First ride Fundraising Nervousness

[Trek420]

what makbike says, "Every 10 days or so I would send out a brief email thanking all who had contributed, updating everyone on my training, etc."

Take your sponsors along for the ride, send thank you cards, real ones not just e-mail.

One thing I'm very happy about is several of my sponsors on ALC have...drum roll...taken up cycling. Guess they think If I can do it....

I've found is you never know who is impacted by any issue. Till I did ALC I did not know that a family members brother died of AIDS for example.

Also regarding donations showing on your site: if your event gives you a customizable page I'd choose the option that shows your goal and progress. Folks like seeing that bar raise for you, must be all that playing video games or something.

As for showing the donation I turn that option off for several reasons. One is to protect my sponsors, I have sponsors who do not want people to know that they donated or how much, also a $5.00 to my budget might be $500 to another person, I don't think it should make a difference.

[snapdragen]

Pooks - I think when a person donates, they have the option of having their donation shown on your page. At least that's the way it was for a friend of mine who raised money for Huntingtons.

[pooks]

Thanks, snap!

[Aggie_Ama]

Pooks- DH and I both did the MS150 this year. It is hard joint fundraising, but it can be done. What we did was sent out an email from the both of us. We explained why we chose to ride and a little about the tour. The few family members that donated chose to split the donation since we sent links for both of us. My parents would have done $100 to one, but instead we each got $50.

Other than that hit up people you know well that he doesn't. I asked my work, friends on another non-cycling board, etc... He got donations from co-workers. Check if your work does a donation program. Mine did $1 per mile. Since the MS150 is supposed to be 150 miles, they cut me a check for $150. We did end up contributing some out of pocket, but that is because we just don't know a lot of people who can afford to donate.

Don't be scared to ask!

[pooks]

Thanks, Aggie. Good advice.

[Kitsune06]

Okay, so I got all signed up at the 'village'. I'm officially number 1779. I also got a grey/yellow jersey, so I guess you'll know me by my copper-mirrored shades, number, and black/blue striped bike! Is there anyone I need to keep an eye out for tomorrow?

[DebW]

Good luck Kit. Enjoy the ride!