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The JDRF Choose-Your-Own-A-Thon
Quick—what do biking, running, Scrabble-playing, bowling, and hopping on one foot all have in common? They can all be done in large groups to raise awareness and money for diabetes research! You can even use Team JDRF to fundraise for an existing Marathon or other endurance event. Focus on your fitness and fundraising goals, and let someone else plan the logistics. The JDRF Choose-Your-Own-A-Thon is one of the best ways to turn your particular passion into a fundraising cure machine!
Step 1: Pick a Date
Depending on your A-Thon type, the date and time can be whenever you wish! How about a lunch-hour Spin-A-Thon for busy executives? Or a Saturday morning Monopoly-A-Thon that lasts till Sunday night?
Step 2: Pick a Location
Picking the location is easy! Just consider what type of A-Thon you want to have. Talk to local venues about partnering with you and sponsoring your event. Sometimes all you have to do is ask for the discounted or free use of their facilities in exchange for the great publicity that comes with supporting a community event.
Here are some suggested A-Thons:
- Bowl-A-Thon
- Spin-A-Thon
- Fun Run
- Bike-A-Thon
- Dance-A-Thon
- Existing Marathon or Endurance Event
Or anything else that’s fun, simple, and brings people together for a good cause!
Step 3: Set Your Goals
The event itself is a great coming-together of family and friends, people who share a love of your type of event--but it is important to remember the overall objective – Raising dollars to help find a cure for diabetes.
And because funding research is our ultimate goal…we need you to SET a goal for your event! Whether you’re measuring by lap, by pin, by minute—or a flat donation—set an overall event goal and encourage your participants to set personal goals as well.
And don’t be afraid to aim high. You will be surprised as to how generous people are and how quickly you surpass your goals—and then set new goals! Don’t forget to try our online fundraising program to reach more donors and see even greater success. We have created terrific tools that will assist you and your teammates on raising more dollars than you ever thought possible!
Step 4: Plan for Your Event
The nature of your A-Thon Event and how many people you are hoping to attend will help determine your logistical needs. But here are a few things to consider
Participants: What is the best way to recruit people for your A-Thon? You should definitely invite all of your friends and family (think holiday card list, address book, e-mail contacts, Facebook friends). Depending on the type of event, you may have groups already looking for places to participate (Runners Clubs, Bike Clubs, Bowling Teams). Then consider a community appeal. Is there a community newspaper of mailer that you could list your event in? Will local business hang up a flyer? Put flyers in neighbors' mailboxes. Also remember the rest of the local diabetes community. Ask your endocrinologist to put something out to their patients, tell local support groups, involve school nurses and diabetes educators! Don’t forget about your child’s school – talk to their teacher, PTA, principal and PE teacher about involving the school.
Volunteers: Don’t try to do it all on your own. Enlist the help of other family and friends and maybe through your outreach to the diabetes community, there is someone interested in helping out!
Timing: Decide what time your event will be and how long it will take from set-up to finish. If your A-Thon is likely to turn into a MARATHON—day turns to night, pages fly off the calendar—be sure you clear your potential needs in advance with the venue.
Supplies: The list of supplies that you will need will depend on where and when you are having your event. The most important thing is to have water available. Work with your committee to come up with a “wish list” of what you need and reach out to local businesses to ask for donations in exchange for some public acknowledgment.
Step 5: Register Your A-Thon Online
Our online tools will not only make your work so much easier, but they will also help you to raise more money for diabetes research!
Once you know all of the details of your a-Thon click on any of the links that say "Register Your Event" and sign up online. It is very easy and our on line tools will assist you on keeping track of your event, promoting it, and raising money. After you have set up your event, you can direct your participants there and they can set up their own fundraising website and raise donations online!
Once JDRF has received your event’s registration, you will receive an Event Organizer Toolkit, including:
- Event Summary Form—you’ll complete this duplicate form and send it in to JDRF with the proceeds from your event. (Please convert all cash to checks before mailing.)
- Fed-Ex Overnight Envelope—for sending in your collected checks and Summary Form.
- Community Hero Certificate—our thanks to you for getting involved and helping us raise funds for the cure!
Step 6: Talk-A-Thon….Get the Word Out!!
Now that you have set up a fun event, it is time to talk it up! If it’s flyers you want, download our easy to use Event Information Flyer template at www.jdrf.org/teamjdrf. All you need to do is pop your local information in the template, print and photocopy! We also have many other useful promotion tools that you can customize. Reach out to your local media and ask them to highlight your personal story and the details of your event.
Be sure to give each participant the following tools:
- Event Information Flyer (this has important information on the specifics of your event)
- Participant fundraising guide (this will provide ideas and tools to raise money!)
- Participant sponsor/pledge form (this is a place that participants can keep track of their donations)
Don’t forget to be sure to thank all of your Participants!!
Step 7: Hold Your Event
You’ve prepped and planned, now let’s PARTY! Gather the troops and have fun as you bowl-dance-bike till you drop! Be sure to say a big THANK YOU to your participants, volunteers, and in-kind sponsors—they, and you, are the reason that Team JDRF is making the difference in fundraising efforts across the country!
On the day of your A-thon, be sure to collect any funds that were not raised on line and send them in using the provided Fed-Ex envelope.
Thank you. We know that it is the passion of volunteers and community organizers such as you that makes the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation the leading charitable funder of diabetes research. We look forward to hearing of your success! Look for additional tools, resources, and best practices at: www.jdrf.org/teamjdrf in the resources section.
Some of the items that are available are:
- Printable flyers
- Sample personal letter writing campaigns.
- Sample requests for in kind donations
- How to create a video letter campaign
Is there something else you are looking for? Visit www.jdrf.org/teamjdrf and click “Contact Us”. A Team JDRF Cheerleader will be in touch.
Spread the Word: