Lately I've been thinking about signing up for a 5K to work up to, and I've also been seeing these Breast Cancer 3 Day (60 mile) walk commercials.. They look really interesting and I'd love to sign up, but..

Oftentimes when I look on the websites, they require sponsorships and raising a lot of money.. That's fine, but where do people get the money? I don't have a large social group, and no one in my family (thank God) has any fatal disease or anything they are motivated to sponsor.. (my mom will sometimes send in like $5 bucks or something to charities as they come up, but we don't have any big spenders and I feel guilty about buying sneakers or a $4 container of shrimp)

So how to people go about raising the thousands of dollars necessary? I'd like to join but I just can't figure out how people raise the money unless they're ultra connected or surrounded by the rich and generous.

Some of my friends post blogs or go into their groups on myspace and ask for donations.


I'd love to do the Breast Cancer 3 Day, but its in Sept, and I dont think we'll be living here then.


Good luck if you do it.

I generally e-mail every single person I know and ask them for $5. I've found that most people can find a spare $5, and if you get enough people, it adds up.

However, I generally hate these because I feel really guilty asking people for money, even if it's for a good cause.

I mailed letters to everyone I knew...and I mean EVERYONE, but I was doing one of the cheaper fundraiser requirements, I would have never made it on friends/coworkers alone if I had been doing team-in-training or the like. The not-so-surprising, but somewhat disappointing thing was my poorer friends contributed far more than my wealthier friends

I know people who have held charity garage sales...instead of asking friends to donate $$ they had them donate all the stuff they have been meaning to garage sale or take to goodwill etc.

Raffles - going around to businesses and asking them to donate stuff and then holding a raffle. Be creative. You can add prizes like housecleaning or errand running to the mix.

Several people have done a fund raiser at our local pizza shop. They pick a block of time and provide some extra volunteer waitstaff and then X% of the proceeds go to the fundraiser.

The long and short of it is...it takes a good bit of effort to raise the money for some of the events.

I've done the Dallas 3day twice and the fundraising is definitely more challenging to me than the walking. But it can be done - you never know what someone will give you until you ask. Get creative. I had a car wash at Hooters (seemed fitting) the first time I did it. They were thrilled to help out and I had friends that were in a band that donated their time.

Plus most companies offer matching gifts and since ultimately they are making a donation to Susan G Komen Foundation it generally qualifies.

And by all means, if you do sign up, TRAIN!!! 20-23 miles a day is tough no matter how in shape you are!

You can do it!