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Commit to a Charity
Athletic Fundraiser and Realize a Healthier Body and Spirit
There are so many good causes that deserve your help these days, but there are only so many you can
support with writing a check or clicking a “donate now” button. Beyond the power of your budget there can be an
even more powerful donation you can give: your time, your talents, and yourself.
A look through your newspaper shows you there are many deserving charities that are working hard to raise money.
You will likely see announcements for pancake breakfasts, spaghetti dinners, soda can drives, paper drives and
more. Beyond ingesting a lot of carbs and realizing a clean space in your garage (for the moment!) you can donate
your time and your own personal talents. Setting up, cleaning up, waiting on tables and generally running back and
forth might even make a steamy pile of pancakes and a bit of syrup not such a disaster to your diet!
If pushing pancakes sounds too much like work and you are feeling deprived of that beautiful Saturday morning, the
perfect solution is a charity athletic fundraiser. These are ways you can donate yourself, and in a capacity far
greater than your budget might allow. There are many functions, such as Relay for Life, where you can find people
willing to sponsor you in your activity, in other words, every lap you walk your sponsors pony up a specific amount
of money. So, if you have ten sponsors, every lap you walk makes ten donations more than if you only walked on your
own or if you wrote out a check only. How exhilarating to feel such an accomplishment! It may even inspire you to
walk another lap or two.
If walking isn’t your speed, you will find that there are many charity runs and marathons in which to participate.
There are many cities and towns, especially in the beautiful Northwest, which sponsor a number of these events
every summer, usually timed to coincide with their festivals. These runs become bigger every year, as the
participants get to run through some really wonderful scenery, and many people travel to meets such as these. Some
of the larger charities sponsor their own runs. For those not so physically ambitious, Fun Runs are also becoming
quite popular. You can even run in a costume if you feel so inclined!
Just about any physical activity can be an inspiration for a charity athletic fundraiser. Softball, soccer, and
football games are popular choices, as are tennis and golf. One activity that may not be thought of as athletic is
dancing. A dance floor under a warm summer night with live music can attract a crowd. If you have access to a high
school gym or a similar space, a ‘40s jitterbug theme, ‘50s sock hop, or ‘80s dance night can be maximum fun and
make good money for your charity. Dancers can be charged admission, and the sponsorship idea can work there as
well. And if you don’t really think of dancing as athletic, just see how you feel after a night of rock and
roll!
If your town has a number of beautiful gardens, lovely old houses, or art galleries, a sponsored walk encompassing
any of these locales is a little bit of aerobic exercise and a pleasure for the senses. A little wine tasting
during the walk is also good for the heart and for your charity’s coffers.
Speaking of the heart, it will do yours good. The feeling of joy and accomplishment will not only lift your heart,
but your spirit as well. The sense of being part of a larger good is one of your rewards for
volunteering.
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