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Permalink Reply by Susan Stitt on March 11, 2010 at 11:49pm

Congratulations for joining the walk! Now, relax. It'll be ok. I did my first Avon Walk two years ago and was nervous about fund raising. Once I raised the money, then I got nervous about walking. As it turned out, I ended up with nothing to worry about. It has all been an amazing experience.

Next, remember that one in seven women will are diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in their lifetime. What this means for fund raising is that many, many, many people you know or are at least acquainted with have dealt with breast cancer either their own or a family member or a friend. I can't tell you how many donations I've gotten from people who have been touched by this disease and I didn't even realize it. It also means that even if people are unable to donate, they will support you in whatever way they can.

Now, as for fund raising, there are several things. First, ASK. Seems simple, but you'd be surprised at how often people either don't want to ask or make the mistake of assuming that people won't want to donate. Much of my money has come from people that I thought would never donate (and people I was sure would donate haven't). So, don't make the decision for people - go ahead and ask. Talk about your walk whenever you can and let people know what you are doing. They will ask how they can help.

Second, think beyond just asking for donations. Particularly in this economy, often times, people want to get something for their money. My most frequent fund raising recommendation is to look at how you spend your time and see how you could turn that into a fund raising opportunity. For example, I periodically hold lunches at work for a $6 donation. I bring in food and people have the convenience of lunch at the office and are also able to support my walks. I also scrapbook so I have held scrapbook crops as fund raisers. We just had a bake sale and are holding a garage sale in a couple of weeks. Bowling fund raisers work pretty well around here. Again, look at what you like to do and how you spend your time and see if there is a way to make money off it.

Finally, and not least importantly, watch this discussion board. There are so many people out here who have done these walks and who are very, very creative in their fund raising. There is no reason to reinvent the wheel. Watch from and learn from other people's ideas.

Again, congratulations on joining in this fight to end breast cancer.

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Permalink Reply by Melody Wright on March 13, 2010 at 8:43pm

Hello!!!! I was really nervous too!! this is my first walk, and in about 1 month, I have doubled the required $1800.00. I asked everyone that I know. My favorite cashier at the grocery store, my dentist (at least I will when I go next month for a cleaning), all my friends, my family...I even had my husband ask everyone he knows/works with. We made up flyers to hand out to people with the donation page website and told them if they wanted to write a check, to fill it out and we would send it in. I also recently had a bake sale/craft sale at work and made 811.00!!! (for 10 hours of standing and talking to people). Everytime I talk to some one for any length of time, I tell them that I am walking and why, and that I need their help and support. I have no shame in asking for money. Dont worrry...,you will do just fine. Have faith that you can do it...and you will!!!!! Good luck!!!!

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