Run 4 Others

Uncorked – Wine tasting for charity

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Wine tasting in an auto dealer showroom.

Wine tasting in an auto dealer showroom.

Hosting a wine tasting for your charity can be both fun and rewarding. You can determine the size based on your situation, connections and comfort level. It can be an event such as a recent one held at a business location and featured here, or a small, intimate one in your back yard.

One of my fellow St. Jude Heroes raised $1500 in one evening by using a local auto dealership showroom. Fruit, cheese and light snacks were donated by a local caterer and 10 bottles of wine were donated by local wine stores. In addition, each guest was asked to bring two bottles of the same wine, one for tasting and the other for “purchase.” You can’t actually sell wine without a license, so people were asked to make a “donation.” Guests who wanted to attend but not bring wine were asked to make a $15 donation.

Guests would sample the wines and “bid” on the bottle. You have to be flexible and if someone is leaving early, accelerate the final bid. Your objective is to get the donations!

The 10 donated bottles were wrapped identically and people purchased for $20 a random “number” assigned to each bottle. One of these bottles was valued at $100, with several in the $50 range.

Thoughts and hints:

  • Get EVERYTHING donated. The goal is to raise money, and everyone understands.
  • Do not pay for a location. Many businesses would gladly host this event.
  • The wine being “purchased” was either donated or brought by the guests, so no inventory cost.
  • Have jars with money on tables to encourage people to make cash donations.
  • Don’t make the event too long. People are there to sample, purchase, donate and leave.
  • Get volunteers to dress appropriately to keep the event “upscale.”
  • Have music plus someone to announce the happenings and share information on wines.
  • With internet access or on your smart phone, you can have donations made directly into your St. Jude Heroes donation page, which sends the donor a receipt.
  • Not aligning with just one store may help you get more donated wine from multiple ones.

Sitters for the cause

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Offer your time or willingness to provide a service to friends in exchange for a donation.

Babysitting for kids

BabysittingOne of my St. Jude Hero teammates babysits in exchange for donations to St. Jude and passed along this great idea. She has time available and found this unique way to use it. It is a win-win for everyone. Friends who would never otherwise ask her to babysit and certainly feel uncomfortable paying her for it are more than happy to take her up on the offer and donate to St. Jude. I’ll bet you those donations are more than the going rate for a typical sitter, too! If you have older kids who babysit, get them involved. Are they willing to offer this for a night to a neighbor?

Pets

Someone to feed, walk or simply let out an animal is something pet owners need all the time. If you are an animal lover, perhaps this works better for you than taking care of kids. After all, they don’t talk back!

Restaurants, sports bars and businesses

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In addition to helping out for a great cause, restaurants, sports bars and businesses want to attract people, and runners come in groups. Don’t be afraid to talk with a business owner if you have an idea for an event at their location. I promise you, they will listen!

St Jude Restaurant bannerThere are no set rules, so you may ask for a percentage of sales, a set amount per order, or a percentage of a certain item (i.e. all the cheesecake for the month). Here are several ideas!

National chains
Many restaurant chains will donate part of their proceeds to a charitable group.  Here is a partial list. Hopefully it will give you a good place to start.

Local businesses
A local business can offer the same contributions as national chains, but may not have “ready to go” programs. For example, we have scheduled some of our long Saturday morning runs to start and end at the Tin Roof 2, a local club. They prepare a breakfast for the group with a portion of the proceeds going to St. Jude. They even hosted a “Karaoke for the Cause” night for our St. Jude Heroes team.

Get to know the local business owners and work with them to create special events or days. They may be willing to donate part of their sales, but you must do your part and bring customers to them.

Ask for specifics

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Editor’s Note: Even though this article was written specifically about fund raising for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, the ideas and concepts are universal.

red_wagonA. “Support me by donating to St. Jude.” or . . .

B. “I want to throw a party. When a child has their last chemo treatment, they have a “no mo chemo” party with balloons, music and dancing to celebrate. It costs $75 for the party. We want to pay for 10 of them. Can you help?”

Help people “see” what their donation means. Make it visual. Kids pulling little red wagons around the hospital is a common sight. These wagons are $70. Who would not want to help buy a wagon?

Do you have any great ideas to share? Please do!

Every dollar donated to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital counts! Take a look at some of the possibilities that your donations could provide to the kids and families of St. Jude.

Infant Care Supplies for 10 Babies: $50
These supplies help parents and nurses care for babies in treatment and include items like diapers, baby bottles, sippy cups, pacifiers, footies and heel warmers.

Wagon: $70
Wagons can make traveling through the halls of St. Jude easier for parents and more fun for a young child.

Parties: $75
Celebrate birthdays, holidays and “coming off chemo.” Jude provides parties, decorations, cakes and more to keep spirits high during the holidays and to celebrate special occasions like birthdays and a child’s completion of chemotherapy treatment.

Creative Toys: $100
Play is an essential part of every child’s life, and it’s important for the children to have fun as often as possible. At St. Jude, colorful, toy-filled play areas are just as plentiful as exam rooms.

Delicious Meals: $210
St. Jude provides meal cards so that patients and families can enjoy the comfort and convenience of good, nutritious meals in the Kay Kafe, our cafeteria.

One Day of Oxygen: $447
Oxygen is key to keeping the immune system strong. A gift of oxygen can help a young body thrive and help fight cancer at the cellular level.

Child-sized Wheelchairs: $700
These special wheelchairs help children move easily through St. Jude.

Airfare for a parent and child: $1,000 Average
For a patient referred to St. Jude, the hospital covers the cost of airfare for a child and one parent or guardian.

 

Getting donations WITHOUT asking

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Editor’s Note: Even though this article was written specifically about fund raising for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, the ideas and concepts are universal.

Uncomfortable asking people for money? Everyone wants to make a difference, but we all have our comfort zones, and this is a deal killer for some. If this sounds like you, here are a few easy steps that can make this experience rewarding, and not stressful!

  • Be an educator, not a solicitor. St. Jude sells itself if people have a few facts, so I share these in my messaging. Go to http://www.stjude.org/quick-facts and you will be amazed at what you never knew.  You can do a simple message such as “Did you know that no family ever pays for treatment at St. Jude, and the survival rates on some childhood cancers have increased from 20% in 1962 to 80% today thanks to treatment protocols developed by St. Jude. That’s why I am running as a St. Jude Hero to raise money!” Include your web link after that and the money comes in!
  • On Facebook? Type in your St. Jude Heroes web page address in the status bar, the link pulls up and you can make an announcement such as “I’m running this for St. Jude!” See, that’s not asking for money directly, is it?
  • Personal emails are easy with the St. Jude Heroes website. If you have an “address book” on your computer, there is an easy “upload contacts” button. Upload them all, then you can then choose some or all to customize your email messages. For example, I send a different one to business contacts that to friends and family. Once again, educate and provide your St. Jude Heroes link.
  • Do you have a “signature” set up at the bottom of your emails? I add a link to my St. Jude Heroes donation page just below my company information. People ask me about it or just donate.
  • St_Jude_Heroes_singletBe “you.” People who know you want to support you, and if it is important to you, it will be important to them. In conversations when you mention you are running as a St. Jude Hero, they always want to know more. Be prepared with some of those facts.

These are just a few things that may help you if you have a hard time asking. Everyone has a different reason for signing up as a St. Jude Hero, and that affects the amount of effort put forth. There is no shame in setting your goal as $100 to qualify to wear the St. Jude Heroes singlet in the race. My experience is that once someone gets started, they quickly exceed that amount.

I hope you will share other ideas here on how to get donations for those who have trouble asking.

Rules of the Road

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As our group grows, it becomes more and more important that we obey the Runners’ Rules of the Road. The biggest help is the alert the group of approaching cars, runners and cyclist.  A simple “Car Up” or “Biker Back”, will let the group know to make the adjustments needed to “Share the Road”.

Here is “Rules of the Road” from the Road Runner’s Club of America.

  • Run against traffic if running on the road. If running on the sidewalk or multi-use trails, travel on the right and pass on the left.
  • Never run more than two abreast if you are running in a group. Don’t be a road or trail hog.
  • Don’t run down the middle of the road or trail.
  • If you are running an out-and-back route, don’t just make a sudden u-turn at your turn around point. Stop, step to the right to allow oncoming traffic the opportunity to pass. Ensure the road or trail is clear of oncoming traffic (runners, cyclists, in-line skaters, etc.) then make your u-turn. Making a sudden u-turn without looking over your shoulder is a good way to get hit.
  • Alert pedestrians when you are passing them – don’t assume they are aware of their surroundings. A simple “on your left” warning will suffice.
  • Be alert on blind curves.
  • Stop at stop signs and ensure oncoming traffic yields to you before proceeding across a road. Don’t assume cars will stop if you are entering a cross walk.
  • Respect private property along your route.
  • Don’t litter. If you can’t find a trash can, carry your trash home.

From the Road Runner’s Club of America.

Beat the Heat Before It Beats You

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sportIt’s summertime and you head out for a run. Before you even finish the first mile, your body feels as though it might ignite from the heat. It’s not your imagination. Fifteen minutes into your run and your body temperature could be as high as 5° F above normal. If you were to continue at this pace, fatigue and heat illness would no doubt take over.

The above scenario doesn’t have to happen. Here are some tips from the Road Runner’s Club of America on running in hot weather.

  • Avoid dehydration! You can lose between 6 and 12 oz. of fluid for every 20 minutes of running. Therefore it is important to pre-hydrate (10–15 oz. of fluid 10 to 15 minutes prior to running) and drink fluids every 20–30 minutes along your running route. To determine if you are hydrating properly, weigh yourself before and after running. You should have drunk one pint of fluid for every pound you’re missing. Indications that you are running while dehydrated are a persistent elevated pulse after finishing your run and dark yellow urine. Keep in mind that thirst is not an adequate indicator of dehydration.
  • Visit Gatorade Endurance’s site. You will find great tools for developing a hydration strategy.
  • Avoid running outside if the heat is above 98.6 degrees and the humidity is above 70-80%. While running, the body temperature is regulated by the process of sweat evaporating off of the skin. If the humidity in the air is so high that it prevents the process of evaporation of sweat from the skin, you can quickly overheat and literally cook your insides from an elevated body temperature. Check your local weather and humidity level.
  • When running, if you become dizzy, nauseated, have the chills, or cease to sweat…. STOP RUNNING, find shade, and drink water or a fluid replacement drink such as Gatorade Endurance. If you do not feel better, get help. Heatstroke occurs when the body fails to regulate its own temperature, and the body temperature continues to rise. Symptoms of heatstroke include mental changes (such as confusion, delirium, or unconsciousness) and skin that is red, hot, and dry, even under the armpits. Heatstroke is a life-threatening medical emergency, requiring emergency medical treatment.
  • Run in the shade whenever possible and avoid direct sunlight and blacktop. When you are going to be exposed to the intense summer rays of the sun, apply at least 15 spf sunscreen and wear protective eyewear that filters out UVA and UVB rays. Consider wearing a visor that will shade your eyes and skin but will allow heat to transfer off the top of your head.
  • If you have heart or respiratory problems or you are on any medications, consult your doctor about running in the heat. In some cases it may be in your best interests to run indoors. If you have a history of heatstroke/illness, run with extreme caution.
  • Do wear light colored breathable clothing. Do not wear long sleeves or long pants or sweat suits. Purposefully running in sweat suits hot days to lose water weight is dangerous!
  • Plan your route so you can refill water bottles or find drinking fountains. City parks, local merchants, and restaurants are all good points to incorporate on your route during hot weather running. Be sure to tell someone where you are running how long you think you will gone, and carry identification.

Stay hydrated, cool, and safe this summer!

Races and Dates

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Currently, Run 4 Others members are training for 13 different races.  When you build your training plan, training will start based on the plan you choose.

Here is a list of the races that members have indicated they will be training for and the dates training should start based on the length of the training plan. Marathon training is either 16 or 18 weeks.  Half Marathon training is 12 weeks.

Race Race Date 18-weeks 16-weeks 12-weeks
The Gopher to Badger Half Marathon 8/9/2014 5/17/2014
Women’s Half 9/27/2014 7/5/2014
Portland Marathon 10/5/2014 6/1/2014 6/15/2014
Twin Cities Marathon 10/5/2014 6/1/2014 6/15/2014
Middle Half 10/11/2014 7/19/2014
Chicago Marathon 10/12/2014 6/8/2014 6/22/2014
7 Bridges 10/19/2014 6/15/2014 6/29/2014 7/27/2014
Columbus 10/19/2014 6/15/2014 6/29/2014 7/27/2014
Detroit Free Press Marathon 10/19/2014 6/15/2014 6/29/2014
Marine Corps Marathon 10/26/2014 6/22/2014 7/6/2014
Rock’n’Roll Vancouver Half 10/26/2014 8/3/2014
Monumental Marathon 11/1/2014 6/28/2014 7/12/2014 8/9/2014
Harvest Half Marathon 11/1/2014 8/9/2014
NYC Marathon 11/2/2014 6/29/2014 7/13/2014
St. Jude Memphis 12/6/2014 8/2/2014 8/16/2014 9/13/2014
Rocket City Marathon 12/15/2014 8/11/2014 8/25/2014
Walt Disney World Marathon 1/11/2015 9/7/2014 9/21/2014 10/19/2014

Simple Training

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Pickrunningshoes_300x202 your distance… pick your race… pick your charity.

It is all about choices, your choices and you are in control.

The training period this fall will run from mid-June through mid-December.  This will allow folks to focus on training for races from late September to December time-frame. The first group run will be Saturday, June 14, and will start at the Brentwood Library at 6 am. Plan to be there a few minutes early because we will start on time.

The start date of your training is based on your race date. Your training plan will have links to maps and cue sheets for the long runs. If your training does not start for several weeks, don’t wait until then to join the Saturday runs.  Just select a distance and a route from the routes and cue sheet page and join in.

This training group is very loosely structured. Steve Blume has organized the group and I have put together the training and the routes. Our goal is to make it simple. You are responsible for providing your own fluids, but our routes are designed to utilize restrooms and water fountains at planned intervals. It is your responsibility each week to review the map and print the cue sheet.

Even though there are no “pace groups,” you are encouraged to find folks that run close to your pace.

Let’s make a difference
There is not a “direct” charge to you to participate in this program. Instead, we ask that you agree to raise funds for a charity of your choice or make a donation to one of the group’s charity runners.  The suggested donation is $100.  In the past two years, the Run 4 Others group has raised more than $37,000 for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.  With the expanded training season and the potential of including more charities, the difference this group can make is huge.

If you have any suggestions or questions about training, please contact Steve or me.

Glad to have you as a part of this training group and looking forward to a great time.