The first step toward reaching your fundraising goal is to write to friends, coworkers, family, and other potential donors. The purpose of the fundraising letter is to tell people what you’re doing (Riding 3400 miles?! What?!), why you’re doing it (#endmalaria – #facesforchangeride), and what they can do to help. And, if you have a blog, make a post about it. Here is mine:
By now I’m sure that many of you reading this email have heard about a bicycle challenge and adventure that I have been orchestrating over the last several months. It has finally taken a name, Faces for Change Ride, and the start date is a little less than two months away, June 1st. What was once just an idea and a dream has now materialized into what I’m hoping will be a life changing event.
Faces for Change Ride is a gorgeous 3400 mile cycling adventure that begins in Rockland, Maine, a port town on the Eastern coast of the USA. Traveling North by Northwest the ride will continue up into Canada through Montreal at which point we’ll connect with the Trans-Canada Highway. This route will be taken all the way to Calgary and extended to Banff, the most westward point of the ride. From Banff we’ll descend a bit to the Southwest, cutting through Glacier National Park and head towards Walla Walla, WA. Our arrival will be at Tamarack Cellars approximately 55 days later.
This ride is not meant to only be an adventure, but rather an opportunity and a chance to make a positive change in the world we live. My cause is Malaria, a disease that claims the lives of over three quarters of a million people each year, 80% of which are children of or below the age of five.
The name Faces for Change Ride was introduced as a way to open up the doors to other riders that wish to make the ride, but have an alternative cause, mission, or statement that they wish to raise awareness for or make. This is more than a bike trip – it’s an inspiring journey with like-minded people who are united by their passion for making a difference.
This journey is important for me and is a way for me to say thank you to everyone that I have come to know – family and friends, people that I have met, co-workers, neighbors, teammates and acquaintances - all of whom constitute a network of individuals that in one way or another I have shared my life with and have also helped shape who I am in my 33 years of existence.
April 29th from 2:30-5:00pm is the date set for a gathering hosted by Denise and myself. The supporting venue is Vino 100 in Uptown Dallas. The events purpose is to serve as a fundraiser and get-together for those that want to come and enjoy some wine, beer, light hors d’oeuvres and partake in some lively conversation concerning the ride and journey. We hope that you will be able to attend. Cheers!
-Juan Pablo Taboada
PS: If you’re unable to attend, but still wish to contribute please contact either Denise Jones (Denise70@sbcglobal.net) or myself, Juan Pablo Taboada (JPTaboada333@gmail.com) or if you have any information, contacts, or other bits and pieces that you feel might be helpful in this, please share them. We’re open to all sources of advice and guidance.
Special thanks to www.climateride.org for the advice, templates and tips on how to raise funds.
