First and foremost many are feeling your pain I am sure. I believe fundraisers work best when done in conjunction with your own life. Themed parties work with some (wine tasting, game nights etc), or see if you can do a fifty fifty at your bowling night. Stores sometimes allow charity gift wrappers (Barnes and Noble does it often around here).

And keep in mind that these are tough financial times for everyone, but imagine what it is like for someone with a child going through chemo. Beyond the sheer enormity of seeing their child go through this. Can they keep their job if they have to keep missing time? The ancillary costs of care can be overwhelming and they are things you wouldn't think of unless you were going through it. We probably cannot help these families a great deal directly, but most of those families would probably tell you; don't worry about us, find a cure so other families in the future won't have to go through what we did, I know that is what Kati use to say.

Thank you for digging so deep for this energy, and others won't mind as much as you think to dig deep ofr this either.

Hi, I'm new to team in training. In fact I'm new to running in general. I decided very recently that I wanted to become a runner and then I found the flyer for team in training and I'm very interested. My biggest worry is that I'm not going to be able to make much money at all. Money is so tight for everyone these days and most of the people I know are college students who could probably only give me a few dollars. So besides posting at my job and my college, I'm not really sure what else to do and how I can find the time to do it. Also, can someone explain how the entire fundraising thing works and what a good goal to set is? I'd hate to show up with a really small contribution, would it seem insulting? I'm sure I probably sound stupid. But I appreciate any and all help!

Thank you

Gwen

Hi Gwen,

BRIBERY works! I make homemade caramels. I gave 1/2 pound for every $50 that someone donated. Since the average donation is around $25, this increased the average that most people donated. Get creative and think about what you have to offer--here are some other ideas:

• Offer a batch of cookies or some other treat to anyone who donates at least a certain amount.

• Offer services--car washes, baby sitting, dog walking, window washing, etc.

• Make a small, inexpensive craft (beaded bracelets, etc.)

In addition to bribery, I found that following up was really important. I had lots of people come to me after my race and tell me that they meant to donate and just lost my letter in their "stuff to deal with later" pile. For this year, I will be more aggressive, yet still respectful of the economic realities and the fact that this maybe isn't everyone's most important cause. But I also talked to EVERYONE I encountered about what I was doing and why it mattered to me. I was truly enthusiastic about my goals since I had never done anything like this before. I didn't start by asking for money, I started by talking about this cool adventure I was on and I gave them my personal reasons as well as my feelings about the cause. I let them know that I would love any help they could provide (money, prayers, good thoughts, cards, letters, etc.). Usually, I didn't even have to add that part--since people asked to be put on my list.

I also tried not to overthink who I sent letters to. You may have already heard that your biggest contributor will likely be someone who totally surprises you--someone you don't know well or who you think/believe wouldn't donate. I can attest to that. Two of my biggest single donations ($200 and $250) came from sources that I wouldn't have expected, while someone who promised a "substantial" donation ultimately gave $25. At the same time, remember that every dollar you get helps the cause, and that every dollar gets you closer to your goal. So, don't be disappointed with the $5-$10 donations; they're just as crucial to your success as the bigger ones.

I think the most important thing you can do is to be vocal and enthusiastic about your goals. It's OK to let people know that the fundraising part scares you--that you need their help and that this really means something to you. I know that doesn't change the fact that you're young and your friends are young and relatively broke (I've been there!), but keep talking. Send letters to your friends' parents. Don't ever think "Oh, I shouldn't do that" or "I shouldn't ask this person."

So go for it! You really can do this. There's a reason you feel called to participate and you will make it happen!