Good cause

[mikekn]

My friend oaken_glen is going to be walking in the Philadelphia 3-Day to support breast cancer research. You should all go and support her.

Comments

[oaken-glen.livejournal.com]

Thank you Mike!

Why the walk?

[metageek.livejournal.com]

OK, this is something I've always wondered about: why do organizations do this kind of "sponsor someone who's walking" thing? If someone comes to me and says, "Will you sponsor me walking for X?", I perceive that as "Will you donate for X?", and the walk doesn't really have anything to do with it. (In this case, Mike's post prompted me to go to BRCF's Web site and make a donation.)

Understand, I'm not trying to tear you down here—if this sort of marketing works, then go for it. I just don't understand why. Probably because I'm a geek.

Re: Why the walk?

[oaken-glen.livejournal.com]

I suppose it is asking for a donation in support of "X", whatever "X" may be. In this case, "X" is for breast cancer.

The nice thing is, no one is required to donate. If folks don't want to, that's fine.

The 3-Day is, well, a 3 day experience, not just the walk. We'll be living in a mobile city for those 3 days. Part of the money raised goes towards making that happen (tents, food, shower trucks, entertainment, etc). The net proceeds then go towards two groups (Susan G Komen and National Philanthropic Trust Breas Cancer Fund).

I think for me, it's not just about raising the money. I want to take part in the walk. I want to have that experience. But maybe that makes me a weirdo. :-)

The marketing seems to work. I couldn't find numbers from last year but in 2006, the 3-Day raised over $86 million dollars. Not too shabby.

Re: Why the walk?

[metageek.livejournal.com]

But maybe that makes me a weirdo. :-)

You and <dig, dig>...maybe 30,000 others. :-)

in 2006, the 3-Day raised over $86 million dollars. Not too shabby.

Indeed. Can't argue with results, I guess.

I've worked in software for ~15 years now, and I barely understand software marketing; it's not surprising that charity marketing is more complex than I would think.

Re: Why the walk?

[oaken-glen.livejournal.com]

You and dig, dig...maybe 30,000 others. :-)

*laugh* It's good to know I'm not alone. :-)

Re: Why the walk?

[mikekn]

I'll add my thoughts as well.

It used to be when you sponsored someone for a walk you were pledging $X per mile or something like that. In those cases, it was both a fund raiser and a publicity opportunity, where the walk was a integral part of it.

Now it really is about drawing attention to the cause. They could do something else, and other groups do, but here the more people they get out there and the longer they can be seen, then the more attention they'll get (and in turn the more funds they will be able to raise)

Re: Why the walk?

[metageek.livejournal.com]

Now it really is about drawing attention to the cause.

Ah—I hadn't realized the cents-per-mile thing had gone by the wayside.

[maccuswell.livejournal.com]

support her

Quite the choice of words, there.

[oaken-glen.livejournal.com]

Sorta like:

"If you can't be an athlete, be an athletic supporter"