plutosmyfav
<font color=deeppink>Has high hopes, high apple pi
- Joined
- Sep 19, 2002
- Messages
- 3,267
A couple of thoughts have been rumbling around in my head for quite some time now. One is: we are a really unique, cool group of people. As individuals we have overcome many, many obstacles and learned so much about ourselves and our abilities. For many of us, taking the step to walk/run/waddle a race is monumental. As a group were a bit loopy but huge on caring.
Heres the second thought focused on my own pursuits. I am so happy and grateful to be where I am today. Able to run and having the life-altering experience of finishing a marathon. I work hard at my training and its paid off well. However, there are times when I feel a bit guilty about the enormous amount of time I devote to my own fitness and my personal pursuit of this free addictive sport. Right after running the marathon I started having some grandiose ideas, mostly while lying in bed waiting to fall asleep. I thought, wouldnt it be great to organize some sort of charity drive that would help justify my fitness pursuit. Obviously, its been done and done well by some pretty big organizations. Ive wanted to participate in a couple of them (the 3-day walk for the cure, TNT) but I know I cant/wont raise the huge minimum donation required to be a part of those teams.
Heres the big brainstorm that boiled out of all this thinking: What if WISH organized a small charity drive? Something with no minimum requirement since nothing is being provided in return anyway. Ive mulled it over a million times and finally decided I want to pursue it. Im willing to organize a charity drive for the 2007 WISH WDW races.
Theres a ton of details to work out. But heres the rough draft:
Anyone willing to participate would be given some info in the form of flyers, brochures, etc. Wed each raise what we can. My vision is to make this the inaugural year of WISH giving that could be the start of something really big. Maybe 10 years down the road WISH would be making huge contributions towards a cause.
That brings me to the cause. Since its my idea and Im willing to do the work to get it off the ground, I want to pick the cause. I want to raise funds for the National Kidney Foundation. Heres a super quick blurb of why its important to me:
So, my call to action is this: Are you interested in trying to raise funds?
Each person can decide for him/herself what to aim for. Anything would be great. Even if ~25 of us each raised $50 each that would be $1,250 that otherwise wouldnt have gone to a good cause.
I dont know yet if we should try to pool the money and send it as one gift or each person be responsible for sending his/her own contributions in. Ill have to find out about tax information if donations are going to be used as tax deductions, etc Either way, checks would have to be made out to the individual or directly to NKF since WISH is not an official charity organization. Theres a lot to figure out at this point but Im willing to do it if theres enough interest. Ill contact the NKF and find out what I can.
So please give me your honest feedback.
Sunny
Heres the second thought focused on my own pursuits. I am so happy and grateful to be where I am today. Able to run and having the life-altering experience of finishing a marathon. I work hard at my training and its paid off well. However, there are times when I feel a bit guilty about the enormous amount of time I devote to my own fitness and my personal pursuit of this free addictive sport. Right after running the marathon I started having some grandiose ideas, mostly while lying in bed waiting to fall asleep. I thought, wouldnt it be great to organize some sort of charity drive that would help justify my fitness pursuit. Obviously, its been done and done well by some pretty big organizations. Ive wanted to participate in a couple of them (the 3-day walk for the cure, TNT) but I know I cant/wont raise the huge minimum donation required to be a part of those teams.
Heres the big brainstorm that boiled out of all this thinking: What if WISH organized a small charity drive? Something with no minimum requirement since nothing is being provided in return anyway. Ive mulled it over a million times and finally decided I want to pursue it. Im willing to organize a charity drive for the 2007 WISH WDW races.
Theres a ton of details to work out. But heres the rough draft:
Anyone willing to participate would be given some info in the form of flyers, brochures, etc. Wed each raise what we can. My vision is to make this the inaugural year of WISH giving that could be the start of something really big. Maybe 10 years down the road WISH would be making huge contributions towards a cause.
That brings me to the cause. Since its my idea and Im willing to do the work to get it off the ground, I want to pick the cause. I want to raise funds for the National Kidney Foundation. Heres a super quick blurb of why its important to me:
When my dad was fourteen years old, he spent 3 months in the hospital with acute Nephritis (Bright's disease -for which there was then no treatment) and nearly died. The doctor called the family in for the final regards, but he made a spontaneous (miraculous) recovery. However, the doctor said he should get an education because he would be unable to do physical labor. He did physical labor much of his life as well as getting an education. Then in 1995 he became ill and discovered his kidney function was down to 30% and his kidneys were shutting down. He went on peritoneal dialysis in 1996 for 3 years and then on hemodialysis. He was on hemodialysis for 4 years and received his kidney in October 2003.
Medicare and private insurance covers most of the medical costs but none of the stay required. In my parents case, they stayed in Tampa for the mandatory four weeks post op. Many families dont have the resources for such a stay. The NKF can help with these expenses, plus further educate people about organ donation and health issues. And there's always need for more research funds.
Medicare and private insurance covers most of the medical costs but none of the stay required. In my parents case, they stayed in Tampa for the mandatory four weeks post op. Many families dont have the resources for such a stay. The NKF can help with these expenses, plus further educate people about organ donation and health issues. And there's always need for more research funds.
So, my call to action is this: Are you interested in trying to raise funds?
Each person can decide for him/herself what to aim for. Anything would be great. Even if ~25 of us each raised $50 each that would be $1,250 that otherwise wouldnt have gone to a good cause.
I dont know yet if we should try to pool the money and send it as one gift or each person be responsible for sending his/her own contributions in. Ill have to find out about tax information if donations are going to be used as tax deductions, etc Either way, checks would have to be made out to the individual or directly to NKF since WISH is not an official charity organization. Theres a lot to figure out at this point but Im willing to do it if theres enough interest. Ill contact the NKF and find out what I can.
So please give me your honest feedback.
Sunny
), asking people for money is very scary for me!!
. I did the same thing as Sunny....I bought the whole box of calendar's for my DD's fundraising event LOL. I just felt bad asking people to buy them around the holidays. I was going to do what you said....ask my family members only to sponsor me for some amount per mile. I also have a friend who went through a kidney transplant last year and I know they would definitely support my fundraising as well. My goal will be $50-100, I'm not going to try to raise thousands as I know that is well out of my comfort zone 
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Dave, Christy and whoever else, I think raising any amount of money..however small... is exactly what Sunny has in mind.
Thanks so much for your support.
