Why I Relay: Missing my dad on his birthday.

There are some days when the reason that I Relay is foremost in my mind.  Today is one of those days.  It's Dad's birthday.  He's been missing from our family photos for 18 years, 3 months and 18 days. 

My dad, Guy, is the reason I Relay. 

The reason I'm sharing this here, on a fundraising ideas page, is that it's both helpful and healing for me to share the reason I Relay.  It helps connect me to the people who are supporting my fundraising efforts.  It will help you, too, if you can share what the motivation is that drives you to participate in the Relay For Life.

My tip for you today is to think about ways you can share your reason for participating in the Relay For Life while you are fundraising.

Everyone has experience with cancer in some way.  They can relate to your story, your experience.  It helps provide them a way to fight back against cancer through you, by supporting you with donations to the American Cancer Society.

You might find it helpful to come up with a couple of versions of your message depending on the method you are using to ask for donations.  A personalized letter can provide a great deal of detail about who you are honoring and/or remembering and why the funds are so important in the fight against cancer.

You might want to put a photo of the person or people you are walking for on your Facebook page.

Certainly put a message on your personal online Relay For Life page.  It's helpful to have the reason you Relay on that page for any of the donors making an online contribution towards your goal.  Include a photo or upload a video, too.   Consider inviting them to the Relay For Life and remember to thank them for their help there, too!

If you are speaking to someone in person, you have all kinds of opportunities to tailor your message about Relay to the potential donor.  While sharing about Relay For Life, you might find that in addition to securing a financial donation, some of your conversations will lead to team members or folks coming to check out the Relay for themselves.

Whatever your reason is for participating in Relay For Life, get out there and connect with people.  Share your stories.  Recruit some team members to raise money.  Invite your friends and family to join you at the event so they can see what a force we have gathered in one place on June 8th-9th.

Let's help the American Cancer Society in their quest to celebrate more birthdays!