Possible DS team @ the Avon Walk?

[anomie666.livejournal.com]

Is anybody here planning on doing the Avon 2 day walk next year? If there is interest, I'd like to put together a davis_square team. Having a team helps tremendously.

1) We can plan fundraising events together and distribute the money to each page based on how far away you are from reaching the minimum.

2) Local press loves these kinds of stories and so does LJ. We could get some free publicity.

3) The more people get involved, the wider our social networks in passing around our team page info on myspace, facebook, LJ, etc.

4) Individuals on teams historically raise more money than individuals not on teams and we all want to raise as much money as possible.

Ideally, I'd like to have at least 4 or 5 people. More than that would be awesome! Its a long way away but the fundraising challenge ($1800 minimum) is more daunting than the 36 mile walk over 2 days.

P.S., Being on a team doesn't mean we have to walk together.

If you are interested or know someone in the Somerville area who might be, please respond or send me an email at anomie666(at)gmail.com.


Edit: I honestly didn't make this post to promote my existing page but I should put it out there whenever I get a chance.

Comments

[ionicaq.livejournal.com]

Is that $1800 per person, or team?

[anomie666.livejournal.com]

Per person.

[ionicaq.livejournal.com]

Holy crap. In that case no way.

[anomie666.livejournal.com]

It is months away. If you don't reach the fundraising minimum, you aren't charged (you just would be prevented from doing the walk).

I know it seems like a lot, but one or two fundraising events and we could raise a lot of money.

[libberding.livejournal.com]

And you know I'd be able to help you plan fundraising events, right? :-P

I may not be able to do the walk, but I'll pitch in in other capacities! :-D

[anomie666.livejournal.com]

If this works, having other people pass around the info and/or help plan events would be awesome!

[ionicaq.livejournal.com]

I'm torn. I know someone who survived breast cancer (she got it three times, the last time she had both breasts removed). So I'd love to do it in her honor. It's just... that seems like SO much money!

[anomie666.livejournal.com]

Think about it. You don't have to register now. It is a big fundraising committment and that is why forming a team would help everyone. I'm positive we could get local publicity like we did for the yard sale.

[richips.livejournal.com]

think: how many corners of the internet are you famous in?

[ionicaq.livejournal.com]

Err, none?

[ifotismeni]

YIKES! omg.

[anomie666.livejournal.com]

Maybe I shouldn't have said that. Now I definitely won't get a team together :P

Its daunting, but there is lots of time.

[ifotismeni]

i have to say that i've had problems raising $200 for charity walks like the jimmy fund.

[anomie666.livejournal.com]

But with a couple of events and everyone helping each other, we could do it! You have to think positively.

[ifotismeni]

i would be willing to try. someone very dear to me died of breast cancer and i would be happy to walk in her honor.

[anomie666.livejournal.com]

Awesome! There is a registration fee, but I'd make a donation to your page right away to get you started :)

[ifotismeni]

aw crap, really? augh. i am seriously broke right now. i might have to wait another year x_x

[anomie666.livejournal.com]

I could pay your registration fee somehow in lieu of a donation (its just like a donation). I wouldn't know how to give you the cash. Maybe paypal?

[ifotismeni]

ahh ~__~ i need to think about it. too much at once x_X

[anomie666.livejournal.com]

I understand. No rush to register now. Its a long way away.

[chenoameg.livejournal.com]

How much of that $1800 goes to run the event and how much goes to fight breast cancer?

[anomie666.livejournal.com]

I'm not exactly sure. Yes, there is overhead costs in putting on the events, but having the event is often the only way that you are getting people to donate (its the personal connection that you have to your donors that is usually the key to getting them to give you money).

Plus, the actual event itself is amazing.

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

I believe there are also sponsors, and that might cover much of the events costs.

(In the case of the SHC race, for example, I believe the sponsors cover all the costs of the race, so donations go 100% to the SHC.)

[anomie666.livejournal.com]

I just read online that the Avon 2 day has a 79% return to cancer research on event fundraising. This is way better than most charity fundraising events.

That is pretty good considering how much money is raised each year and how many full time staff people they have (every walker is assigned a "walker buddy" that is available to help with fundraising and strategies).

[firepail.livejournal.com]

$1800 funds raised plus $65 to register? I had no idea that it cost so much to try to raise awareness of/provide research money to a cause. It's really daunting, but kudos to those who can actually make it happen. Yeesh!

[anomie666.livejournal.com]

Yep.

I sort of understand why it is set up that way. 1) They have to limit the number of walkers for safey concerns, etc. 2) They want to make sure that significant funds are raised. However, lots of people who could raise the money don't because of how daunting it is.

I've done a similar breast cancer walk before (just one day marathon) that also had a steep fundraising limit.

[firepail.livejournal.com]

Knowing the fundraising minimum will encourage me to pony up more dollars to those I support, but I don't think I would take this on myself. But wow, great job doing this and putting yourself out there.

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

Seriously. When I do the Marathon, I'm going to have to raise $3000! I maintain cautious optimism, as I think my ability to raise the money is much stronger than my ability to run a marathon. (Which granted, may not be saying much.)

The walk sounds like fun, but I'd be concerned about it messing with my running training. But I'll donate to your cause and walk with you some if you'd like.

[anomie666.livejournal.com]

You got a accepted by a charity to run the Boston Marathon? Which charity?

If you want, maybe when we do some fundraising events you can help us plan/ take part and we can split the money to our causes?

I'm slowly getting started back in training mode, but I'll be very serious about long walks after the first of the year. You can donate any time, that would be awesome :).

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

No, I'm targeting 2010. Next year is too soon. I don't really know what my odds are of getting accepted, though. It's stressful to think about...

[two-stabs.livejournal.com]

This sounds kind of awesome.

[anomie666.livejournal.com]

Stop being a jerk. :P

[two-stabs.livejournal.com]

I was serious. =/

[anomie666.livejournal.com]

I wasn't. :)