Race for the Cure Fundraising Tools

Guest post by Becky Lunders

A lot of people think they are helping your cause just by showing up and walking on Race Day. The truth is, we need them to fundraise to really make an impact! These fundraising tools are designed to help participants raise more money and have fun in the process. No matter if you are Racing for the Cure or walking or plunging for another cause, these products will boost event income and create a buzz in the community before and during your event.

Body Stickers
Give your fundraisers a chance to raise more for your cause and recognize their donors at the same time.

Body Stickers are great because they help participants 1) make more asks (they’ll want to use all ten stickers) and, 2) make bigger asks (big donation = big sticker and strategic placement)!

Ideas for using this tool:

• Give them to survivors since they are traditionally your greatest fundraisers and will most likely put them to good use.
• Turn your corporate partners into fundraisers by giving this tool to their employees to increase participation and fundraising.
• Use these as a reward once fundraisers hit a certain level. Then on Race Day, the people with the Body Stickers are recognized as high achievers. It will get people asking, “How do I get Body Stickers next year?”
• Use as a last minute push to increase fundraising. Make body stickers available to pick up at specific locations just two weeks prior to Race Day.

Scratch & Give Cards
Get people talking about Race Day as they engage in conversation every time they make an ask. Scratch & Give Cards serve two purposes. They help participants 1) reach a fundraising goal (scratch all spots, raise $250) and, 2) have fun asking for money – who doesn’t love a scratch card!

Ideas for using this tool:

• Trade a completed registration form for a Scratch & Give Card to encourage early sign-ups.
• Give them to new recruits when they sign up to fundraise.
• Distribute them to past fundraisers to motivate them to do more.
• Have a challenge to see which company or group can complete the most Scratch & Give Cards in a week. Have money to support that effort and recognize the winner!

Both of these tools are found on Turnkey’s Nonprofit Tools store. Need other ideas? Contact me at at becky@turnkeywow.com or becky@totalteamworks.com!

- Becky

This post written by Becky, Volunteer Management Guru. Becky posts regularly to Turnkey’s blog specifically written for nonprofit event managers and volunteer leaders. Check it out! www.turnkeywow.com/tools.

Lilly’s Story: A Perfect, Precious Gift

I have a daughter with Down Syndrome, autism, and type 1 diabetes. When I say that to people, they do a little half grimace, intake of breath with a hint of furrowed brow… all meant to convey: that’s a hard life for you, and how do you do it? And Thank God that I don’t have to and I’m here for you. I really appreciate all those sentiments, but only rarely do people add the missing – tell me how she makes your life wonderful. 

It seems impossible for people on the outside of our world to understand (including me before I got thrown into the deep end of the pool with a set of genetic testing results) that our children are far, far, far and away a net gain. Coline, an employee of mine, has a wonderful daughter who tells it best as she describes her precious daughter Lilly. 

During this season of reflection and giving thanks, I encourage you to share this story. And if you have a moment, tell me how your child enriches your life.

Katrina

Lilly’s Story

My beautiful daughter, Lillian Josephine was born with a rare genetic disorder. It is called an unbalanced translocation of chromosomes 8 and 10. In simple terms, a portion of her 10th chromosome got stuck onto chromosome 8 and a portion of her 8th chromosome got stuck on to chromosome 10. While this doesn’t seem like such a big deal, when unbalanced, it actually causes a laundry list of congenital disorders and anomalies. 

Because we found out her diagnosis early in the pregnancy, doctors told us that there was a good chance that she would never make it to term, or if she did, she would not be born alive. We were told that “these mistakes usually take care of themselves.” They also told us that there was a good chance she would not thrive if she did make it. Needless to say, it was a long and stressful pregnancy. I prayed and pleaded each and every minute of those 40 weeks. I clung to each kick, hiccup, and roll as a sign that she was going to make it. And on her due date 2/26/10 she was born by emergency c-section, weighing 4 lbs 10 oz.

She spent the first 7 days of her life in the NICU.

While she is only 8 1/2 months young, she has already been diagnosed with hydrocephalus (excess fluid on the brain), hearing loss in both ears (she wears hearing aids), eye abnormalities, central sleep apnea, feeding difficulties, heart disease (aortic stenosis), kidney disease, hydronephrosis (swelling and excess fluid on the kidneys) kidney reflux, GERD, low muscle tone, and developmental delays. In addition, her condition causes her to be very small for her age. She is almost 9 months old and weighs about 12 lbs 13 oz (the size of a small 3 month old).  

At 2 1/2 months Lilly had surgery to have a shunt placed into her brain to help drain fluid. This is something that will need to be monitored (and perhaps have revised) for the rest of her life. She has spent about 37 days in the hospital so far for things ranging from urinary tract infections, sleep apnea, respiratory issues, feeding difficulties, kidney issues, low calcium, high potassium, and numerous other complications. 

At home she receives physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech/feeding therapy, infant massage, nutritional assistance. To date, she has about 11 specialists that monitor her health very closely. 

Along the way we have been told things like: “these children are a lot of work that will not pay off in the end” that we would “never get back what we put in” and that her future (if there is one) is “bleak.” They insinuated that she is a throw away and told us that we “deserve to go on to have a normal child.” 

Well, in my opinion, those doctors and their text books can all go to hell. She is an amazing blessing – a magical child whose smile can light up the room. She eats and plays and sleeps like a typical child, only with a twist here and there. While certain things take her longer and require more effort, she is tenacious and strong willed. She loves going for walks, listening to music, and exploring her world. She is patient and loving and has an infectious giggle that can bring a grown man to tears. 

There are no other reported cases, so little is known about this rare chromosome disorder. So for now, we take things one day at a time. And when possible, find humor wherever we can. She has taught us so much in her short life – things that we thought we knew, but could not, until now. Things like patience, tolerance, unconditional love, compassion, understanding, and strength. She has taught us about true beauty. And most of all, she has taught us to never take one minute, one smile, or even one coo for granted.  

And although it may seem weird to the world, we are excited for the future, ready to face the challenges, ready to prove them all wrong. She is not a diagnosis or a mistake. She is not broken or incomplete. She is not temporary or less than. 

She is my perfect daughter.

Get Your Fundraisers Pumped Up

This is a post by guest blogger, Tracy Hale.

Feel like you’re on an athletic team that can’t afford warm-ups or matching uniforms and you have to mow the grass yourself before every game? Yet you’re still expected to perform like a fully staffed and funded major league outfit? I know your pain! I’ve been in your shoes. It’s easy to get overwhelmed, but don’t! I’m here to help. I have a “fundraising playbook” designed to motivate your participant fundraisers and help you meet your goals. Huddle up!

Play #57: Fun Motivation, Sticky Draw Right

This play was originally designed for the Arthritis Foundation. It’s a creative solution to the question I know you ask yourself every day: How do I motivate my fundraisers? The answer? BODY STICKERS! Guaranteed to raise extra cash for your event and make sponsors smile. (‘Cause let’s face it, who DOESN’T want to see their name plastered all over a walking billboard on “game” day?!)

How It Works

This fundraising product idea is great for endurance events as the stickers are designed to stay on, even if your event is a marathon, a 5k swim, or a 10 keg fundraising party!

Give one sheet to each participant fundraiser and challenge him/her to get sponsorship for each sticker. (Each sheet is designed to raise $250 if all the stickers are sponsored.) The fundraiser writes the name of the sponsor on each sticker acquired, then he/she puts them all over their body the day of the event. Make sure a picture is taken to share on the thank you note post event!

This item is sold in packs of 25. Interested in learning more or seeing other great ideas? Visit the Turnkey Promotions Fundraising Tools Store today.

- This post was written by Tracy, Fundraiser Extraordinaire and Head Cheerleader of Turnkey’s Event Manager Division. She posts regularly to Turnkey’s blog specifically written for nonprofit event managers and volunteer leaders. Check it out! www.turnkeywow.com/tools.