How to do a fund-raiser for Parkinson’s research

“If only there was a way for me to help fight Parkinson’s. Something simple but impactful.” 

How about hosting a fund-raiser? 

Wait! Don’t groan or roll your eyes yet.

It’s true, people organize huge community walks or other mega events to raise funds for Parkinson’s disease research.

But before you dismiss the idea as too overwhelming, you should know that raising money can be as simple as an email blitz.

Either way, your efforts are certain to have an impact!

Interested? I’ll walk you through some steps for hosting a low-key fund-raiser for Parkinson’s research, adding in some things that worked for me.

Getting it started

My experience began when I mentioned to a friend that I was training to hike to the top of Kilimanjaro. “You should raise funds with your climb to help people with Parkinson’s,” she suggested.

Of course! It was the perfect opportunity to, if not bring in money, at least promote awareness of the disease.

Here are a few reputable sites I found. Some of them are specifically for Parkinson’s fund-raising:

Michael J. Fox Foundation 
Parkinson’s Foundation  
American Parkinson Disease Association  
Davis Phinney Foundation
Facebook fundraising
givelively.org
fundly.com
fundraise.com
spotfund.com

And Big Sea offers a helpful post that compares platforms. Always read the fine print.

The MJF website has a whole section on how to set up a DIY fund-raiser. Step by step, it showed me how to create and personalize my webpage and organize the emailing. 

Designing a webpage was easier than I thought it would be.

Making it personal

It may be good news that you don’t have to plan a Swing Strong Golf Tournament or a Race Against Parkinson’s to raise money.

But to get and keep interest in your fund-raiser, getting personal is the best way to go.

Is there something different about you or what’s going on in your life? Maybe you’ve got an epic bike ride planned that will challenge your abilities. If you’re an exercise enthusiast, you could set a new goal. Perhaps you’re practicing for a boxing or tai chi showcase.

Linking your fund-raiser to something you are doing personally adds drama and excitement. And who doesn’t like a good story?

Think of something you’re trying to achieve. Or a milestone reached in your life. Here are some examples:

• A “big” birthday (50, 60, 75, etc.)
• Your first 5k race
• A long trail you’re hiking
• The anniversary of your diagnosis
• A community service project you’re involved in
• A physical goal, like number of steps
• The memory of someone you recently lost
• Retirement from a long career

Get the word out

Once you’ve set up your website, it’s time to plead and beg for donations. Just kidding, no groveling is needed.

I admit I felt awkward asking for money. People are bombarded with donation requests, and I didn’t want to be just another fly buzzing around them for attention. I got over that when I decided my cause was as good as anyone else’s.

With everything set up, I started emailing people. In fact, I did almost all of my soliciting through email. I went through my contacts list and chose those who I felt might be responsive. For some recipients, it was the first time they would hear that I had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s. 

In all, I emailed about 80 invitations. 

If you are active on social media, use it. There’s no requirement to be a marketing genius to get results. Just tell your story authentically and provide a link.

Thank your donors

My fund-raiser was small scale; other individuals have raised much more for Parkinson’s research. But I was pleased with the results of my first attempt. And I was so grateful to the donors, who blew me away with their generosity. 

It’s important to acknowledge your donors’ efforts — individually, if that’s feasible. Most websites will keep track of who gives, unless it’s anonymous.

Once the deadline was past, I expressed my gratitude by sending each donor a little trinket from Africa that I picked up for about $1 each. It was a bookmark with an animal head at the top, and it was easy to mail, along with a message:

Then I related our group’s success on Kilimanjaro and added that their responsiveness made the climb more meaningful not just for me but also for the family members I was with.

The rewards

Organizing a fund-raiser and running it by myself took time and resources, but I was glad to be doing something to fight Parkinson’s. Service to others takes the focus off our own troubles. I don’t know how it works, but it does. When I try to look outward at people’s needs rather than inward at my own infirmities, the pesky symptoms seem to fade a bit. They’re still there, but I’m not dwelling on them.

I believe it’s part of our humanity to want to help others to avoid the pain and struggles that we face. This is one reason people donate to causes. You can be sure that if you organize, they will give. You won’t fail if you stick with it.

When it comes to finding a cure for Parkinson’s, donations large and small have an impact. The funds that are raised allow us to look ahead with hope for a world without this pernicious disease.

My experience with fund-raising was rewarding. Give it a try.

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(If you have questions or want to know more about my fund-raising effort, email me. The contact link is at the top of this post.)