Marathoners gear up for fundraising
Indeed, runners who get a number from one of the official Boston Marathon charities are obligated to raise at least $2,500, a significant goal for any fundraiser.
Posted Friday, 14 January, 2005
Note: This article contains commercial content
By Margaret Berwind-Dart
Every year around this time runners from all over begin preparation in earnest for the Boston Marathon and many other spring runs. For most, the preparation includes the usual logging of miles, proper nutrition and dedication. However, for many who are running for charity the preparation also means starting to fundraise. This means asking friends, colleagues and family members for money, a task as daunting as the run itself!
Indeed, runners who get a number from one of the official Boston Marathon charities are obligated to raise at least $2,500, a significant goal for any fundraiser. “I’m not worried at all about the 26.2 miles,” said one Boston Marathon charity runner, “It’s the fundraising that has me terrified!!”
However, many individuals are discovering that fundraising doesn’t have to be difficult or time consuming at all. If done with the use of technology the fundraising can actually be simple and fun.
Jana Rayfield is running the Boston Marathon and is raising funds for Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Jana set up her page a few weeks ago and has already raised over $3,000 ( http://www.justgiving.com/pfp/JanaBostonMarathon ). “Everyone today uses email and checks it constantly,” Jana says. “I knew I could target the most people through email, so using Justgiving was perfect!”
Many of the Boston Marathon charities now provide this service to enable their runners to raise funds online by creating their own fundraising pages.
A few more great examples of pages created for Boston Marathon charities: http://www.justgiving.com/pfp/hard-core, supporting Thompson Island Outward Bound; http://www.justgiving.com/pfp/hopeforchildren, created to raise funds for Massachusetts General Hospital; and http://www.justgiving.com/pfp/jayhell, benefiting the Massachusetts Amateur Sports Foundation and Bay State Games.
Any runner can create their own fundraising page. “It’s really about enabling individuals to raise funds for whatever cause inspires them and to make it easy and effective by combining the passion of a personal appeal with the power of the internet,” said Mark Sutton, CEO of Justgiving, Inc., an organization that provides online fundraising services to thousands individuals and charities worldwide.
Marathon training efforts can inspire more than just awe in your family and friends; your efforts can also inspire everyone you know to help you raise money for a great cause. Boston and other marathons see many runners raise money for even all kinds of charities. Runs in general and marathons in particular are great opportunities to fundraise.
Anyone can create their own online Personal Fundraising Page. It is fast and easy, and you will raise more money with less effort. Your page link can be distributed by email, in blogs, included in letters or press releases, linked to from charity or race websites or posted on company bulletin boards—physical and electronic--social group newsletters, or any other locations. Doing so offers more potential donors the opportunity to contribute to your efforts.
If you or your friends are running for charity, try setting up an online fundraising page to help you -- www.justgiving.com/coolrunningcharity.
