The non blogging part of me is planning this huge event. Because I volunteer. I volunteer with a large group of people across the country, we make up a national team called Friends of Heroes
, we (mothers, fathers and children) have raised over $840,000 for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society since 2004.
We are inspired by children, children who are battling cancer, children who have lost their
battles and by the families that stand by them. We have teams all over the country that walk in The Leukemia & Lymphoma’s Light The Night Walk, we have affiliate teams that walk in honor of their sons and daughters, sisters and brothers.
We are a very good thing.
I bring this up to you because I am currently chest deep in planning for our local fundraiser this year. Our walk will be held in September, it’s a beautiful event that is so sad, yet so motivating. Survivors hold white balloons and their supporter hold red balloons, both colors light up and illuminate against the night’s sky. The message is powerful. I’m always so proud to turn in my entire teams worth of donations. I’m so lucky to have my family and friends and their family and friends join me for this walk.
Last year our biggest fundraiser locally was a garage sale that raised over $1,000, which was a huge success. We also manned a large booth at a very popular day long festival in the area that not only raised money but raised a ton of awareness, raising awareness is just as important raising the money.
My friend and fellow walker e-mailed me this spring, we’ll call her Mel (which is not her name but I don’t want to give her name away and Mel is easier than say Regina Phalange or Anastasia Beaverhousen), so Mel e-mails me and she’s all like" hey why don’t we hold a 5K run for a fundraiser?" And I was all like "wha? Little us? Holding something so very large? I don’t think so." and she was all like "yeah, but we can do it." and so we did.
We are holding this 5K and the planning has gone really well. The location is GORGEOUS and was donated ($1000) and other race like things were donated and now this run is like 5 weeks away and I’m freaking out.
I’m freaking out because we need some very important things, things like t-shirts for runners, water and well, runners. You know, the little things. The cost of t-shirts is approximately $900, so we just figured that if we could get three businesses to donate $300 that we could get the t-shirts easily…except we can’t seem to get even one business to donate $300 (even with our very generous sponsorship program with national exposure), so now were topless, so to speak, and our runners are expecting t-shirts and well, it looks like they’ll be topless, too.
So now what? I don’t know. Honestly I don’t know. We mailed out 175 beautiful sponsorship letters and we did receive some responses. After the run we are also hosting a Family Fun Walk and after the walk Gymboree has agreed to host activities for the children and I love that. We have hotel stays and gift certificates for a drawing, but we don’t have $900 or bottles of water and well…let’s just say sleep comes after I worry about all the details of this run. This run that I love, this run that I can’t wait for, this run that is giving me an ulcer.
I also e-mailed 11 companies on-line that do screen printing and asked them very nicely to just cover the cost of our shirts (it doesn’t hurt to ask, right?) and they were all like "nope, but here’s a very special price just for asking!" Which some of the prices aren’t really all that nice at all.
The thing is, is that I am a team captain of my walk, but I don’t have to hold big fundraisers, I can show up with a small envelope of donations and show my support and that is awesome, except I’m not wired that way. Each year gets bigger and each year I see our potential and each year I hear about more children who are fighting for their lives to beat cancer and I just can’t sit around and not do anything. Therefore I challenge myself to do more…because I can.
So, there you go. That’s what is on my plate. Tomorrow morning I am
having 100 posters printed (for free, I know, right?) and I need to get
on the ball and design this bad boy. Like right now.
Until then, if you happen to have a t-shirt business in your basement, call me, m’kay?
Did you
know that currently, one in every 330 Americans develops cancer during
childhood or adolescence, before the age of 20. On the average, 46 children and adolescents
are diagnosed with cancer every weekday in the United States?
shocking, isn’t it?
Sorry, I can’t help with the t-shirts. Just a thought for next year. If you have a Sams Club in your area they are big on donations, but you have to get to them many months in advance. I’m sure they would have no problem donating stuff like bottles of water.
I know what a big job this is. I’ve been a major supporter for the American Cancer Society Relay for Life.
Good luck with your fundraising. I’ll be thinking about you.
Sorry, I can’t help with the t-shirts. Just a thought for next year. If you have a Sams Club in your area they are big on donations, but you have to get to them many months in advance. I’m sure they would have no problem donating stuff like bottles of water.
I know what a big job this is. I’ve been a major supporter for the American Cancer Society Relay for Life.
Good luck with your fundraising. I’ll be thinking about you.
Hey, sweetie…not like you don’t have enough to do but what about post a link here to donate. You may get $5, $10, $20 at a time but look at what was accomplished by BooMama for Kelly and Heather! *wink* I don’t have much accumulated in my PalPal acct but I give some!
Hey, sweetie…not like you don’t have enough to do but what about post a link here to donate. You may get $5, $10, $20 at a time but look at what was accomplished by BooMama for Kelly and Heather! *wink* I don’t have much accumulated in my PalPal acct but I give some!
You’ve probably already thought of this, but for the water call local water districts. I work for one in Maine and we donate water to all kinds of events. We have our own bottles..or we’ll tap a hydrant and have cups available. In other cases we have big water coolers and cups. Hopefully they will help out!
You’ve probably already thought of this, but for the water call local water districts. I work for one in Maine and we donate water to all kinds of events. We have our own bottles..or we’ll tap a hydrant and have cups available. In other cases we have big water coolers and cups. Hopefully they will help out!
I participated in the Light the Night Walk year before last in support of my friend whose son died of Leukemia at 9 months (how SAD is that?). It was a very moving and inspiring event.
And wow! What a great event you’re planning! In my “spare” time (hahaha), I am an event planner and so have a teensy weensy bit of experience in procuring sponsorships. The problem is, as Angie mentioned, you have to start on these things way early because most companies have to submit sponsorship requests to their corporate offices at certain times of the year. Nevertheless, I will brainstorm and see if I can suggest any avenues…
I participated in the Light the Night Walk year before last in support of my friend whose son died of Leukemia at 9 months (how SAD is that?). It was a very moving and inspiring event.
And wow! What a great event you’re planning! In my “spare” time (hahaha), I am an event planner and so have a teensy weensy bit of experience in procuring sponsorships. The problem is, as Angie mentioned, you have to start on these things way early because most companies have to submit sponsorship requests to their corporate offices at certain times of the year. Nevertheless, I will brainstorm and see if I can suggest any avenues…
way to go…so totally motivated!!!!
Have a great week-end!!
way to go…so totally motivated!!!!
Have a great week-end!!
Wow! You’ve got a ton on your plate for sure! But I know it can be provided for somehow or another in the Lord!
That’s amazing. I’ve never known about this – so you just got one more awareness adventure completed!
Wow! You’ve got a ton on your plate for sure! But I know it can be provided for somehow or another in the Lord!
That’s amazing. I’ve never known about this – so you just got one more awareness adventure completed!
Topless 5K run might bring thousands of dollars in when you charge the “lookers”. OK, bad idea…
How about sending a letter to Oprah? You’ll never know.
I know it will be a success – but I can understand the “stress” of putting it all together. Keep us posted. I’ll say a prayer for you and for the event.
Topless 5K run might bring thousands of dollars in when you charge the “lookers”. OK, bad idea…
How about sending a letter to Oprah? You’ll never know.
I know it will be a success – but I can understand the “stress” of putting it all together. Keep us posted. I’ll say a prayer for you and for the event.
Topless 5K run might bring thousands of dollars in when you charge the “lookers”. OK, bad idea…
How about sending a letter to Oprah? You’ll never know.
I know it will be a success – but I can understand the “stress” of putting it all together. Keep us posted. I’ll say a prayer for you and for the event.
Topless 5K run might bring thousands of dollars in when you charge the “lookers”. OK, bad idea…
How about sending a letter to Oprah? You’ll never know.
I know it will be a success – but I can understand the “stress” of putting it all together. Keep us posted. I’ll say a prayer for you and for the event.
Topless 5K run might bring thousands of dollars in when you charge the “lookers”. OK, bad idea…
How about sending a letter to Oprah? You’ll never know.
I know it will be a success – but I can understand the “stress” of putting it all together. Keep us posted. I’ll say a prayer for you and for the event.
Topless 5K run might bring thousands of dollars in when you charge the “lookers”. OK, bad idea…
How about sending a letter to Oprah? You’ll never know.
I know it will be a success – but I can understand the “stress” of putting it all together. Keep us posted. I’ll say a prayer for you and for the event.
If only I had $300…
I almost don’t want to comment, because I can’t actually DO anything right now.
Just keep in mind that the t-shirts aren’t the most important part – raising the money & awareness are. Wasn’t that warm & fuzzy?
I’ll pray for you.
If only I had $300…
I almost don’t want to comment, because I can’t actually DO anything right now.
Just keep in mind that the t-shirts aren’t the most important part – raising the money & awareness are. Wasn’t that warm & fuzzy?
I’ll pray for you.
Holy Cow that is freaking ambitious!! Way to go Beth and “Mel”!! I can’t wait to hear how it turns out. And by the way, if it is topless you will make a lot more money!!
Holy Cow that is freaking ambitious!! Way to go Beth and “Mel”!! I can’t wait to hear how it turns out. And by the way, if it is topless you will make a lot more money!!
Ok ok ok ok…mind is processing toooo many thoughts of how to get these donations because you/we WILL have all of these items donated, but with some quid pro quo as you might expect.
Call any and all water distributers. They will not miss 12-15 cases of water. The tshirts? Why can’t the 5k’ers pay for their own? When I do the sunburst, I pay for my t shirt AND look forward to receiving it and wearing it for the run!
Call McDonalds for their huge tubs of orange punch.
FIND A SPONSER, someone who can label the water and maybe even put a little something on the tshirt. Because my husband’s work IS SOLELY for a non profit organization, I’ve asked him for some connections to see if we can get a lead. I’ll get back to you, these runners cannot run topless, think of all the black eyes!!
Ok ok ok ok…mind is processing toooo many thoughts of how to get these donations because you/we WILL have all of these items donated, but with some quid pro quo as you might expect.
Call any and all water distributers. They will not miss 12-15 cases of water. The tshirts? Why can’t the 5k’ers pay for their own? When I do the sunburst, I pay for my t shirt AND look forward to receiving it and wearing it for the run!
Call McDonalds for their huge tubs of orange punch.
FIND A SPONSER, someone who can label the water and maybe even put a little something on the tshirt. Because my husband’s work IS SOLELY for a non profit organization, I’ve asked him for some connections to see if we can get a lead. I’ll get back to you, these runners cannot run topless, think of all the black eyes!!
dang, should have previewed it…FIND A SPONSOR! hehe
dang, should have previewed it…FIND A SPONSOR! hehe
You’re working hard for a great cause! Have you asked private medical clinics to be sponsors – blood labs, radiology practices, rehab centers? $300 does sound a little steep, though. When I worked for a medical practice we were looking for ways to have a positive, personal reputation in the community (not just a place that is listed in your insurance book)
You’re working hard for a great cause! Have you asked private medical clinics to be sponsors – blood labs, radiology practices, rehab centers? $300 does sound a little steep, though. When I worked for a medical practice we were looking for ways to have a positive, personal reputation in the community (not just a place that is listed in your insurance book)
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