This was a remarkable accomplishment, considering that organizers lacked the conveniences of the internet or smartphones at the time. The idea, conceived by Ken Kragen (also a major figure behind the iconic “We Are the World” charity song of 1985), aimed to raise funds for American poverty. The chain spanned 17 states, with approximately 5.5 million participants paying for their spot in the line. Even U.S. President Ronald Reagan and other notable figures participated.
The bold vision of a continuous human chain across the U.S. came close to being realized. Although there were some gaps reported in Arkansas and parts of the Arizona desert, participants used ribbons, buses, and livestock to fill in the breaks. When Kragen was asked in 2019 if a similar event could happen today, he humorously remarked that people would likely be too distracted by selfies to actually hold hands.
7. Human Hamster Wheel
Crossing the Irish Sea inside a human hamster wheel might sound like an overly ambitious feat for the average person. However, British endurance athlete and engineer Chris Todd is no stranger to grand charity challenges. After running six marathons in six days across the Gobi Desert in Mongolia and completing a hike through the Canadian Arctic, he set his sights on a new and unique adventure.
Todd designed and constructed a massive steel paddlewheel that was buoyed by floatation devices on either side. With the help of his family and friends in Bromham, Wiltshire, the ingenious device took nearly a year to complete.
In 2012, Todd embarked on what was expected to be a two-day journey from Wales to Ireland aboard the Tredalo (the name he gave his wheel). Aside from walking on water, his goal was to raise funds for two charities close to his heart—the Wiltshire Blind Association and the Royal National Lifeboat Institute. The planning included a support boat team with over thirty liters (8 gallons) of water and sixty chocolate bars.
Todd made good progress during the first third of the 106-kilometer (66-mile) journey under calm conditions. However, as often happens, nature had other plans. Unfortunately, strong winds caused damage to the rudders, forcing Todd to abandon his quest. On the bright side, he raised money for charity and made it a significant distance across the open sea in his one-of-a-kind invention.
6. Giant Waterslide
In 2013, two New Zealanders from the mental health charity Live More Awesome set out to create the world’s longest waterslide. Jimi Hunt and Dan Drupsteen spearheaded the ambitious project, which involved digging a 554-meter (1,818-foot) trench into a hill, lining it with plastic, and running water through it. The original event was a huge success, drawing global media attention and sparking conversations about depression. Unfortunately, the following day proved to be a lot less fun for the Live More Awesome volunteers, who had to refill the enormous trench on a farmer's land.
Eighteen months later, Hunt and Drupsteen designed, funded, and created a Plan B—an enormous inflatable waterslide. Made from polyvinyl chloride (the same material used for bounce houses), this impressive slide stretched 600 meters (1,968 feet) long and could reach speeds of 53 kilometers per hour (33 mph). Weighing 6,500 kilograms (7 tons), the slide took three days to set up and just one day to disassemble.
From 2015 to 2018, the giant waterslide was featured at three-day events at Jonkers Farm near Bethells Beach in New Zealand. Thrill-seekers came from all around to experience the ride, with all proceeds going to mental health causes. In 2015, the slide earned the Guinness Record for the World’s Longest Inflatable Waterslide and later moved to its new home at Action Park in Vernon, New Jersey.
5. Stormtrooper Trek
Many have embarked on long-distance walking journeys to raise funds for charity, but would they do so while dressed as a Star Wars stormtrooper? Such costumes were made for a galaxy far, far away, not for the scorching Australian heat and vast, endless landscapes. Australian Scott Loxley, however, was determined to walk 15,000 kilometers (9,320 miles) across Australia in his Star Wars-style costume while raising money for Melbourne’s Monash Children’s Hospital. Loxley’s trek spanned over 400 days between November 2013 and June 2015, taking him through remote regions such as the Nullarbor Plain, Kimberley, and Northern Territory, before concluding on the East Coast.
The stormtrooper had countless adventures along the way, including swimming with a crocodile in Darwin, riding a camel in Broome, and fishing on a Western Australian beach. His walking days began at 5 am and consisted of “just looking at a white line in front of me.” On more than one occasion, Loxley endured temperatures as high as 45°C (113°F) and, at one point, had lost a third of his body weight. He wore his original stormtrooper suit (though it became a little worn and dusty over time) for the entire journey, going through more than thirty pairs of shoes. One of his final public appearances was at an Australian Rules football match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground before reaching his hometown of Clayton.
Ironically, the bulky costume that made Loxley’s mission all the more difficult also saved him from a dangerous encounter. While walking through northern Queensland, he was bitten by a snake, but the stormtrooper suit’s sturdy armor protected him from injury.
4. Unicycle Quest
Imagine navigating the entire length of Australia on a unicycle, balancing with no handlebars and a fierce sense of purpose. That’s exactly what Australian actor Samuel Johnson did during a year-long journey from 2013 to 2014. Braving heat, rain, and freezing conditions, Johnson aimed to raise awareness and funds for the Love Your Sister charity, which he founded in honor of his sister Connie, who was battling cancer for the third time.
The unicycle idea originated as a playful dare between the siblings, but Johnson’s resolve turned it into a reality. Over 364 days, he covered a staggering 15,995 kilometers (9,938 miles) and set a Guinness World Record for the World’s Longest Unicycle Ride. At the emotional finish line in Melbourne, after reuniting with his sister, Johnson humorously remarked that unicycles were “implausible contraptions” and not “the best way to get around.”
Tragically, Connie passed away from cancer in 2017, but Samuel continues to support the Love Your Sister charity in her honor. In 2018, Johnson was named Australian of the Year, and in 2019, he won first place (and the charity prize) on Dancing with the Stars Australia.
3. High-Altitude Dinner Party
Extreme adventurer, Bear Grylls, renowned for his daring exploits on *Man vs. Wild*, has earned a reputation for taking on challenges that most would shy away from. In 2005, he took it to another level by attending a formal dinner party at an altitude never before seen. Rather than dining in the safety of a skyscraper, Grylls and his companions enjoyed their meal 7.4 kilometers (4.6 miles) above Earth, seated at a table suspended from a hot air balloon. Yes, this was dining in the open sky, far above the ground.
The event, organized to raise funds for The Prince’s Trust and The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, saw Grylls joined by fellow adventurers David Hempleman-Adams and Lieutenant Commander Alan Veal. Hempleman-Adams led the trio in a specially designed balloon, taking them to staggering heights. Before sitting down to their meal, Grylls and Veal climbed down 12 meters (40 feet) below the balloon’s basket.
Once seated at their round table (secured with cutlery and plates) high above the ground, the trio dined in style, wearing formal attire, oxygen masks, and safety gear. In just 20 minutes, they enjoyed a three-course meal, with the menu featuring asparagus tips, duck a l’orange, and fruit terrine, all stored in temperature-controlled boxes. This event set the Guinness World Record for the World’s Highest Formal Dinner Party.
At such high altitudes, where the human body struggles to function due to the lack of oxygen, there was a real risk of hypoxia—a condition where the body begins to malfunction from insufficient oxygen. During the stunt, Grylls even lost his oxygen mask, but, true to his resilient nature, he emerged unscathed. After their meal, the team took the daring plunge of skydiving back to Earth. Just another day in the life of a true adventurer.
Following the extraordinary challenge, balloon operator Hempleman-Adams admitted it was “the strangest record” he’d ever attempted, noting its inherent danger. However, he jokingly expressed one regret: his fellow thrill-seekers didn’t leave any leftovers from the dinner for him.
2. The 90-Year-Old Daredevil
Betty Bromage, a resident of Abbeyfield House care home in Cheltenham, UK, refuses to be confined by age stereotypes. To mark her ninetieth year, the fearless adventurer embarked on a series of bold, age-defying feats. Her daring exploits in 2019 not only celebrated life but also helped raise funds for a new summerhouse and community garden at Abbeyfield House.
Bromage kicked off her thrilling year with a wing walk in April 2019, marking her fourth such experience. As the World’s Oldest Female Wing-Walker, she was secured above the wing of a vintage plane, soaring over Gloucestershire for a 15-minute adrenaline-packed ride. Ever the thrill-seeker, she even requested a few loops to make the ride even more exciting.
The next challenge on her list was hurtling down the world’s fastest zip wire in Snowdonia, Wales, in May 2019. Her final stunt came in September 2019 when she rappelled down the 52-meter (170-foot) Eagle Tower in Cheltenham.
After conquering her rappelling feat, Bromage humorously declared she was in need of “a good gin and tonic.” More recently, she jokingly expressed her hope that “the wind will blow some of my wrinkles away” as she continues her fearless escapades.
1. 70 Skydives for 70th Birthday
In 2012, Larry Ekstrom from Michigan decided against a conventional 70th birthday celebration. Instead, he chose an adrenaline-pumping challenge, completing 70 consecutive skydives in a single day. Over the span of 10 hours, Ekstrom soared through the sky, raising funds for Leader Dogs for the Blind, a Michigan-based charity that supports seeing-eye dogs.
An experienced skydiver, Ekstrom effortlessly tackled each dive with a no-nonsense attitude, repeatedly boarding the plane and jumping out without hesitation. His daring mission involved using eight different parachutes throughout the day’s jumps.
Ekstrom's skydiving feats had started years earlier when he completed 60 skydives for his 60th birthday, raising money for multiple sclerosis, a disease that affected his wife. The pilot, who accompanied him, jokingly claimed that Ekstrom’s relentless energy had “worn him out.”
