How to Fundraise, to the Extreme!

At the Chimp office we come across a lot of ways to fundraise: fun runs, head shaving, drinking whisky, and many more. But some fundraising efforts push the limits of what reasonable people are willing to do for charity. We’ve compiled a list of our favourite extreme fundraising challenges, ranked in order of increasing spiciness.

Mild: High Heels Obstacle Course

Funnyperson Rebel Wilson tried to raise $10,000 for a school in Tanzania when she attempted an obstacle course in high heels on The Ellen Show. The weak of ankle need not attempt.

Medium: Tough Mudder

Tough Mudder began in 2010 and has since become one of the most popular extreme obstacle runs in the world. Participants have to swim through icy water, climb muddy hills, swing from ropes, leap over fire, and generally exhaust themselves for the honour of calling themselves Tough Mudders. The event partners with charities like Wounded Warrior to raise millions for charity.

Spicy: Nepal International Marathon

Imagine running 42 km. Now imagine running the same distance up and down some of the world’s highest mountains. The video above is just a taste of the kind of terrain available to competitors at the Nepal International Marathon, one of the hardest marathon’s in the world. The event supports a multi-faceted UN program that aims to solve a host of social and infrastructure problems in Nepal.

Burning Hot: HALO Jump

Members of the Millionair Club in Seattle jumped out of planes to raise money to combat homelessness and unemployment. HALO (High Altitude, Low Opening) jumping is one of the most difficult and dangerous types of skydiving. As the name suggests, jumpers leap from planes at very high altitude and open their parachutes very close to the ground, leaving little room for error.

Insanity: Climb an Active Volcano

Climbing a mountain for charity is a relatively common activity. Climbing the world’s highest active volcano is a step beyond. While not especially dangerous, the duration of the trek, the altitude, and red hot magma make this our most pyroclastic pick. Trekkers raise money for the charity of their choice.