Leukemia and Lymphoma Society - Hike for Discovery - Eastern PA

At the end of January 2007 I became a volunteer for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society to rasie money for blood cancer research and patient support through their Hike for Discovery Program.
Hike For Discovery is LLS's new adventure fund raising program and we began training for the big event - a hike in the Grand Canyon - which we completed this last weekend. Our team, which you see pictured here, began as strangers but over the past 3 months we have been meeting Saturday's to hike in eastern Pennsylvania at places like, The Pinnacle, Hawk Mountian and the Appalacian trail and have a ton of fun and formed new friendships and shared experiences along the way.

My reason for joining the Hike for Discovery Team is a desire to help others who's lives have been effected by Leukemia, you see my daughter Trisha was diagnosed with Leukemia at 4 years of age and underwent a bonemarrow transplant, loosing her battle 80 days post transplant at the age of 5.

This blog is to help share Trisha's story and my own journey and to continue to help raise money for LLS and help others who also would like to begin fundraising for an organization that they feel passionate about.

When we joined Hike for Discovery we each needed to raise $4000 - And as of May 9, 2007 I achieved that goal. Together our Philadelpia/Lehigh Valley team raised close to $60,000, combine that with what the hiking teams from Alaska, Washington, and Phoenix that hiked with us at the Grand Canyon we raised a quarter of a million dolloars, $250,000. It is amazing what gifts of $25, $50, and $100 add up to.

Hiking has been fun - getting together with our group on Saturday's to prepare for our Hike in the Grand Canyon has been an adventure that challenged me mentally, physically, and spiritually.

I must let you know that this was a real test of faith for me. On April 12 we had to recommit and I didn't have the $1200 raised that we needed at this point. I knew that if I didn't raise another $2800 in the next few weeks that my charge card would be charged for the outstanding balance, something I didn't like to think about. But I just felt God affirming in my heart that if I would be faithful the money would come in. So each week I tried to remain faithful and do something to raise the money I had committed to raise.

So how was I able to raise $4000 in 3 months?
The Secret is Marketing. Marketing to friends, family and local businesses who generously gave.

• Marketing is simply telling your story - the why - why are you doing this and why should someone else care enough to make a donation
• Marketing is about believing in yourself and your cause and sharing that enthusiasm
• Marketing involves using creative ways to send your message out to others
• Marketing involves giving people one or more ways to respond and give

Here are the local businesses who gave a generous donation:

• ServiceMaster of Bethlehem
• ServiceMaster of Allentown
• ServiceMaster by Round the Clock
• Bethlehem Gallary of Floors
• Permanent Odor Removal

Here are some of the marketing ideas I used:

• I set up the website that was provided for us to raise funds and collect on-line contributions http://www.active.com/donate/hfdepa/hfdWSmith
• I emailed my friends and family and told them about what I was doing and asked them for a donation, and included a link to the website
• I mailed out personalized flyers and wrote an article that I included in the letter to local businesses, families and friends (a few each week)
• I set up a virtual mall through http://cure.myfundrazor.org
• I set up a webpage to sell magazine subscriptions http://www.magfundraising.com/LLS-Hike-for-a-cure
• I held a garage sale and asked people to donate items - I raised about $900 this way
• I emailed my list with updates about every week
• They passed on the email to their friends & family and a few more people donated and my list of contributors grew a little bigger

By the time I left for the Grand Canyon on May 3rd I only needed $300 to reach my goal - while I was gone I received a check for $250, the single largest contribution and on the day I returned home another $50 check arrived.

My goal is to continue to seek out ways to rasie money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS) and other non-profit organizaitons, and as I learn more about fundraising I want to help others in their efforts to raise money by passing on resources to them.

If you have any questions, comments or fundraising suggestions please feel free to write a message.