A great way to raise funds and encourage healthy exercise is to hold a Motion-athon. Most kids will be thrilled at the chance to show off their skills on a bike, rollerblade, skateboard, or even just how fast they can move on their own two feet. Expect one enterprising youngster to show up in a wagon hauled by the family dog!
First, you have to find a location like your school’s track or in a park that boasts a bike trail. If there isn’t one available in your area, find another large space that can accommodate this event. If it becomes necessary, get a separate venue for the bikers. Decide whether sponsors will give a flat donation or pledge a certain amount for every lap completed. For bikers, perhaps a donation for every quarter hour or half hour completed would be appropriate. Local businesses and parents can sponsor the children.
Plan a volunteer meeting prior to the event at the location site. Be sure that you have enough volunteers to supervise every area. Motion usually means there’s a chance for a kid to fall off a bike or scrape a knee, so have first-aid available and lots of water on hand and remember to have parents sign releases.
If the fundraiser is for the school, they may be willing to let students out of class early during a weekday. If not, there’s still plenty of time after normal school hours. Even if a kid isn’t participating, they can still become a spectator and cheer on their friends or volunteer to help in other ways.
Advertise using flyers and posters made with recycled paper. To further their awareness about green motion, encourage the kids to walk, bike or rollerblade seeking sponsors or to ask businesses to put posters in their windows. Guide their green efforts as they shoot emails to friends, family and co-workers.
Ask a local business to offer prizes to the top fundraisers as an additional crowd gathering tactic. A certificate for a new bike, skateboard or rollerblades could be raffled if you have the contacts to swing such a donation. Businesses will often give a cash donation for a well placed advertising sign visible at the event. Think really big and find a large company (or philanthropic individual) willing to match the total amount of funds raised.
If your event appears to be catching on and promises enough spectators, sell healthy snacks and drinks for additional revenue, then ask some of the kids to volunteer for trash pick-up and recycle duty. This outdoor, motion fundraiser should be planned well after the threat of April showers. Just in case, make sure you’ve got a rain date scheduled!
