How To: PS - Postscripts that work!

Your postscript is one of the most important parts of your fundraising letter. It usually stresses the point of your letter and asks for action. Some donors read it first. Some professional writers write it first. Since the P.S. is one part of your letter that you can be confident your donors will read, you need to write something there that will motivate donors to send you a gift or take your desired action. A donor reading a P.S. is a donor looking for information. And that's your opportunity. So don't treat your postscript as an afterthought. Use these ideas for writing an effective P.S.

1. SHOW WHAT A DONATION "BUYS"
"Remember, your gift of $63.94 provides a wheelchair to someone who desperately needs it. Please give."

2. MENTION YOUR DEADLINE
"Only 2 weeks until the February 1st, 2012 deadline for funds!  Please return any checks (made out to Free Wheelchair Mission) or cash to me so I can submit them, or simply donate online to my page at  http://fwm.kintera.org/run2012/______.

3. DRAW ATTENTION TO AN IMPORTANT ENCLOSURE OR LINK
"I've included with this letter a brochure about Free Wheelchair Mission. Your support right now is critical to their work around the world. Many thanks."... "This 1 minute video will show you why Free Wheelchair Mission's work is so important."

4. STRESS THE URGENCY OF YOUR APPEAL
"A hundred thousand people are in need of mobility. We’ve already lifted over 600,000 people off the ground, but that isn’t enough. We can only do more if we receive more funds. Please help by sending a gift right now."... "Our goal for the Run for Mobility 2012 is to raise $275,00 - or 4,300 wheelchairs. Can you help?"

5. ASK A QUESTION
"Do you know that as of October 2011, Free Wheelchair Mission has given away over 600,000 wheelchairs in 82 countries around the world? Please give to allow more chairs to lift more lives off of the ground and into a chair." More facts about disability around the world.

6. SHARE A RECIPIENT STORY
"A young man dragged himself to and from school every day, carrying his books on his back. He neared graduation, and gave up. We asked him why – he told us “No one will hire a smart mind and a dirty body. What’s the point?” Now that he has received his wheelchair, the same young man is back in school and aspiring to be an electrical engineer. Give hope to other young people like this young man by donating today.” Check out the FWM story archive, full of powerful stories from recipients around the world.


Happy fundraising! 

Lila's Walk 4 Wheels

 Ambassador for Mobility: Lila Lehtola (pictured right, her friend and co-organizer Ally Ryder in the bandana on the left)

Location: Dallas, Texas

Background:  Lila has been an active collegiate Ambassador for Free Wheelchair Mission since September 2009. She discovered the issue of global disability after her mom told her stories from a medical mission trip she went on to Honduras. She told Lila the sad stories about people crawling to the hospital, and women at the clinic with back problems from carrying their children vast distances to the clinic because their child didn’t have the wheelchair they needed. After a friend mentioned Free Wheelchair Mission, Lila and her mom researched Free Wheelchair Mission together. They felt the chairs seemed practical and cost efficient, and they decided to create a project to fund a container for Honduras and to help distribute them.

The Story: Lila is an avid athlete and runner, so she decided to hold a Walk 4 Wheels to benefit FWM. The event was held on September 17^th. Participants paid $10 to register and $15 for a t-shirt to join in the walk. There were about 40 participants, and together they raised $1,800.

Her fundraising activities have included “countless bake sales, garage sales, and what we call dress down days at our school where we pay a small fee to wear non-uniform clothes to school and the donation is then given to FWM”.  In April 2011, Lila and her mother organized a golf tournament, and was highlighted for her work for FWM. The golf tournament raised $11,600.

Lila’s Passion: “My mom told me of people she saw crawling to get to the hospital because they couldn't walk. This utterly broke my heart because, right before I had this talk with my mom, I had gone on a run and I realized that these children could never run, even if they wanted to.”

Lives Transformed to Date: over 325

Bonus: all Walk 4 Wheels donations came in just in time to be included in FWM’s October Matching Gift Challenge! 

How To: Write Letters That Stand Out

Making your fundraising letter stand out and grab the reader's attention is key. Check out this article "Attention Getting Openers for Fundraising Letters" by Sandra Sims from the website Step by Step Fundraising

"Fundraising letters communicate a specific message to potential donors and call them to action. Creating an attention getting opening paragraph is important in making a good first impression and in getting the rest of the letter read.

Here are 5 Attention Getting Strategies for Fundraising Letters:

1. Headlines

Even though a fundraising letter should be in the format of a letter with a salutation, body and closing, a headline at the top of the page can be an attention grabber. Headlines are usually just 1-2 lines and are printed in larger type that the rest of the letter. For added interest, use a different font.

2. Attention Getting Words

Using very specific words as sentence openers grab the readers attention. Notice that many of these sample phrases ask the reader to do something. Here are a few examples:

Just imagine if… Right now… Think about… Why is it that… Without a doubt… For instance,
Please don’t overlook… 

3. Questions

Open ended questions are great ways to begin a letter. Questions are designed to get the reader to think. When asked a question, people automatically try to answer it. Avoid using yes/no questions, because this is too easy an answer and the conversation in the reader’s mind stops.

Here’s an example: “How many people in our city go hungry at Christmastime each year? Statistics say that on average 357 will miss at least one meal between Christmas and New Year’s Day because their cupboards are bare. Many of these are senior citizens. This year let’s keep this statistic from becoming a reality.”

4. Bold Statements & Exclamations

Another way to open the letter is by using a bold statement, often related to shocking situations or statistics. For example, “Every day 7,400 people become infected with the HIV virus

Sentences using exclamation points work well for a letter with a lighthearted tone. For example, “It’s that time of year again – the Clark County Yam Festival is almost here!”

A few well placed exclamation points at the beginning and/or other sections of the letter add energy. Just be sure to use exclamation points sparingly in the overall letter. Having too many of them gives the impression of hype or insincerity.

5. Narratives & True Stories

One of the most successful ways to get your message across is to describe a story of a specific person or situation that your organization has helped. If your group has made some major achievements and successes these can also be of use. Always remember to include stories that will engage the reader, not just show off accomplishments."

Happy fundraising!


Full article link: http://stepbystepfundraising.com/attention-getting-openings-for-fundraising-letters/
Website: http://www.stepbystepfundraising.com 

Team Mobility Athlete Jacqueline at the Long Beach Marathon

Team Mobility Athlete: Jacqueline Anzalone

Event: Long Beach Marathon                  Location: Long Beach, CA

The Story: One of the first official local Team Mobility events, the Long Beach Marathon brought Free Wheelchair Mission in front of thousands of people new to us. The two-day Health & Fitness Expo on Friday and Saturday allowed the 50,000 expo visitors to stop by and learn more about the special wheelchair that has changed the lives of so many. As an official featured race charity, FWM was highlighted throughout the day by the expo announcer, and had a prime location in the heart of the expo.

Jacqueline Anzalone was the top FWM runner-fundraiser for this event. This was her fourth time running and fundraising on FWM’s behalf, previously participating in the annual Run for Mobility event at the Surf City Marathon. She was thrilled to learn that FWM was coming to her hometown of Long Beach, CA. She even personalized her official race bib to say “IRUN4WHEELS”!

Jacqueline’s Fundraising Tip: “The key to fundraising is to ask a lot of people for a little bit of money,” she explained. Spreading out the ask to a lot of people means that no one feels obligated or financially uncomfortable about donating, since it’s just a small amount. Her last donation was received when she reached out to her roommate, who hadn’t donated yet, by explaining that she was only $5 shy of her fundraising goal. When Jacqueline woke up the next morning, a crisp $5 was waiting for her on the counter. “A lot of people working together can have a big impact”, she said, which just shows that together, we can lift lives around the world.

Volunteer Highlights:

• Long time Free Wheelchair Mission supporter, fundraiser, and two-time Olympian Ozzie Zea volunteered at the expo, and was interviewed by a local online community media & news team, Long Beach Voices.

• 15 volunteers from UCI and CSULB worked hard at the FWM water station on mile 7.5, where all 23,000 racers passed by our banners to grab water on the go.

 

 

•  FWM was the official volunteer group for the Wheelchair Division marathon. There were 23 athletes in all, competing in either handcycles or racing chairs. One was also a FWM fundraiser!

 

Lives Transformed by Jacqueline to Date: over 23 (so far!)

Lives Transformed by the event Team Mobility Long Beach 2011: 29

    

Take-Away Tip: A lot of people each giving a little bit of money works. You don't necessarily need large gifts - lots of little ones will add up faster than you'd expect.

How To: The Elevator Speech

The Elevator Speech: A fundraiser's secret weapon


 Have you ever heard of an elevator speech? It’s one of the most basic and effective devices in a fundraiser’s toolkit. The idea behind it’s name is that it is a quick ‘speech’ that one can give in the time it takes an elevator to go from the top floor to the first floor or vice versa. In this article you will find out what, why, where, when, to whom, and how to prepare that “elevator speech.” 

What exactly is an “elevator speech”? The idea behind an elevator speech is this – you run into people all day long. At work, at the store, out in social situations, and yes, in elevators. The idea of an “elevator speech” is to have a prepared presentation that grabs attention and says a lot in a few words. What are you going to be saying? By telling your core message, you will be marketing yourself and your fundraising efforts in a way that will draw people into your cause rather than pushing people away.

Why prepare an “elevator speech”? As fundraisers, we all need to be willing and able to use casual conversations as a springboard for donations. It’s not likely every person will be able to hold a hugely successful fundraising event, but anyone can have an elevator speech to use when the opportunity arises. People can’t donate unless you ask, and you can’t ask for donations until they know what you’re doing and why.


Where and when do I use this “elevator speech”? These come in handy all the time. How often do you find yourself among friends, family, acquaintances, co-workers, etc who inevitably ask how you are doing and what is new with you? Most of the time you mutter “Oh, nothing, same old, same old…” This is where the elevator speech comes in. If you have an answer like “Well, I’m training for my first half marathon, and I’m making my miles matter by raising funds to give away wheelchairs in developing countries.” Right away, that leads into an open, casual, and low-pressure conversation about what you are doing with your race and your fundraising. 


Sounds great! So what does an elevator speech look like? It’s actually very similar to what you’ve already written for your personal website biography. It’s a quick and simple overview of what you’re doing, why you’re doing it, and how they can help. 


Things to remember:

Make your speech quick, easy to understand, and memorable.

Convey that you genuinely care about what your doing and are dedicated to making a difference

Have your personal RunCards on hand and ready to hand out after your speech

Practice – say it a few times to yourself, and try it out on other people. It will soon feel natural.

An elevator speech should be short; three to four short sentences, about 50-100 words and take less then 30 seconds to deliver. A good elevator speech will grab your listener's attention by saying a lot in few words and leave your audience wanting to know more. 

The speech should sound like its conversational and "off the cuff."

Example:

“I’m in the middle of training for my first half marathon. I decided to do it not only because it’s something I’ve always wanted to do, but also because it is allowing me to help make a difference by raising funds for a nonprofit called Free Wheelchair Mission. What they do is provide wheelchairs to disabled people in developing countries, and each wheelchair only costs $63.94 each to manufacture, ship, and deliver! Pretty cool huh? I’ve set my personal goal at $500 – that would be enough to give a chair to 7 people! Here’s my fundraising website if you wanted to learn more. Any donations would be a huge help! (This is where you would hand them a RunCard… one of your handy “Fundraiser Business Cards”, which has information on how to get to your website. Order yours now.)

Happy fundraising!

How To: 4 Sample Fundraising Letters

Sample Fundraising Letter #1

 Dear Uncle Steve,

I am writing to ask for your help. You won't believe what I have gone and gotten myself into this time. I am going to run the Surf City USA Marathon for Free Wheelchair Mission. My body is already in nervous shock from the anticipation!

Your help would be greatly appreciated. No, I don't expect you to walk along side of me - so you can breathe that sigh of relief! But a donation to Free Wheelchair Mission in order to sponsor me in the race would be wonderful!

If you can help, you can go online right now and donate to my personal website at [personalized link here], or you can make a check payable to Free Wheelchair Mission and return it to me. Then you can sit back with your lemonade on Superbowl Sunday and watch the game, while I am out there running 26.2 miles across Huntington Beach! Thank you so much!

Your niece,

Nicole

Sample Fundraising Letter #2

Date

Dear Name of potential donor,

On February 5, 2012, I will join hundreds of others to help lift people off of the ground and into a wheelchair by running in the Run for Mobility half marathon/full marathon/1 mile.  By making a pledge on my behalf, you are supporting the mission of Free Wheelchair Mission to provide dignity, mobility, and hope to those struggling with physical disabilities in developing countries.

Give details - Tell your story: I have a personal stake in this particular event. I have several friends and family who are unable to walk, and their lives are still full and productive because they have access to a wheelchair. Here in the US most people who need mobility aids are able to access them – this isn’t the case in developing countries. Simple, everyday tasks like cooking, going to the restroom, or even just moving from a bedroom to the living room are huge tasks when you can’t walk. People are forced to drag themselves across the floor, or rely on a family member to physically carry them around to do these tasks. I know how important having a wheelchair is to my family members, and how vital it is for people in similar situations.

My goal is to raise at least specify dollar amount this year. Since each wheelchair only costs $63.94, that means I will be able to transform X number of lives when I reach my personal goal! Please help me reach that goal with your donation, which is completely tax deductible. If you wish, you may mail all or part of your payment amount today in the self-addressed stamped envelope enclosed with this letter, or visit my website at www.fwm.kintera.org/run2012/[your personal URL] or by going to www.runformobility.org, clicking on “Sponsor a Fundraiser”, and then entering my name.

Please make your checks payable to Free Wheelchair Mission, with the words “Run for Mobility – [my name]” on the memo line. My personal deadline to reach my goal is deadline date. Following the event, I will send out a brief recap of the race and the outcomes of my fundraising efforts to all my sponsors.

Thank you in advance for your support. Please call me if you have any questions or comments about the Run for Mobility. I can be reached at phone number.

Sincerely,
Your name

Sample Fundraising Letter #3

Dear friends and family,

I have decided to take on the challenge of Running for Mobility for Free Wheelchair Mission. I will be running the Surf City USA marathon on February 5, 2012 in Huntington Beach, CA. I’m not only running for the glory – I’m running in order to provide wheelchairs to people in need around the world. My goal is to raise $640 – enough to personally help 10 individuals in another country by giving them a wheelchair that they need.

 

The need for wheelchairs is huge – over 100 million people around the world need a wheelchair but don’t have one. Your support will help Free Wheelchair Mission continue their mission of transforming lives around the world, and will help motivate me during the race and help me reach my fundraising goal!

Please be generous. Thanks so much for your support!

To donate to my page, click here: http://fwm.kintera.org/run2012/[yourURL]

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Rally-to-Restore-Sanity-SanFrancisco/147882631915583?v=app_4949752878&ref=ts</p>

To learn more about the event, click here: http://www.runformobility.org

 

To learn more about Free Wheelchair Mission, click here: www.freewheelchairmission.org

Sample Fundraising Letter #4

Dear [Name],

Many of you know how important sports and fitness are to me. Living a healthy, active lifestyle is something that is easily taken for granted. I have taken on the challenge of training for [Event Name]. To make my race more meaningful, I am raising money for Free Wheelchair Mission – an international 501c3 non‐profit organization that provides wheelchairs to people in need around the world. By providing a simple wheelchair, they are able to transform the lives of individuals, families, and communities through the gift of mobility.

There are over 100 million people around the world who are disabled and need a wheelchair, but cannot afford one. 80% of these people live in developing countries. Not having a wheelchair means that the individual is unable to attend school, get a job, or participate in their communities. They are completely dependent on family members or friends to carry them out of the house and into the world. Once they become adults, these individuals will be too big to be carried, and end up staying inside their homes for years. These people simply need a means to be independent and mobile, and they will be able to rejoin society on their own terms. Our simple gift of a wheelchair provides these things any more to recipients. Free Wheelchair Mission has been working for the past 10 years to manufacture, ship, and deliver our specially designed durable wheelchair to these forgotten people around the world. Still, FWM needs your help in order to continue their mission.

By donating to my fundraising efforts, you are helping me and FWM to change lives, one wheelchair at a time. Together, we can provide the tool these people need in order to live an independent, productive, and fulfilled lives. I have decided to make my miles matter by helping to make an impact on lives around the world. Please become a part of my mission by making a donation through my web site link below. Together, we can give the gift of mobility and lift lives around the world.

[http:/fwm.kintera.org/run2012/your URL]
Thank you for your support,

[Your Name]

Happy fundraising!

How To: 5 Components of a Fundraising Letter

Check out this awesome article called "5 Components of a Well-Written Fundraising Letter", written by Jim Berigan that takes you through, step by step, the components of an effective fundraising letter. All you need to do is change the focus to Free Wheelchair Mission, and you're set!

"One of the most important tools available to any leader of a non profit organization is the fundraising letter. With a finely-crafted missive, the leader will be able to clarify the mission, excite the audience, and deliver on the stated need.

However, getting the letter to the point where it is “finely-crafted” is the hard part. I believe there are five key components that should be implemented to give your letter a much better chance of hitting its mark.

Before you begin writing, I recommend that you jot down a quick outline. This will help you plot your individual points, provide your supporting evidence, and generally keep you on track.

The outline should be broken down into five sections. These are: attention, interest, desire, conviction, and close. By following these five “guideposts” you are taking your reader on a directed journey, exactly where you want him to go. And fortunately, since this progression makes rhetorical sense, the reader will actually be happy to go along for this ride, as opposed to a letter that is all over the place and never really gets to the point.

Let’s break down each of the sections.

1. Attention

First, there is “ATTENTION”. This is where you really grab your readers. Give them something to chew on right away. Most of us read thousands of words each day, so the competition for our readers’ attention is great. Don’t mess around with long winded introductions- get right to the point. Use words and word-pictures that have real impact with the readers. In the case of school fundraising, I like to focus on the benefits to the children.

Let’s say, for instance, you were writing a letter in hopes of raising enough money to subsidize a trip to Washington D.C. for the eighth grade. I would start by writing:

Dear Parents, Our school has the amazing opportunity to provide your child with an incredible hands-on learning experience, right in our nation’s capital. For four days and three nights, our students will be in the epicenter of our executive, legislative, and judicial activity. With behind the scenes tours, meetings with our local law-makers, and admission to some of the most significant historical sites in our country, your child will have the experience of his or her life.

Ok, there’s the first paragraph. We were aiming for grabbing their attention, and I think we have it. We emphasized the benefits to their children and even touched on a bit of patriotism!

2. Interest

Next, we come to “INTEREST”. This is where we expand a little bit more on what we wrote in the “attention” paragraph. The goal is to raise your readers’ interest by more specifically highlighting the benefits and features of the event. By the end of this section, your reader should really be primed to hear your pitch.

To continue with the sample letter:

All year long, we have been studying how bills become laws, how our government operates, and how our democracy was created. By planning this trip to Washington D.C., we will be able to take this theoretical knowledge and breathe life into it for our students. Instead of just reading about the Library of Congress, we’re going to go there! Rather than just watching CSPAN, we are going to enter the U.S. Capitol and observe Congress actually in session! What better way is there to really learn about our country than to see it up close and in person?

3. Desire

All right, this is where we start to really sell, sell, sell. Your job in this section is to place such a strong desire for this experience in the hearts of your readers that they’ll do just about anything to make the goal a reality. To accomplish this, you only need to remind them of the idealistic things they already hold dear. Do this with the right stroke, and you’ve got them.

As parents, we know you always want the best for your children. You want their schools to be first rate and be able to provide them with only the finest instruction and guidance. We at Al Gore Middle School share this desire, right along with you. For years, the eighth grade has been making this annual journey to Washington D.C. And, year after year, we have witnessed first- hand how this experience changes lives for the better. This is truly a monumental event for our young people.

4. Conviction

So far, we have excited our readers, we’ve got them genuinely interested in our cause, and we’ve done all we can to convince them that they, too, want what we want. Now it’s time to prepare them for the challenges that stand in our way and get them to commit themselves to the hard work that will certainly follow on our way to the goal. This is called “CONVICTION”.

But getting to Washington D.C. is never easy. Moving an entire grade of children is expensive and logistically difficult. Making this dream a reality is a daunting task, but it is also one that many parents before us have successfully undertaken.

Through our research, we have determined that this trip costs $400 total per child. This includes everything- transportation, lodging, food, and admission to all the sites. The only thing beyond this is spending money, which you and your child can determine privately.

$400 is a lot of money. We understand that this can be a burden to many. Therefore, we have a goal to help subsidize this amount by at least 50% per student. Between now and the time we leave for Washington, we plan to hold several mini-fundraisers within the community.

Your involvement with these fundraisers is vital. We need every parent of an eighth grader to volunteer his or her time to help us reach this overall target. This will mean planning meetings, committee meetings, volunteer recruiting, organizing, decorating, etc. This is a significant commitment.

However, when we remember why we are doing this, we know that in the long run, all the time and energy will be worth it for our children.

5. Close

At this point, our hope is that parents are ready for the fight. They believe in the cause and are prepared to enter into battle. Now, they just need to know specifically what is being asked of them. In each school’s case, this might be different, but it is crucial to work in an effective call to action. And that comes in the “CLOSE”.

On Tuesday November 5 at 6:30pm, we are holding an organizational meeting in our school auditorium. We will be talking a lot about the upcoming trip, as well as how we plan to pay for it. We sincerely ask that at least one parent from each family come to this gathering. If you can not attend, we ask that you contact our school office, so we can get you all the pertinent information.

Thank you for your consideration of this journey, and we can’t wait to give your child the memories and experiences that will help shape the rest of their lives. See you at the meeting!

And that’s it. Now, please remember that I completely fabricated this above scenario, so some of the details may not make sense, but I wanted to illustrate the path a persuasive fundraising letter should take. Start with getting your readers’ attention, heighten their interest, stir their desire, strengthen their conviction, and close the deal with a call to action.

Plug your own specific information into this plan, and you’ll be well on your way to sending out a fundraising letter that will produce results!"

Happy fundraising!

Full article link: http://stepbystepfundraising.com/5-components-of-a-well-written-fundraising-letter/

Paddle for Wheelchairs

Get motivated to start fundraising by what this Team Mobility athlete did to support FWM.

Tim, second from right, organized a "Paddle for Wheelchairs"

Team Mobility Athlete: Tim Lukei (second from the right)

Location: Newport Beach, CA

Background: A staff member at Mariner’s Church, Tim has been a supporter of FWM for years. He’s also the owner of an up-and-coming paddleboard company, Pirate Coast Paddle Company.

The Story: He created and held an event called Paddle for Wheelchairs on Thursday, August 25^th in Newport Beach, inviting people to donate the price of a wheelchair in exchange for a a free dinner (donated by Bluewater Grill), an entry to win raffle prizes, and a chance to paddleboard for free. About 30 people attended the event, along with FWM staff Sandi, Claressa, Jessica, and Mike. Most of the funds were collected online via their Team Mobility fundraising website, and the rest was given on event day for last minute additions. Tim publicized his event on his company’s webpage, and by word of mouth.

Lives Transformed to Date: over 30

The crew

FWM Staff Jessica, Claressa, and Mike at the event

Take-Away Tip: Use the resources you already have (like Tim did with his company and professional network), and leverage them for a good cause.

How To: Ask for Money Without Feeling Awkward

Many first-time fundraisers are intimidated by the idea of asking for money. This fear is completely normal, and also, completely avoidable. Read over these tips to bolster your confidence and remind you why you are doing this:

1)       Remember that you’re not begging for money, you’re inviting people to a part of a cause that you’re passionate about. You know the worthiness of the cause – otherwise you wouldn’t have chosen to get involved! All you have to do now is share that enthusiasm with others, and help them recognize the merit of your cause.

2)       No one will give if they’re not asked. It seems simple, but it’s true!

3)       Always begin a talk with a potential donor by simply sharing your enthusiasm for Free Wheelchair Mission, you’ll be amazed at how many people will ask “Where do I send the check?”

4)       Don’t be intimidated to remind people about your efforts after you’ve spoken with them once – life is busy and your letter may have gotten buried at the bottom of the stack, not because they don’t want to give, but because they simply forgot!

5)       You’re really giving people the opportunity to do something for a greater good. Many people really do care and want to help others out, but it’s easy to get wrapped up in personal things and forget about the bigger picture. Educating them about the challenges that the physically disabled face in other countries can help broaden their worldview, and through their donation, can give them the satisfaction of knowing they have done something great. 

Consider the impact of the following quotes as you begin your campaign to bring hope, dignity, and independence to individuals and families across the world: 

“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” - Anne Frank

“Everybody can be great... because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.” - Martin Luther King. Jr.

“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” - Mohandas Gandhi

Happy fundraising!

Run for Mobility 2012 is here!

Registration now open for the Run for Mobility 2012

The most frequent comment on our end-of-the-year fundraiser survey last year was (by far!) "I wish I had started fundraising sooner!"

Don't be a statistic and wait for the last minute to fundraise. Get started now!

RFM 2011 event photos

You can now access all the photos from the Run for Mobility weekend!

The gallery includes photos taken at the Dine and Dash Dinner on Saturday night, at the Free Wheelchair Mission booth on race day, and photos taken of our FWM runners along the race course.

Click here to view event weekend photos

Ozzie: A mother remembered

Ozzie and his daughter at the Surf City Marathon

Meet Ozzie, a 3-year Run for Mobility runner, volunteer, and supporter.

Guest Speaker. In 2011, he was featured as a guest speaker at one of our first-time fundraiser workshops in Long Beach, sharing his experience and advice with new Run for Mobility participants.

Olympic Athlete. Ozzie is an avid runner. Not only has he run several 5k races over the years, he ran the 400 meter event for the Venezuelan Olympic team in 1980 and 1984. 

Fundraiser. He has raised over $20,000 for the Run for Mobility in the 3 years he has been involved. 

Ozzie's Story:

Running for Mobility resonates with him because he comes from a poor family in Venezuela. He describes that growing up they often had only rice and beans to eat for days in a row. In high school, he ran track and earned a scholarship to a US school. Most profoundly, his grandmother spent the last three years of her life in bed because she was unable to walk and the family could not afford the luxury of a wheelchair. Ozzie remembers this vividly and knows how much fuller her last years would have been had she not been robbed of her mobility. These experiences affected him so much that he now supports Free Wheelchair Mission by raising funds so we can give the poorest and most disadvantaged people in the world the opportunity for a better quality of life.
From enduring hardship as a child, to overcoming obstacles as a young adult, Ozzie has never given up. He has coached several sports over the years – from baseball to basketball and even acted as a coach/guide for the disabled track and field teams.

A message from Ozzie:

"My beloved mother tragically and unexpectedly passed away in July. Not only was she far too young, but she was my rock. She was very supportive of me and my involvement with the FWM organization. After all, it was my mother who first inspired me. She attended every race. She ‘redesigned’ the FWM participant T-shirt I wore making it more suitable for running. this is my third year running for the Run for Mobility."

400 m Olympics - 1980s

In the jersey his mother redesigned

FWM Run Staff: Ashley & Ariel

Meet your Run for Mobility 2011 staff - Ashley and Ariel!

(Or as they're known around the office, A² , or the A-Team!) 

Ashley's Story

Vietnam Distribution

Ashley Herron, events manager, has been with Free Wheelchair Mission since 2007.  In that time, she has worked with hundreds of R4M runners as well as individuals and groups around the country.  She says of her involvement with FWM, “From the first time from the first time I watched videos on the website, I knew that I had to be involved with this organization, whether as a volunteer or staff member.  The mission captured my heart at that moment.”  She was blessed to travel to Vietnam in 2010 to distribute wheelchairs. 

Ariel's Story

Up and Running

"I joined Free Wheelchair Mission as the Run for Mobility Coordinator in July 2011. I’ve had the pleasure of working with all kinds of athletes leading up to race weekend, and have loved every minute related to planning and running this event!

I have a background in special events and athletic fundraising, and was thrilled to join the FWM team. I also have a deep personal connection to running. In 2007, I was in a car accident that resulted in the amputation of my right leg below the knee. I ran track in high school, and was determined to get back on my feet again. After months of rehabilitation simply learning to walk again, I finally received my first running prosthesis and took off. It was the most incredible moment of my life - I will treasure it forever. Since then, I've participated in several 5K races, and competed in some track events in Oklahoma, and even trained at the USA Olympic training center in Chula Vista, CA with the US Paralympic Track Coach! I know firsthand what it's like to be in a wheelchair and to feel like you can't take care of yourself. I feel so blessed to have access to the medical care and prosthetic technology that allow me to live my life independently, and so glad to be a part of an organization so close to my heart."

Volunteer Spotlight: Official Free Wheelchair Mission Water Station - CSULB Financial Association

The CSULB group

Meet the CSULB Financial Management Association students who volunteered to help us out on race day!  They were stationed at the marathon water station around Mile 23, under the direction of Station Commander Daniel. They showed up ready to help out at 6:00 AM (!), prepared to help quench the thirst of Surf City runners as they passed their station.

Their encouraging words, smiling faces, supportive signs, and blasting music (courtesy of volunteer Ryan's car stereo!) really helped pump up our FWM runner-fundraisers as they flew by and headed into the final 2 miles of their marathon.

Thanks to this fabulous and enthusiastic group for their beautiful handmade signs, flexibility, and positive attitudes!

Special thanks to Frances, the Director of Community Outreach for the CSULB Financial Management Association, for reaching out to us; to Ryan, for keeping everyone's spirits up by blasting your car stereo and for your wonderful photos; and to volunteers Erica, Kaithlynn, Ryan, Tyler, Brittany, Charlene, Kevin, Amanda, Cici, Kristen, Shan, Jo, and Alejan for your time and efforts!

Special thanks to OLHS student Kristen for joining the Mile 19/22 water station also!

"Your legs will forgive you... eventually."... "At least this is more interesting than a treadmill, right?"

Prepping for the herd of thirsty runners

FWM volunteers in blue and Surf City volunteers in yellow working together

Janet: World-traveling physical therapist

Janet & husband David in South Africa

  Meet Janet, a wonderful long-time Free Wheelchair Mission supporter. In 2011, Janet and her husband David made up their Run for Mobility team called "Restore Mobility, Restore Hope", raising over $2,900! She has shown her dedication to our cause not only by being an ongoing runner-fundraiser, but she has also been able to participate in actually distributing wheelchairs in countries around the world.

Traveler, physical therapist, and runner-fundraiser

"I got involved with the FWM 6 years ago. I learned about the organization from a volunteer of yours named Margaret at a "from Success to Significance" event at Mariner's church. Since then, I have been fundraising, running in the Run for Mobility and have traveled twice to Peru, once to Chile and now to Africa. This ministry is amazing. Professionally, I work am a PT [physical therapist] so it is a good fit for me. I help people with their mobility every day."

My Motto - "I wanna go!"

"If you ask my friends what my personal motto is, they will say "I wanna go!" If someone suggests a trip or an adventure, I am always first to say that I want to go. The wedding band I wore when we were traveling had a verse from Mathew. "With the Lord, all things are possible." I love that verse. Just trusting in Him and realizing if you do what you can, He will do what you cannot is powerful stuff!"

Arusha girl now able to receive an education, thanks to gift of wheelchair

Thanks to her new chair, this girl can now receive an education

"She was at the Center for Women and Children Development in Arusha. She could not sit unsupported. I do not know what kind of developmental or neuromuscular disease from which she is suffering. Very sweet girl but nonverbal. Because of the chair, she will be able to stay at the school and be transported into the classrooms." 

Moses crawls 30 miles to receive his new chair

David adjusting Moses' chair, while Moses waits on the ground

Moses finally off the ground in his new chair!

"The best experience of our trip for me was meeting Moses. In the photo, he is the gentleman with the colorful robes, and my husband is adjusting his chair for him. He crawled 30 miles to get to our distribution site. He had had polio, I do not know how long ago, but I would guess as a child or young adult. He must now be in his late 40's. He had the most amazing smile, and was so grateful for the chair."

Karafu woman and her mother both receive wheelchairs

"This woman is in Karatu. She also had had polio. Her mom was disabled and received a chair as well. I have no idea how she will help her mom get around with both of them in a chair. Doesn't she look great sitting upright in her chair?!"

Janet working hard on race day