Meet Jimena Arango
31 July 2024
Meet your Fundraising Coach, Jimena. She is having the best time supporting all Gong riders to achieve fundraising success. Jimena may be a familiar face to those who have taken part in the MS Gong Ride in previous years, you can’t miss her smiling face at the finish line!
Get to know Jimena better and how she can support you in the 2024 MS Gong Ride here!
How long have you been working for MS Plus?
I started working at MS Plus in February 2021. Just about 3 months before launching the 40th MS Gong Ride.
How many MS Gong Rides have you worked on?
My first Gong was the 40th Anniversary in November 2022, I was the one running around with the photographer! In 2023 I worked more behind the scenes in the marketing team. This is my first year as the Fundraising Coach, my favourite role so far!
Which other MS Events have you worked on?
My first event at MS Plus was the MS Walk Run + Roll in Sydney. I took part as a participant and loved it! The sense of community felt at the walks is beautiful. I have also worked at the MS Mega Challenge swim events in Sydney and Fitzroy – seeing families and friends ready to swim and raise funds for people with MS for 24 hours is very special! In April 2024, I was the MS Plus representative in the ‘Do It For MS’ trek in New Zealand. The Southern Alps Adventure allowed me and a group of fundraisers to hike and raise funds for people living with multiple sclerosis. Our goal was to raise $40,000 and we ended up raising an incredible $71,538, the whole experience was super fun! Doing something that you love and having the opportunity to raise funds for MS makes the whole experience more meaningful.
How are you supporting MS Gong Ride participants?
As your Fundraising Coach, I am here to help you on your journey to smash that fundraising goal for the MS Gong Ride! Weather you need any personalised fundraising tips, want to get some cool merchandise, need a hand gathering your team, organise fundraising activities or matched giving, I've got your back. Also, if you have any event questions or want to share your story, I am here for you.
ABOUT ME:
Where are you from?
I grew up in Guatemala, a small country in Central America. I moved to Australia in 2018 and to Sydney in 2020.
What do you love most about living in Australia?
Hard question, it is very hard to choose what I love the most about living in Australia to be honest because there are so many things that I love! The wildlife has to be one of the top ones, the native animals here are like in no other country that I have visited, the landscape, the beaches, how friendly and welcoming people are, Australia is just an amazing country.
Tell us about your hobbies and what you enjoy doing with your spare time?
In my spare time I love camping, I like to explore new places every weekend and go for a nice hike, and if I can see some wildlife even better! In summer and spring I love going to the beach - diving and snorkelling. In winter and autumn I like hiking and going out for walks trying to keep myself warm.
What is your dream holiday destination?
I was lucky enough to have visited my dream destination in April 2024 when I travelled to New Zealand. It is now either Greece or the Philippines.
MS GONG RIDE:
What is your favourite part of the MS Gong Ride?
Seeing everyone crossing the finish line and the sense of accomplishment the riders get is one of my favourite parts of the Gong. It is like watching a parade of champions, only with more spandex and less confetti! There is also something truly special about the energy at the Finish Village, as riders reunite with their teams, or families – you can feel the excitement in the air!
What are your top fundraising tips?
- Create a Facebook Fundraiser. This one is probably the easiest one, it costs nothing and requires just a few clicks, plus you could raise 15% more than those who don’t! SHARE SHARE SHARE your fundraising page on social media, tell people why you are doing the ride, and you will be amazed with how many people will support you.
- Set a fundraising goal that will give you something to aim for, then start off with a self-donation. You are not just giving; you're showing your friends and family how serious you are about the cause.
- Have fun with your team looking for sponsors, custom jerseys bring the team closer together, but they also open doors for amazing sponsorship opportunities at your company or with local businesses. Plus, your team will look great on the day!
What message would you like to share with everyone doing the 2024 MS Gong Ride?
I know the MS Gong Ride can feel a bit intimidating for some riders – not just the distance of the ride, but also reaching your fundraising goal, but here’s the thing: this journey is so much more than just the finish line! It is about those great moments spent with your team laughing during training rides and brainstorming fun fundraising ideas like trivia nights together; it is about sharing your story to the people you know and getting surprised with how many people support you; it is about thinking of what fun jersey you can design with your team or what fun outfit you will be wearing on the day; it is about the friendly competition between teams but most importantly: to make a genuine difference in the lives of the Australians living with multiple sclerosis.
If you have questions about training, fundraising ideas, or just need someone to chat with, I’m just a phone call away! ?Remember every pedal you take, every dollar you raise, brings us closer to a world free from MS.
If you see Jimena around the Event Village, please come up and say hi! She cannot wait to congratulate you on your amazing efforts at the 2024 MS Gong Ride!
