Been researching racing for a cause (part 1)

                         I am in the process of researching racing for causes and how it is that people go about raising money for charity. Below is all I have found out so far......more to come. 
These tips I found at The Examiner online: 
* Choose a charity close to your heart
* send out a letter to every person you know
* suggest amounts to donate in your letter, and offer incentives at each level.
* And if you don't want to deal with designing your own freebies, many large charities offer incentives (rubber bracelets, key chains, mugs, and shirts) that you can buy directly from their organization. 
At Race for Life I found these tips: 
* Clothes swap: get your friends to dust the cobwebs off any unwanted clothes, shoes or accessories and ask them to bring them to a clothes swapping party. Charge £1 for each swap. Everyone’s a winner
* If you are a group leader, it’s really important you create a Race for Life fundraising page for your group 
At Brain Tumor Community.com I got these tips: 
* Send a personalized thank you.After you’ve completed your fundraising, send your results to donors and thank them again for their help. You might need their support again next year!
At Terry Fox.org I got these tips: 
* Always keep your pledge sheet with you.

• It makes it easier to ask for donations anywhere you go.
• Ask for payment immediately to reduce collections post-Run.

At Koemen Phoenix.org I got these great tips: 

* Offer to do something outrageous if you make your goal. Dye your hair pink, kiss a pig – the sky’s the limit!But don’t underestimate the power of snail mail! Reach out to everyone in your address book with a personal letter including a self-addressed stamped envelope. It will cost a little out of pocket, but the extra convenience will appeal to potential donors who might not be comfortable making an online contribution.

* Don’t underestimate the value of a penny! Search the car, couch cushions and junk drawer for loose change. (This a great way for the kids to contribute, as well.)

* Host a raffle. Solicit donations to use as prizes, like restaurant gift cards, from local businesses. Or, ask individuals to offer a service, such as a night of free babysitting, to raffle off. 
* In lieu of gifts for your birthday, ask for donations to your Race fund.

52 Year-Old Heart Transplant Recipient Goes on to Become Marathon Runner

                    Every morning I get up at 5ish and get breakfast ready for the kids, get my coffee going, put together my own lunch and juice about 48 ounces of vegetable/fruit juice in the juicer for the day. The whole time I go through this, and I can do all of it in about 40 minutes, I listen to one of my running-related podcasts for I am usually the only one up that early. Recently I have been listening to The Marathon Show with Joe Tericani, who I find to be a delightful man, a great interviewer and all-around fun to listen to at home, in the car, even while running. Today, I listened to him interview Donald Arthur, a heart transplant recipient at age 52, who then goes on to run over 31 marathons (on his way to 50) and is trying to run one in every state. It was a very emotional interview to listen to and I felt so lucky to be alive afterwards. If you have not had a chance to hear about this man, it's the Aug 20, 2010 podcast from The Marathon Show on iTunes. Totally worth listening to, especially if you need a spirit pick-me up.