The Big Walk 2022 - FAQs

If your question is not listed here, please email giving@sheffield.ac.uk and we will do our best to help you with your question.

On

My question is about signing up

How do we sign up as a team?

Regardless of team or individual, all walkers must sign up individually using our Google Form

Can my partner/friend sign up to the Big Walk if they aren’t from the University?

Yes! The walk is open to anyone, so we’d love for your partner/friend to join you on the walk.

Can I sign up if I am not a member of staff, student or alum (former student)?

Yes! Anyone can take part in the walk regardless of their association with the University. 

I haven’t received a confirmation email!

We aim to get a confirmation email out to all walkers within 5 working days. If you have an urgent query please contact the Big Walk team at giving@sheffield.ac.uk or 0114 222 5598. 

Do I have to pay first or sign up first?

Please do both as closely as possible together. If the entry fee is still in stock on the online store and our Google Form is still open, then we will still have spaces so please do both ASAP to guarantee your place on the walk.

When is the booking deadline?

Bookings close at 23:59 on Friday 13th May 2022. Book soon to avoid disappointment.

My question is about payment

Where can I pay for my entry?

Please pay via the online store here

Buy my place at the Big Walk 2022

Can I pay for someone else’s place?

Yes, that is not a problem. Please email the Big Walk team at giving@sheffield.ac.uk and let us know whose place you have paid for as this won’t show up on our systems. Otherwise we will chase up the person you have so kindly paid for further down the line for payment!

Do I have to pay or sign up first?

Please do both as closely as possible together. If the entry fee is still in stock on the online store and our Google Form is still open, then we will still have spaces so please do both ASAP to guarantee your place on the walk. 

I haven’t received confirmation of my payment.

You should receive an email from the Online Store confirming that you have paid for the walk automatically after you have paid. If you have not received this email within 2 hours of payment please get in touch with the Big Walk team at giving@sheffield.ac.uk and we will be able to check if it has gone through on our system. Please note we will only be able to reply within working hours Monday - Friday. 

I can’t take part in the walk anymore. Can I get a refund?

Unfortunately we are unable to issue any refunds for entry into the Big Walk. You are able to pass on your entry, however this must be before Friday 13th May, the new entrant must fill in our Google entry form, and you must email us to let us know that you have passed on your place. Any funds left in our account at the end of July 2022 will be donated to Genetic Disease Research at the University of Sheffield. 

What does my entry fee include?

Your fee will cover some really important aspects of the Big Walk. This includes but is not limited to: provision of refreshments along the route, your Big Walk t-shirt, professional first aid provision along the route, and hire for venues to use as marshal points.

Your entry fee does not include coach travel from the Octagon to the start point. There is a £4 additional charge for coach travel. If you wish to book a space on the coach, please indicate this when you pay for entry: www.sheffield.ac.uk/giving/big-walk-payment.

My question is about the day - General

What if I can’t complete the route?

We hope that all of our participants will aim to complete their chosen route. On the day if you become injured or are unable to continue the walk, our marshals will be able to take care of you and if appropriate organise transport to take you back to the University.

I originally said I don’t want transport but now my plans have changed. Can I still get the organised transport?

Where possible please do try and let us know (giving@sheffield.ac.uk) at least two weeks in advance of the walk. However, we do understand that things may change at short notice, so if circumstances change at the last minute we will try to accommodate you. Please note, there is a £4 additional charge for coach travel. 

If your plans change and you no longer need transport, you must let us know so that we have an accurate figure for transport. We are unable to offer a refund for your coach travel payment. You are able to pass on your coach space to another walker, however this must be before Friday 10th June, and you must email us to let us know that you have passed on your place. 

Can I bring my dog with me?

No. Unfortunately, dogs are not permitted on the route.

I have signed up to walk/run but now I would like to run/walk. Is that okay?

You can walk or run your chosen route, but please do try and let us know (giving@sheffield.ac.uk) by Friday 10th June latest. We permit individuals who do a combination of running and walking, although please note that there will be limited resources available for any runners along the route.

What should I bring?

A list of things to bring can be found on the Big Walk Itinerary page. We also send round a list of things to bring as well closer to the date.

Will there be points to refill my water along the way?

Please start the walk with 2 litres of water and have the capacity to carry 2 litres with you along the route in a refillable water bottle. Most marshal points will have water for you to refill your bottles.

Will there be snacks and food offered on the route?

We will be providing energy snacks along the way such as flapjack and fruit. We encourage you to bring your own snacks for personal preference, and hunger may strike at a point between marshal stops. We will also be providing something larger at lunchtime (a high-carb vegetarian salad box at Yorkshire Bridge Inn) and dinner (a vegetarian BBQ at the University Arms).

What should I wear on the day?

On the Big Walk Itinerary page, we have outlined suggestions for what to wear. Essentially you should wear something comfortable and breathable, and be prepared for all weather! You will be getting a Big Walk t-shirt, which will be a sweat-wicking sports material, so bear that in mind when planning what to wear.

Where will the toilets be on the route?

There will be toilets at the start line, mid-way point for both routes and end point. Please be aware that there will be a section of roughly 17 miles with no access to public toilets for the 50km walk. Alternative options are currently being looked into.

Can we drop off a bag along the route?

Unfortunately we will not be offering a service for picking up bags this year.

Will there be any cows along the route?

In the first 3km of the 50km, the route will pass through two farms where there may be cows.

Where is there available car parking on campus?

We strongly encourage you to make your way to campus by public transport as you may find it difficult to drive home afterwards. If you would like to travel by car, there are parking spaces available at the Durham Road Q-Park near the Octagon.

30km route questions

What are the arrangements for transport to the start line?

We will be organising transport, most likely in the form of coaches from the University of Sheffield (Octagon centre on Western Bank). They will be leaving the University at 8:10am, to arrive in Edale at 9:10am. Any changes to this will be relayed on the Big Walk Itinerary page, in emails to walkers and on our Google Group.

Can I make my own way to the start line?

You are more than welcome to make your own way to the start line in Edale. For more details on when to arrive, please visit the Big Walk Itinerary page.

What is the total elevation on the route?

793m or 2600ft - that’s like climbing the Arts Tower 10 times! 

50km route questions

What are the arrangements for transport to the start line?

We will be organising transport, most likely in the form of coaches from the University of Sheffield (Octagon centre on Western Bank). They will be leaving the University at 6:00am, to arrive in Hope at 6:45am. Any changes to this will be relayed on the Big Walk Itinerary page, in emails to walkers and on our Google Group.

Can I make my own way to the start line?

You are more than welcome to make your own way to the start line in Hope. For more details on when to arrive, please visit the Big Walk Itinerary page.

Can I swap to the 30km route instead?

In the lead up to the walk you can swap from 50 to 30 km, but please try and let us know by Friday 10th June by emailing giving@sheffield.ac.uk

What is the total elevation on the route?

In total it is 1455m or 4773 feet - that’s like climbing Ben Nevis! 

My question is about training

Are there any training walks set up?

Yes! Our fantastic route planner, Big Walk Will, has put together these training walks to get you in the swing of things before the big day! 

Use these walks and find others on the internet and get training! Why not organise between yourselves to go for a training walk a day a week after work, or at the weekend. And don’t forget to share any good routes you find on the Big Walk Google Group.

Can I set up training walks?

You most certainly can! If you’d like to do so please use the Google Group, that way all our walkers can see and choose to get involved.

Where can I see the written instructions for the route?

Draft copies of the routes can be found on the Big Walk Itinerary page.

Final editions of the routes will be made available on the Big Walk Itinerary page, in emails to walkers and on our Google Group.

My question is about fundraising

How do I set up my JustGiving page?

Please find our JustGiving page set-up instructions for Big Walk 2022 here:

JustGiving instructions

I'd like hard copies of the sponsorship form. Where can I find these?

If you'd prefer to collect funds using a hard copy sponsorship form, you are more than welcome to. On the last pages of our Big Walk fundraising guide, you will find a sponsorship form that you can print and share with your supporters.

When you've collected all donations using the hard copy, please pay this by using our online donation page (please write your name and ‘Big Walk 2022’ in the comments bar) or by coming directly to our office at 40 Victoria Street.

Big Walk fundraising guide

I want to run an event for my fundraising - how do I go about this?

That’s great - take a look at our Big Walk fundraising guide for ideas if you’re stuck. If you’d like any posters for your event then let us know and we’ll see what we can do to help. Do try and let us know as far in advance as possible. We can also give you a fundraising tin/bucket, just drop us an email at giving@sheffield.ac.uk to organise this.

Big Walk fundraising guide

What if I don’t raise the minimum total?

We encourage you to put in as much effort as you can to fundraise, our fundraising guide contains more information about how to do so. If you have put efforts into raising offline/online and don’t raise the full £150 then that is not a problem, we would just like you to try and raise as much as you can.

How can I pay in offline (cash or cheques) fundraising?

You can either pay this by using our online donation page (please write your name and ‘Big Walk 2022’ in the comments bar) or by coming directly to our office at 40 Victoria Street. Please refrain from paying this in yourself on Just Giving as these will be subject to fees and we will not receive the whole donation.

I’m not running an event but I’d still like a bucket/tin for my fundraising. Can I do this?

Yes, you certainly can! Just drop us an email at giving@sheffield.ac.uk to organise this.

I’m in a team - how much do we need to raise?

Please multiply £150 by the number of people in your team to get a fundraising target, e.g. £900 for a team of 6, £1500 for a team of 10 etc. 

Can I fundraise through Facebook’s fundraising platform?

Unfortunately we don’t offer that at the moment, but do share your Just Giving page on Facebook with a link through for ease of donating. We will also be sharing Big Walk posts from the University’s Facebook account via our Fundraising for the University of Sheffield page, so please like and follow us so you can see and reshare these posts too! 

Can I get gift aid from offline donations? 

Yes - this can happen in two ways. Where possible you can use the sponsorship form available in our Big Walk fundraising guide so that we get Gift Aid details for your eligible donors. Please make sure to include the full address for both you (the fundraiser) and your eligible donors. Alternatively, we have a “Gift aid small donations scheme” whereby up to £8,000 of donations are eligible for gift aid as collected from buckets, tins etc. throughout the year. However, if we have a superb year in offline fundraising we can’t guarantee that all offline fundraising will be eligible for gift aid.

How do I get a Just Giving text code?

Unfortunately the Just Giving Text service is no longer available. Instead we would recommend you point people in the direction of your page, which can be accessed on mobiles and portable devices.

My question is about volunteering

How can I volunteer for the Big Walk?

First of all, thank you! Please register as a volunteer here. Please email giving@sheffield.ac.uk for more information.

Can I choose my role?

The registration form has options for you to specify your preferences for a role, and we will do our best to accommodate you. If you require a certain role for personal reasons, e.g. mobility then please do let us know to give you priority for that role.

Can I specify what times I volunteer?  

The registration form has options for you to specify your preferences for timings, and we will do our best to accommodate you. There will be an option to rank timings as well as specifying what timings you can and can’t do due to other commitments. If you are a University employee, you should expect to do an equivalent volunteering shift to the working day. 

Can I use my own car? 

TBC

My question isn’t listed above

I can’t make the Big Walk but I’d still like to fundraise and do an event

That’s great! Please email the Giving team at giving@sheffield.ac.uk if you’d like more ideas or to let us know your plans so that we can support you, provide you with a fundraising tin/bucket and promote your event! Follow this link for tips on how to set up your own event or challenge and you can also check out our Big Walk fundraising guide.

If I work at the University do I need to take annual leave for the Big Walk?

There is an agreement in place at the University that, at the discretion of your line manager, you can have the day to do the Big Walk or to volunteer to help on the day without using your annual leave. Please make sure that you do discuss it with your line manager!

My question still isn’t listed!

Please email giving@sheffield.ac.uk and we will do our best to help you with your question.

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