Welcome back!

Welcome to the Harrisonburg/Rockingham Relay for Life Fundraising Blog! We (Kelsey & Heather) have created this blog as an easy resource that you and your team can use throughout the year regarding fundraising ideas. As we come across ideas we will post them for you to read and share with your team. Also, please write comments on our posts with ideas of your own! Be sure to also check out the links we have posted on the right side of the blog. There are links to other blogs and websites that have help relay and fundraising information. And last but not least, this year we will be having special "Fundraising Friday" posts.

Happy Relaying :)

Bark for Life!

It's that time of year again! Spring is here and dogs are eager for their owners to take them to the park!

Let your dogs have fun and help find a cure for cancer! 

Please join us at Bark for Life

April 9, 2011

Stonewall Memorial Park

Terrace Ave, Elkton, VA

(Just of Spotswood Trail Past the Fire Department)

Bark for life is a non-competitive walk event for dogs and their owners to raise funds and awareness in the fight against cancer. We'll be celebrating pooches everywhere for their care giving ways in which they help us everyday.

Registration is from 11:00 a.m. to 11:50 and the walk begins at 12 noon. The closing ceremony will be at 5:00 p.m.

The registration fee is $20 for the 1st dog, $15 for the 2nd dog, and the 3rd dog is FREE if you register by 3/31/11. (The registration fee will go up to $25 for the 1st dog, $15 for the second dog if you register after 3/31/11)

Sing up online at: www.RelayForLife.org/BarkHarrisonburg

There will be doggie demonstrations, contests, silent auction, and much more. Activities include Bark For Life Dog Beauty Pageant, microchipping and nail clipping, the Duke Dog, Photo contest, and Food.

There are also a few Bark For Life Rules:

• Dogs MUST be on a leash at all times (6 ft. max) and up to date on all vaccinations
• Participants are responsible for cleaning up after their dog
• We reserve the right to turn away dogs that are a threat to participants

Hope to see you there!





For more information visit: www.RelayForLife.org/BarkHarrisonburg





Out of the Box Fundraisers

With only 43 days left until Relay, it is time to start cranking out fundraisers! Here a few Out of the Box Fundraising ideas that are simple and very PROFITABLE!



Massage For A Cure

Find a massage therapist willing to donate part of his or her profit to your team, and arrange for them to come to your workplace, school, or another location and do short fifteen minute chair massages. That's a feel good fundraiser!

Guess How Many Jellybeans

This fundraiser is best suited to teams associated with workplaces or schools. Find a large glass jar, and fill it with jellybeans. (May I suggest the Relay colors of Purple and White, or your team's colors?) Sell tickets for a chance to guess how many jellybeans are in the jar. The week of Relay, count the tickets and award the winner with the jar of jellybeans!

Cigarette Vending Machine Demolition

This is a symbolic and fun way to raise funds! Search for an old cigarette vending machine - try eBay or bars in towns that recently went smoke-free. Charge people $1 to take a swing at it with a bat! (Be sure to use safety goggles and other precautions.)

Easter Egg Hunt

Most Relays happen in the summer, so fundraisers that tie into the springtime are a great way to kick off your team's funds. Organize an Easter Egg Hunt in a local park, or even in your own backyard. Charge a few dollars for each child who participates. For extra cash, you can sell coffee to mom and dad!

Chili Cook off For a Cure

Few dishes inspire such pride as chili - and chili cook-off contests are always a lot of fun! Ask contestants to donate $25 as their entry fee, and have your audience tasters donate $5 entry. Be sure to provide a prize for the ultimate chili chef! Mmmm, I'm getting hungry just thinking about it!

Happy Relaying :)

A Little Change Makes A Lot Of Cents

I just stumbled upon this idea a few days ago and thought I would share it with everyone. This is a super easy fundraiser for any Bank Relay Teams! It's as simple as putting up a flyer and collecting change :)

Bank and credit union teams can post this message at the teller line: "Donate the cents from your deposit amount to the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life and help fight cancer! If your check total is for $187.67, your donation is 67 cents. We might find a cure for cancer right in your pocket!"

Simple isn't it! And yes, we can find a cure for cancer just by collecting pocket change :)

Fundraising Do's and Don'ts

Fundraising DO's and DON'TS

Here's a couple of guidelines that need to be followed when Fundraising...

We Cannot Sell …                        

• Anything with American Cancer Society or Relay For Life logo and/or name on it.  (Example, items purchased from the Relay Gear catalog)
• Items that can be purchased from or returned to a store, vendor, or the internet.

But, We Can Sell …

• Homemade cookbooks (with Team Name only)
• Handmade holiday crafts
• Baked goods
• In Honor, In Memory, and In Support of Sun and Moon Donation Cards
• (See your Team Recruitment Chair or American Cancer Society Staff Partner)            
• Services (car washes, yard work, house cleaning, etc.)
• Activities (bowling, skate parties, trivia nights, etc.)
• Garage/Yard Sales 

Caution …

The American Cancer Society has very specific guidelines about raffles.  As a nonprofit organization, we must adhere to state and federal guidelines.  Check with your American Cancer Society Staff Partner regarding the prospect of holding a raffle in your division.

If you ever have any other questions regarding fundraising guidelines, please contact your ACS Staff Partner. For those of you in Harrisonburg/Rockingham County, please contact Annika Dean at 434-3360 :)

Happy Relaying!

Cake Anyone?

I'd like to share a quick, simple, and PROFITABLE fundraiser that we did at our team meeting this past week. My grandmother, who is an amazing baker, made her famous Red Velvet cake for us to "auction" off at our team meeting. Before the meeting, we told the team captains and attendees to bring dollar bills to participate in the fundraiser. The object of the auction is to give the last dollar and you'll win the cake. First, we set the timer for five minutes, and we started collecting dollars. As we collected each dollar, we said, "Now it is Heather's (or whoever is gives the dollar) cake. Who wants the cake now?" And then we'd go to the next person. Whoever gives the last dollar during the time limit, wins the cake. This fundraiser was extremely successful and in five minutes, we raised $76 from one red velvet cake!

Try it and see how much you can raise :)

Give the Gift of HOPE and FUNDRAISE!

Hey Everyone! Sorry that it's taken me a while to post something new. I just thought that I'd get your creative juices flowing with a simple fundraising acronym for HOPE. Remember, you give cancer patients HOPE by FUNDRAISING!

H: Handyman for a Day – Shovel snow, rake leaves or mow your neighbors lawn and donate your “fee” to your Relay For Life.

O: October Festival – Celebrate autumn and the fall bounty by raising funds for Relay. Have pumpkins, straw bales, dried corn stalks, colorful gourds and bright flowers for your decor. For the main attractions you may want to consider the following activities: a dance, pumpkin carving contest, apple bobbing, face painting, petting zoo, pony rides, bake sale, and a scarecrow decorating contest. Charge an admission fee and sell other goods and services at your festival.

P: Pot Luck Lunches at the Workplace – Name every Wednesday “Relay For Life Pot Luck Day.” Team members take turns preparing foods, salads, desserts, etc. and offer to employees at the workplace at a set price or donation.

E: Envelopes at Restaurant Tables – Teams generate donations by placing a Relay For Life envelope at every table, stating “Please Support Our Relay For Life Team and the American Cancer Society.” Waitresses check envelopes after each seating.

Happy Fundraising :)