Some advice from one of our top fundraisers: its not hard if you get creative!
Many thanks from Paul Schwartz
Zacky explains his success pretty simply: I took Mommy's Yahoo address book and started sending emails. (Mommy has a BIG address book).
His motivation was: "I'm going to beat Poppy"
His sympathy vote was: "How can we let that old man beat that sweet little boy? It will break his heart. How much does he need to win?"
While no one with Diabetes wants to be defined by their disease, I want to be intimately associated with Diabetes. Everyone needs to know that I am a Diabetes fundraiser. I wear my Tour de Cure jacket and jersey proudly. I do not raise funds for other organizations, even when I am closely associated with them. The only request my friends and family will ever receive from me is for donations for Tour de Cure. I don't have the disease, but I want to see the cure.
I also find that people are often looking to make tax deductable donations before the end of the year. Some of my donors have given twice; before year's end and again when the Tour announcement goes out. So early registration helps. I usually have raised the "minimum" in the first hour or 24 hours from having sent out the emails. Without a real commitment to the cause, the fundraising would be over in a day or two. "Commitment" is continuing to raise funds when the minimum has been surpased long ago. I also have supporters who don't respond to email, but will respond to a letter faithfully. I hate doing a letter, but they will not donate if they don't get one, so...there is a letter.
In 2011, Zacky was physically surrounded by his Aunt, two Uncles (one of whom is a Red Rider), another family friend, and myself, to assure his safety while riding on streets. It was probably his longest ride, ever and the pace was set to his ability. We started late, at the back of the pack, and finished "on track", due some creative route adjustment for Zacky's benefit. If it had been the Tour de France, we cheated; but it was the Tour de Cure and everyone had a great time! (In past years, with different Team members, we used to take an extra loop around Kensington because it was a pretty day and we were having fun.) No one should EVER be intimidated by the route or distance. We only "keep score" on what you raise, not on what you ride.
