The Best Thrill-Seeking Activities You Can Do While Traveling to Raise Money for Special Causes

If you were asked to come up with the most effective way to raise money for charity while you were traveling the world, what ideas would come to mind?

For many people, this could conjure up something as simple as documenting your travels online and asking for donations along the way from those that you meet. Of course, if you are somebody who loves adventure and trying out new things (whilst also raising more money than you would get from simply asking strangers for donations), there are many options available to you. With the advent of social media and online donations to charities being feasible from around the world, now is probably the best time to travel the world whilst raising money on the way.

So, if you are somebody who is looking for the most exciting options to raise money for a cause you care about, read on, as here, you will be given five extreme examples of a great way to fundraise for charity.

1. Skydiving

You can skydive for charity pretty much anywhere around the world, but depending on where you are traveling to, you may need to undertake special courses and training in accordance with local laws.

Generally, there are many ways to raise money via skydiving for charity. One option is to have people donate to the experience itself, with the excess funds going to the charity. Many others opt for live streaming options of the skydive (usually via a GoPro) almost as a pay-per-view event. The latter is preferred by a number of charities as it garners more attention and engagement online and attracts more people to the charity for which you are fundraising. Plus, people simply want to see what it is that fundraisers are actually doing as it gives them a sense of fun and engagement irrespective of where they or you are in the world.

2. Survival Challenges

Another option for an extreme fundraising event is a survivalist challenge. Depending on where you are visiting in the world, this can be more or less extreme based on how comfortable you and your team are.

For instance, if you are traveling through the center of Australia, then this is more likely to feel and present as a genuine survivalist challenge than if you were hiking in a local wood. Survival challenges are generally organised with multiple individuals to survive in extremely intense wilderness conditions, and you will need to ensure that you and everybody on your team are prepped with everything you need to survive. In order to have authenticity for the experience, you should not be seeking help from any outside sources unless there is an actual medical emergency.

Much like skydiving, this entire challenge will do better if it is recorded, with those who have donated paying a set price to view the entire thing. Another interesting twist on these options is to have everybody who takes part keep a written journal. Be sure to advertise this online as this will get more attention, and once the challenge is over, you could raise more money for the charity of your choice by selling tools that were used or the diary entries themselves to fans or donors.

3. Desert Treks

Not too far behind the idea of having to hike through central Australia is a desert trek.

This is an extremely powerful way to fundraise as it introduces the thrill of adventure into giving to a charity, with the real intensity of being in an inhospitable setting. Much like the survivalist challenge, however, you and anybody who you do this with (as it’s generally not recommended that you do this alone) will need to be prepped on how to survive in the desert and will need all of the tools to assist in that. You also need to choose the desert landscape you wish to trek through, with many people opting for the Sahara. This can also double up as another pay-per-view event so that those who have donated to the cause can see the landscapes and the beauty of the terrains.

4. Snowboarding/Skiing

Depending on where you are traveling to, this may be more or less feasible to complete.

On the opposite end of the extreme spectrum of hiking through a desert, taking part in winter sports like skiing and snowboarding for charity will attract the attention of those who support the charity you are raising funds for while also appealing to those who love winter sports. You will, of course, need to know at least the basics of how to snowboard or ski, and it is best to aim to get a partnership with a ski resort. This will allow you to be paired with an instructor who can advise you on the most suitable ski or snowboarding route to take. If you can, it may even be worth reaching out to professional snowboarders or skiers to raise awareness for the charity and attract larger crowds.  

5. Mountain Climbing

Last but not least, you can always climb a mountain for charity. The best part is that most countries the world over will have at least one mountain range to traverse, so all you will need is the equipment. And a group to do this with; you don’t want to do it alone!

You can opt for a pay-per-view event for the climbing or hike, with each person who views making a donation to the charity of choice. You can also get sponsorship deals from brands who make equipment and clothing for mountain challenges, who will likely be more than happy to donate to the charity you are raising for or even match the donations that have been made.

Again, make sure you have at least some experience of mountain climbing in the environment you are hiking in, or this could quickly become a really bad idea.

Author Bio

Lizzie Reynell-O’Brien graduated with an MSc in clinical psychology from Goldsmiths University and started her small writing company, Just Write, in 2018, writing solely about mental health diagnostics in the NHS. She is passionate about writing as an art form, and when she’s not typing, you will find her walking her two rescue Jack Russells or in her garden planting wildflowers.