It’s Really Not Scary!
For some of us, asking for donations can be uncomfortable.
What should I say? Will they think I’m pestering them? Maybe they can’t afford to donate. What if they say no?
But remember that you are asking, not demanding, and those you ask will likely appreciate the opportunity to support you. And if they say no, that’s ok too. At least they have learned about the BRIGHT Run!
Kathi Aitken, a longtime fundraiser for breast cancer research and the Lion’s Foundation Dog Guides program, takes a gentle approach.
“Most of my fundraising is on email and I’m not pushy,” she said. “I explain why the cause is important to me and invite people to support me. And I emphasize that every little bit helps, so no one feels I’m pushing for big bucks.”
She finds many people welcome the opportunity to donate, no matter how much they can afford. And if they don’t come through, she knows it’s not personal.
“People help if they can,” she said. “I don’t take people off my list if they don’t donate this year. Maybe they just don’t have money to spare right now.”
Dr. Mark Levine, captain of BRIGHT team Making the Mark, focuses on the importance of research when asking for donations.
I point out that research brings new knowledge to tackle the problem of breast cancer and I provide examples of what we have learned
Such as:
- So many new drugs have made a difference in the lives of people with breast cancer, e.g. Herceptin, Tamoxifen, Aromatase inhibitors
- You don’t have to lose your breast. Lumpectomy plus radiation instead of mastectomy
- The breast cancer gene, BRCA1 and 2, has been identified. This has made a big difference in families with hereditary breast cancer.”
Mark also focuses on the fact that there is a shortage of funding to support research and that donations to larger, national organizations don’t consistently support research in Hamilton, which the BRIGHT Run does.
To make your fundraising easier, visit BRIGHT Run Tips and Tools, where you’ll find a variety of social media tools to help you share your story. It’s easy to brighten up your social posts with backgrounds, stickers and a zoom background.
As well, the Participant Info page on the BRIGHT website has helpful hints about whom you can approach for donations and the importance of sharing your reasons for supporting BRIGHT.
Remember this: if you don’t ask, you won’t get. And no matter what the answer, you have increased awareness of the importance of local breast cancer research. It’s a win/win!
