Marathon Madness: Three Hours Is The New Six Days
Do you remember when I made a big deal about the Chicago Marathon selling out in six days
? That was so last month. The Marine Corps Marathon recently sold out in less than three hours. Yes, you read that correctly. Less than three hours. For those of you who like to focus on the details: it was 2 hours and 41 minutes to be exact.
What is happening here, people? Why the sudden increase in marathon popularity? I wish I had an answer for you. What I can tell you is that this trend of marathons not only selling out, but selling out in record time, is going to result in an increase in popularity for marathon charity programs as well.
I mentioned charity programs last month when I talked about the Bank of America Chicago Marathon Charity Program. The specifics of each program vary by race and by organization, but here is what you need to know: if you like to run and you want to make the world a better place, you should sign up with a marathon charity program. If you like to run and you want to make the world a better place and the marathon you planned to run has already sold out, youll have to sign up with a charity program.
Non-profit organizations often have race bibs available even after a race has sold out. The condition is that you agree to fundraise for the organization in exchange for the bib. And beyond the bib, most organizations offer training support and other perks as well. One of them even offers more cowbell.
The Fisher House Foundation is one of the Marine Corps Marathons Charity Partners. While attending the Run Walk Ride Fundraising Conference in Atlanta, Georgia, earlier this month, I had the pleasure of meeting Cathy Cabrey and Stacy Toner, the co-founders of Team Fisher House.
We take amazing care of our runners during race weekend, Cabrey says. We have teams of volunteers at every mile marker whose sole purpose is to cheer for our runners as they pass by. They wear cow hats and ring cowbells to keep them motivated to the finish line. You get more cowbell with Team Fisher House!
Cabrey and Toner started Team Fisher House in 2006. They had 85 runners on the team in their inaugural year and raised over $70,000. The program continues to grow. Last year Team Fisher House raised nearly $1.7 million through online fundraising, with $410,000 of that coming from their sell-out charity program through the Marine Corps Marathon.
Sidenote: As of this morning, Team Fisher House had just 179 slots still available for the 2012 Marine Corps Marathon. Their bibs are going fast and they will sell out, so consider yourself warned. Register now, before someone else takes your spot.
I cant explain the seemingly sudden increase in marathon popularity, but as a runner and fitness enthusiast it makes me happy. As an event fundraiser who wants to make the world a better place, it makes me happy as well. I cant think of a better combination than people getting in shape while also raising money for one of many incredible non-profit organizations like The Fisher House Foundation.
Id love to hear your thoughts. Why do you think marathons are selling out in record time? Please add your comments below or email me. And to learn how to give more cowbell, watch the Team Fisher House volunteer training video.
Suzanne Mooney is a Fundraising Consultant at Event 360. An avid runner, her goal is to run a marathon in all 50 states. As of this writing, she has 33 states to go.
by: Event Fundraising
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