Give With Your Feet: Is Running for Charity for You? Or Me?

22 Comments

1. I haven’t done a charity run yet, but hopefully that will be how I am able to run New York Marathon in 2015! I think you should go for it. Pick a charity that really resonates with you and your core values! You will get tons of support!

2. I run for the Tug McGraw Foundation — I started with them for the NYC Marathon in 2008 (I think, might have been 2007!). I was planning on that being my last NYC Marathon so wanted to run with a charity but didn’t know which one. I met the President of the foundation at the Country Music Marathon expo and really loved the vibe I got.
   It wasn’t a gigantic group which I have since found to be one of the best things about us! I had tried to run with another LARGE charity group one year and they couldn’t get their stuff together enough to get me signed up (disappointing…) and I’ve seen other LARGE groups who are very “US” focused – like they only cheer for their own people…only support their own folks, that kind of thing. My coach stands on the sidelines at the NYC Marathon (every event we do actually!) and will run out to help any runner he sees struggling – he and his ‘assistant’ coach are always ready with an “Atta girl” or any encouragement.
   The fundraising limits are pretty low, especially if you manage to secure your own entry to the event (For MCM my fundraising goal is $250 – though I am aiming a bit higher than that!). It doesn’t cover race entry, it doesn’t cover any travel expenses, but we do get blocks of rooms and get a break most of the time on the cost.
   In addition to just growing to love these people, I run because I was genuinely surprised by how many lives are impacted by brain cancers, tumors, injury. One of our runners passed away in 2010 after fighting for 7 years and that just adds more fuel to the fire! And now the Foundation is involved in a lot of work, research and rehabilitation efforts for our wounded military – those with invisible injuries like PTSD…

   When I ran Goofy, it was a trial run for us to see if we wanted to become “official” as a runDisney charity (I think we decided not since the on-course support/cheer logistics weren’t so easy!) and I literally broke down in tears when I came out of EPCOT that Sunday and saw all my red shirts waiting for me to finish! Seriously cried for about 15 minutes! While drinking a beer, of course 😉
   I could, obviously, go on and on and on about these amazing people. They’re family at this point.

3. All of these are great causes and deserve attention and support. I would love to run for a charity. I just hate asking people for money. I will be happy to donate to yours though!

   1. Asking for money is REALLY REALLY HARD for me!!! But it’s amazing what some bribes can accomplish!! Cookies, brownies, bracelets (my last push I gave people who gave 25 or more a Mudlove bracelet)…it gets easier every time I do it 😉

4. I think the biggest thing is to do your homework on ANY race series or charity you may be interested in supporting. Don’t assume because they are a charity or promise “A portion of the proceeds will go to X charity” that it means anything! Races like Spartan, Color Run, and Susan Komen have been under a lot of scrutiny for either not fulfilling their promises or mismanagement of charitable gifts. Even the charities themselves: e,g. Wounded Warrior Project has a terrible track record as well for mismanagement. Right now, I am researching Team ASPCA (for various endurance events including runDisney). Animal rescue is a cause near and dear to my heart, so once I have done my due diligence, and am satisfied with how their money is spent, I may be doing some fundraising for that cause.

5. I haven’t run for charity yet. I know that in the future, I’ll likely need to find a charity to run Boston, if I ever want to meet the goal of running all the Marathon Majors, but that’s at least 3 years away, so I’ll start my research on those in a few years.

   I also know that one day, I’d like to raise funds for Ovarian Cancer Research Fund, as my sister is an ovarian cancer survivor. However, they do not really have an organized endurance fundraising component, so I’ll still need to register for the race on my own.

   1. Revlon Cosmetics and and the Entertainment Industry Foundation put on a run/walk in major cities for Breast *and* Ovarian cancer causes — you might want to check them out 🙂

6. I’m running with Mickey Milers right now to benefit Give Kids the World Village. The reason I decided to start there is I am paying my own race fees–whatever people give me goes directly toward the charity, not my own costs. No, I’m saying this to judge anyone who does–just for me that was an important part for my fundraising efforts. They also had a pretty low minimum, so I am able to start small and set my own higher goals. You can totally do it! Find a great cause and you’ll love coming up with fun and creative ways to raise funds 🙂

7. I haven’t run for a specific charity yet, I am terrible at fundraising. I feel guilty asking people for their money I guess. I do love to run races where the race fees support charities though! Makes me feel like I’m making even a little bit of a difference!

8. You have such a big heart Patty; I think you could do it! Especially if you get behind a charity you feel really strongly about.

   And thanks for the shout out!!! I love being a St. Jude Hero – it’s so incredibly rewarding!

   1. Love the St. Jude Heroes!! My niece has done their kids’ marathon — and our Team McGraw coach actually coaches the St. Jude runners in Memphis 🙂

      1. You must be talking about Coach Kevin 🙂 He does some other races for St. Jude also – he was the coach for the Country Music Marathon and 1/2 in Nashville also!

         1. Yep!! He’s all over the place!! 🙂

9. DO IT! Find a charity that you want to support and get signed up!
   I ran Princess 2014 for the Ronald McDonald House. It benefits the house in central Georgia, and the Executive Director runs the races too! The fundraiser requirement was one of the lower ones, but we don’t get much either. We had team shirts, a swag bag, and a team brunch (at the All Star area McDonalds) were the highlights. I had to pay for all my own expenses – tickets, travel, room, etc. Some charities have a $3000 fundraiser but you also get airfare, hotel, and other perks. I liked knowing the I didn’t get much because the money was going to the charity.
   Everyone I met was so nice and supportive. Seeing the red and yellow shirts out on the course and giving each other encouragement helped me get through all the miles.
   I ran Tower of Terror in 2012 and decided I wanted to do it every year. It’s perfect timing for a trip to WDW for me. I can run, celebrate my birthday, enjoy Food & Wine festival, and Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party. After such a selfish trip, I wanted to run Princess for someone else. Ronald McDonald House has a good reputation here and fundraising wasn’t too difficult.

   1. That’s exactly why I love Team McGraw — so little of the money we raise goes to anything but the charity.

10. I have run for charity several times. It started out as a way to give back some of what running had given me and quickly became something more. I’ve run for the ASPCA, St. Jude, the Lazarex Cancer Foundation, LLS and Noah’s Light Foundation.

    Last year, I ran GSC for Noah’s Light Foundation and I really urge you to check out this org. They support pediatric brain cancer and the foundation was started by Noah’s mom. Of all the charities I’ve run for, this is the one I feel most connected to. It’s amazing the amount of care they put into their runner program. The inspiration dinner rivals none. It’s not as flashy as the one you’ll get with TNT, no famous speakers–instead you meet the families and children your fundraising goes to support. They celebrate children who are fighting for their lives and each one of the staff know you by name. Disney races are their only fundraising events and I will always cherish being a part of that experience. Last year they had special medals made up for each of us, read us a short story (I have this framed on my running wall) and after hugs and a photo, had seat cushions and cold water for us so we could relax before getting on the bus. Truly a special experience. I can’t wait to run for them again!

    1. Keep trying to like this post — I first learned of Noah’s Light last year and love what they do!

11. I ran for my regional Ronald McDonald House for last years GSC and am so glad that I did! I am a pediatric SLP and end up treating many little ones that struggle early in life. This RMH is just 3 hours from my hometown and is currently being used by a family friend since her twins were born at 26 weeks. Talk about seeing your efforts help a deserving family!!!!

12. It’s a big decision. It is so out if my comfort zone to be in everyone’s face asking for money. But I love St Jude and I love the Heroes program. I will do anything I can to help them no matter how small it is.
    Find a charity that speaks to you and motivates you. I think you’d be surprised at how easy the pieces fall together.
    Thanks for the shout out 🙂

13. The key to be a charity runner is to believe on the cause and your genuine intention to want to make the difference. That itself will make the fundraising effort easy for you because you are not asking people to donate so you can run this sold-out-expensive race and have your logistic paid for. You are asking people to donate to the cause. To give hope. To increase awareness. And you are running for those who no longer can run. For those who currently fight to be able to run again

    There are a lot great charity organization out there but like others said, do your homework and make sure you understand how the $$ is being distributed. What’s the ratio between administration cost and an actual $$ for the cause. They should be able to provide that for you (if they can’t – big red flag). Don’t pick a charity because their fundraising minimum is small, and but pick the one that touch your heart because then you will touch your donor’s heart as well and you’ll be surprise on how many generous people around you!

    I am a hard-core Team In Training person. For me, it’s easy because I am a survivor myself and this organization played huge part of finding the research of the very medicine that I take today, the one that allow me to continue to run. In addition to that, TNT have in-person coaching (in most area) and you will build lifelong friends with your teammate. They have 3-4 coaches that will support you through the training seasons and be there for you at the course during the race. You will be assigned mentor to help you with your fundraising effort and they have various clinic (shoe clinic, nutrition, etc) to help you with your training.

    In short, follow your heart and do your homework. Whichever charity organization you end up with, they will be lucky to have you

14. I did my first marathon with the American Stroke Association back in 2006. I had to raise something like $3000 to go to Hawaii. This was before the economy fell apart. People still had extra money to give. I also was working in a job where I dealt with a lot of vendors so I hit them up for donations. I came in like $1000 short. I just covered it since I figured it was still less than I’d have paid out of pocket for the trip and I was probably essentially covering my own expenses with it. It was a good experience, but the fundraising was more stressful than training for 26.2 miles.
    I tried to do it again a few years later with Team in Training and I got bubkiss. People either felt they’d already given to me or they had their own reasons for not wanting or being able to give. I’d also changed careers and lost many of my previous contacts at that time, so that was a big factor.
    If you’re going to do it, consider how much the minimum requirements are and who you’re going to ask and how much they can afford. It feels like fundraising for running has gotten a bad rap lately and a lot of people don’t want to give because they feel like they’re paying for you to take some kind of vacation. I think it’s a respectable thing to do, but it takes a lot of planning and creativity. Good luck!

15. I ran for The Free Wheelchair Mission in February. Having a friend who’s partner is in a wheelchair really steered me to this organization. I’ll be honest, it wasn’t easy to ask people for money (I hate doing that!), but it was such an amazing feeling to reach my goal and see what my fundraising dollars did for immobile people. Wearing my team shirt during the race and getting shout outs from the spectators was pretty awesome, too! I’d love to do it again someday soon.

Comments are closed.