Saving lives, one dollar at a time

Hello, Start! Running Marathon Team! Thank you again for being part of this journey with me.

We’ve each got a $1500 fundraising goal, and I’d like to talk a little more about that today. The funds you raise for the American Heart Association during this process will save lives. By joining the team and raising money for the AHA, you’ve taken a personal goal of running the marathon and turned it into something that has outside supporters. For me, raising money as part of the marathon training has really upped my accountability – it keeps me focused and helps to keep me motivated. Now that I know I’ve got people counting on me to run this race, I know I have to keep training.

I’m also finding that fundraising has been a great way to reconnect with people and keep them involved in my life. When we talk about the marathon and why I’m running, it gives us the chance to get into things that we would never normally talk about. I’ve been through some big changes in my life in the last few years, and this has been a way for me to introduce the people in my life to the new me, to involve them in my new goals and how I live my life now.

There are some easy ways to reach your fundraising goal – I’ve been contacting friends and family through email and also through Facebook and Twitter. I know we’re in some tough economic times now, and that’s why I think it’s important to note that every dollar helps. Not everyone can make a $50 or $100 donation these days, but every little bit does help. Here’s what the AHA can do with the money you collect:

$10
Educates 50 people about nutrition, physical activity or the signs and symptoms of heart attack and stroke through our brochure publications.

$15
Makes the newest CPR Guidelines available to an emergency care provider, giving them the most effective skills to treat a patient in cardiac arrest. (Visit AmericanHeart.org/CPR and enter your ZIP code for classes near you.)

$35
Provides training for healthcare providers who care for infants and children in pediatric advanced life support.

$50
Provides schools with lesson plans and activity guides to teach children about heart health and nutrition.

So keep plugging along with fundraising, and be proud of what you’re doing. You are helping to save lives!