Sign up to Walk this May

Did someone say walkies? It’s time to take the lead and accept a walking challenge to raise money for Pets As Therapy.

Sign up to walk 100km throughout the month of May and notch up the kilometres day by day. Or set your own distance goal and perhaps walk it all in one go. How you complete the challenge is up to you – it's a virtual event so choose your place and your pace. 

By taking part you’re being truly pawsome and helping to raise money so therapy dogs (and cats) can bring joy and companionship to those who need it most, people of all ages in hospitals, care homes and schools across the UK. 

If you have a four-legged companion who can join you while you walk, then sign them up too. And invite friends and family along. With everyone’s support, PAT can mend hearts, lift spirits and bring hope – and share a little animal magic.  

• Is there a registration fee?

  No, it's free to sign up to Walk this May.

• Do I have to walk with a dog?

  No, you don't have to walk with a dog. You can do our walking challenge on your own, with friends, other volunteers or with your pet dog – though maybe don't drag the cat out! Why not mix and match? One day walk your dog to the park, the next day walk to work, and on another day enjoy a stroll with friends.

• Do I have to walk every day in May?

  No, you don't have to walk on all 31 days. You can take on the challenge however best suits you. You might go on one long walk every week, aim for shorter walks every day or, if you're feeling fit, perhaps you can walk 100km in one weekend – we'll be impressed! The choice of how, when and where you walk is totally down to you.

• Where can I walk?

  You can walk pretty much anywhere that is legally accessible to the public. You may choose to walk the pavements around your village or town (maybe on your way to work or if you're shopping), or you may prefer to head to the beach or countryside. You could even walk around your garden lots and lots of times!

• Can I walk more or less than 100km?

  Of course. We're setting a goal of walking 100km (approximately 62 miles) over the month of May, which works out at around 3km (under 2 miles) a day. However, if you want to step up the challenge and walk even further, then go for it. Or, if there are reasons why you would struggle to walk a great distance, then choose your own target. The main thing is that you set a walking challenge, whatever your ability, so that everyone you know will sponsor you.

• Do I have to raise a certain amount or can I set my own fundraising target?

  We're not asking for any specific amount. Just raise as much money as you can. If you want to set your own fundraising target you can do this easily when you register. But you don't have to set a target. 

• How do I set up my fundraising page? And can I personalise it?

  It's really easy to set up your fundraising page – it'll only take a few minutes. Simply click on the link on this page, add a few details and that's it. You'll then have a page to share. Please personalise your story and perhaps add a photo of your dog if it's joining you on walks – people will want to know why you're taking on the challenge and what it means to you. Also, don't forget to update your page throughout May as you progress with the challenge. 

• When can I start asking for donations?

  You can ask for donations before, during and after you've started our Walk this May challenge. Tell people as soon as you've signed up and have a fundraising page ready – don't wait until 1 May. It's easy to promote Walk this May on your Facebook or Instagram account so don't delay, do this right away!

• Can several PAT Volunteers or friends team up and have just one fundraising page?

  Yes, it's your challenge so tailor it however you like. It's easy to create a team when you first sign up, or you can do it later. 

• Can people walk in a large group?

  PAT will not be organising any large, formal Walk this May event. However, walking with friends or as part of a group is a great opportunity to meet up and chat – it'll boost your physical and mental wellbeing, too. 
  
  Walk this May is also a great chance for PAT Volunteers to meet up locally, share experiences and support each other. 

  So, how many volunteers can get together? There's no maximum number, but we want to avoid large, organised gatherings that may require permission from councils or police. We ask you not to publicly advertise a walk or set up marquees or finish lines. These may constitute to be a formal event and if someone was injured, it could leave PAT open to an insurance claim. 

• How do I work out how far I've walked?

  There are various ways to do this:

  1. Use a fitness tracker on your phone or watch to track how far you've walked.
  2. Use a map app online.
  3. Use a pedometer to track steps and distance (your phone may have this feature so just take it with you on every walk).
  4. Manually estimate the distance you've covered.

• Why is PAT asking for people to fundraise?

  Pets As Therapy believes that everyone who needs it, should have access to the companionship of a pet. The stories we hear from the people we visit and the professionals in schools, hospitals and care homes are testament to the positive impact that companionship from our pets has on physical and emotional wellbeing. 

  The demand for PAT visits and the support of our volunteers and their pets is greater than our current capacity – we have a long waiting list. Therefore, we need your support to help us recruit more pet owners and assess more dogs and cats.

• Does all the money I raise go to Pets As Therapy?

  Yes, all the money goes to PAT. We have a free agreement with Enthuse, which means you will not be charged credit card fees for donations.

• Can people Gift Aid their donations?

  Yes, UK taxpayers can complete a Gift Aid declaration when making a donation. It only takes a few seconds. This will enable PAT to claim 25p on every £1 donation – at no extra cost to whoever is making the donation. For example, if someone donates £20, we can claim an extra £5.

• Will I get a T-shirt to wear?

  We're not giving free T-shirts to everyone who signs up. However, if you raise £50 for Pets As Therapy, we'll get in touch and offer you a limited-edition PAT Walk this May T-shirt – free of charge. All we'll need is your preferred size and full postal address, which you'll be asked for when registering.

• Do you have to be 18 to sign up for Walk this May?

  No, anyone can take part in our walking challenge. Those under the age of 16 will need consent of a parent or legal guardian. We'd ask for the parent or guardian to complete the registration either jointly or on their behalf.

• Can my friends sign up too?

  Yes, the more people who take part in our walking challenge, the more money we will raise - and we'll be able to visit more hospitals, schools and care homes across the UK. If you want, you could print out our Promotional flyer (see our Downloads on this page) and give it to other people who may be interested to walk for us. The QR code links them straight back to this page, where they'll find more information - and hopefully sign up.

• Can my school do this event?

  Absolutely, we'd be delighted if schools took on a challenge in aid of PAT. You can Walk this May your way! See our Document Downloads on this page for some ideas we have.

• Is there a sponsorship sheet I can use?

  Yes, though ideally we'd like people to get donations via their online fundraising page - it makes it easier for us to say thank you to everyone who's donated, and it also saves you having to collect cash and transfer it to us via your bank account. However, we do have a printable sponsorship form you can use - see our Document Downloads on this page.

• How do I send in sponsorship money I've collected offline?

  Please put the money into your own bank account then make a payment via https://petsastherapy.org/information/support-us/donate. You will see a button on this page that says PAY IN.

• Can PAT help me with my social media posts?

  Sorry, we can't directly help you with social media posts. However, here are some top tips:

  1. PAT will posting on our social media sites, so you can just re-post our PAT posts to your family and friends and add your own comments.
  2. We've created a few social media assets – you'll find them on this page in Document Downloads.

• What if I don't complete the challenge?

  If there's a reason you can't complete a challenge, perhaps because of an illness, injury or bereavement, please let those who have sponsored you know. You'll be amazed that quite often people are still happy to give you the donation for what you have achieved so far.

• I'm making a playlist for my walk – do you have any suggestions?

  Great minds think alike! The team at PAT have compiled a Spotify playlist with lots of top tunes, all linked to walking and dogs. We hope you enjoy it! If you've any more suggestions, let us know and we can add them to the list.

• What safety precautions should I take for myself and my dog?

  Please remember to take care on every walk, especially if you're walking somewhere new or when it's dark outside. And if you sign up for Walk this May with your dog, it doesn't need to complete all 100km with you. Take your pet's age, health and walking ability into consideration – and don't go walkies if May proves to be a sunny, hot month. 
  
  Please do go at your own pace. Wear suitable clothing and footwear, take water with you (especially on longer walks) and if you pooch is with you, don't forget those poo bags!

• Can I fundraise for another charity, as well as Pets As Therapy?

  PAT would like people to fundraise solely for its work. However, we recognise that people in certain circumstances may also want to fundraise for an establishment they visit. If this is the case, you'll be able to set up your fundraising page to split donations 50:50 between PAT and another good cause.

• Who can I contact if I have another question?

  Email marketing@petsastherapy.org with the subject line ‘Walk this May’ and we'll do our best to respond to you within a couple of days.