73: Fundraising for Runs and Walks

Are you running and fundraising for charity right now? Or perhaps you’re thinking about it? Then you’re going to want to listen in when Linda Canning, Chris O’Brien, and Dean Karnazes give their best tips of how you can support your favorite charity while running miles and miles. This is great information too for any fundraising running or not.

Linda came to Action for Healthy Kids via being a fan of Dean Karnazes’ and shared this top tips:

1. Ask for a donation in lieu of a gift

2. Ask your running group, every little bit helps

3. Show the literature from the group

4. Put on events

5. Auctions - silent, live

6. Cookies once a month

7. Pub Crawls, ask the people in the bar for money

8. Believe in the cause and people will open up their wallets more

Chris found his way to Action for Healthy Kids via Dean Karnazes and offered these great tips:

1. Calculate the dollars per day you need to raise to reach your goal

2. You donate the registration fee of the race

3. Set up your fundraising website given to you from the charity and walk through the process yourself so you can answer any questions - people what to buy support for you

4. Make a personalized letter - brief and meaningful - why you are doing this

5. Race Report - Write a race report the races you are running and post on those websites that you have done it and have a by the way at the end about raising money for the charity

6. Make a QR Code - with a logo that was a business card (to use as a reminder)

7. Be open about it - be an advocate for that charity, and figure out what really gets you excited

8. Raffle - give them something from your running life

9. Matching Gift Funds

The good, the bad and the ugly about coffee. Serena gives recommendations on how much, why and whether or not to start drinking coffee if you aren’t already.

Dean and I take a bit of a long run and talk about fundraising in addition to why we love our standing desks, which Varidesk gave us to try and keep. Varidesk standing desks are placed on desks you already have and can be adjusted so you can sit if you just don’t feel like standing. Dean has been standing and working for over 10 years. I went from using a step stool next to a file cabinet that housed my laptop to using a Varidesk on my Great Grandma in law’s desk (awesome compromise!) Talk about an improvement in efficiency and energy!

Dean and I talk about the importance of sleep, and how using a FitBit (a sponsor of Dean’s) helps you compete with yourself and others. Dean and I also discussed what went down in NYC when we recorded some videos in Times Square. In case you didn’t hear, Dean “undressed” in the middle of Times Square (well kind of sort of).

Here are Dean’s tips for fundraising:

1. Have an email blast with pictures of you and the organization you are running for explaining why you are so passionate about this cause.

2. Make sure to follow up after the donation is received and share how your training is coming along and also how the donation is impacting the charity.

3. Dean’s recommendation to Kari and Serena - have an auction prize be the experience to run with Kari and Serena (more to come on this later)

If you’re waiting for an invitation from Dean and me to run Chicago with us, here it is:

http://www.therunninglifestyle.com/youre-invited-or-should-i-say-challenged/

*****IF YOU WANT TO RUN CHICAGO WITH ACTION FOR HEALTHY KIDS along with Dean, Serna Marie, RD and me, you need to register by TUESDAY, MAY 26, 2015. Please contact teamhealthykids@actionforhealthykids.org and/or check out http://www.actionforhealthykids.org/events/team-healthy-kids-featured-events/event/272

If you’d like to contribute to Team Kari and Serena, you can by visiting:

https://donate.actionforhealthykids.org/events/kari-serena-run-new-york-city-chicago/e46192

Speaking of Serena. Serena comes on and discusses the good, the bad and the ugly about coffee. Serena gives recommendations on how much, why and whether or not to start drinking coffee if you aren’t already.

Guests:

Linda Canning

Chris O'Brien:
Website: christopherobrien.net
Facebook: Chris O'Brien

Dean Karnazes:
Website: Ultra Marathon Man
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DeanKarnazes
Twitter:  @DeanKarnazes

Serena Marie, RD:
Website: www.SerenaMarieRD.com
Facebook: /SerenaMarieRD
Twitter: @SerenaMarieRD
Instagram: SerenaMarieRD

This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and solely as a self-help tool for your own use. I am not providing medical, psychological, or nutrition therapy advice. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat any health problems or illnesses without consulting your own medical practitioner. Always seek the advice of your own medical practitioner and/or mental health provider about your specific health situation. For my full Disclaimer, please go to www.karigormley.com/disclaimer.