Running for Charity - Fundraising Projects for Ronald McDonald House Charities

When I signed up for the runDisney Glass Slipper Challenge I chose to register through a charity. I did this because running has given me so much, and I wanted to give back in some way. (To be honest, I also wanted to avoid the stress that is runDisney registration day lol) 

I knew that reaching my fundraising goal would be a challenge, but I don't think I was ready for just how difficult it could be. 

These days everyone seems to be doing something for charity. This is AWESOME. It also creates some bumps in the road since everyone is asking for money and most people I know can't possibly donate to every one they know who's doing a fundraiser. I understand this and know that I need to get creative if I want to hit my $750 minimum goal. 

I post my fundraising link at least once a week, but I am careful not to post it so often that it starts to annoy people. I like to thank people that have donated so that other people can see that their friends or family are supporting me, so maybe they will too. Most of my donations so far have come from this process. In fact, my largest single donation was $100 from a total stranger on Twitter. I love the running community, so much support!

I also sent out an email to some close family and friends letting them know what I'm up to. I received a reply from one of those people with a nice note and a check in the mail the next day. I was humbled by this person's generosity. 

While the direct donations are wonderful and greatly appreciated, I am still quite far from reaching my goal. So, I decided to try and sell some shirts. I had a friend design them for free, and another friend who owns a printing shop offer to print them with the proceeds all going to my fundraising page. AWESOME, right? In theory, yes. In reality, no. Only two shirts were ordered so we cancelled the campaign and refunded the buyer. 

I was bummed, but decided to give it another go via another company.
Right now I have two shirts for sale, if I sell less than 9 of each they will not be printed. Hopefully I can get at least 10 of each by the end of the month.


Click the link under each image to be taken to the website where you can purchase the shirts. The sweatshirt is $35 and the v-neck tee is $20. 

http://www.tfund.com/princessintraining

http://www.tfund.com/princesstraining

I didn't stop there though. I also have a friend who is a Scentsy consultant and she is running a fundraising party for me. Click the link below the image to be taken to the online party and be sure to choose Kerri Hill's RMHC Fundraiser at check out. 20% of your purchase will be donated to my fundraising page for Ronald McDonald House Charities.

https://mariadebruin.scentsy.us/?partyId=257107437

I have an Avon party going on right now too, but it is not online. If you're interested in making a purchase you can reach me on Facebook.com/fromlazytolady and I can place the order for you. 20% of purchases will be donated as well.

                                       
Do you want to hear the best part of my fundraising efforts? Some really great companies have donated products for me to use as raffle prizes! Everyone who donates $15 or more directly to my fundraising page will be entered into drawings to win some awesome prizes. Some of the sponsoring companies are:

Keep coming back for more information on my fundraising efforts and for updates on new companies added to the sponsor list! 

Running for Charity - Virtual Race for Ronald McDonald House

My friend Paulie recently joined me on Team RMHC and is running some great Virtual Races to help raise money for his fundraising goal.
Registration is now open for all to register. Please join us and run the Thanksgiving Gobbler Wobble to support the Ronald McDonald House Charities.  Ronald McDonald House Charities' mission of promoting Healthy Children, Healthy Families and Healthy Communities. We will participate to raising funds to help provide care and comfort for families facing tremendous hardships. when their child is hospitalized. Please join us in helping those in need. Registration link:  http://www.active.com/fort-mill-sc/running/races/thanksgiving-day-turkey-gobbler-wobble-2014

He also has an awesome Fall/Halloween themed race going on now.
Reach your Distance this fall with the Hallowed Harvest Hustle. Walk, Run, Swim, Roll to your distance goals when and where you decide.Registration Link: http://www.active.com/fort-mill-sc/running/distance-running-trail-heads/hallowed-harvest-hustle-2014

"Scentsational" Fundraiser for Ronald McDonald House Charities

As most of you know, I am running the runDisney Glass Slipper Challenge (19.3 miles!) in February to raise money for Team Ronald McDonald House.

I'm excited to announce that my friend Maria offered to host a Scentsy Fundraiser for me!

When you order through this link and choose "Kerri Hill's RMHC Fundraiser" at check out, a portion of your purchase price will be donated to my fundraising page!

Scentsy is perfect for Christmas, Hanukah, teacher gifts, shower gifts and so much more! Scentsy has something for everyone and it won't break the bank!

Have you ever heard of Scentsy? If you haven't, be prepared to fall in love with the sight and smell of these sensational products! Scentsy Wickless Candles are highly fragrant wax bars that are warmed (not burned) with a light bulb in a ceramic warmer. The specially formulated wax melts at a low temperature, which makes it safe for children and pets as well! Who doesn't love it when their house smells good?!

Scent is one of the most powerful of our senses. With a whiff of a scent, one can be transformed immediately to another place in time. Relive warm memories, then make some more… just plug it in, it makes perfect Scents!

I would love it if everyone who was interested in purchasing Scentsy products in the near future would use my link to help raise money for the families at Ronald McDonald House. Join the Facebook Event to be involved. Share your favorite products/scents and ask Maria and other Scentsy users for advice!

Please invite anyone you think might be interested. If you prefer to order through the catalog and not online just let me know!

https://mariadebruin.scentsy.us/
(Don't forget to choose Kerri Hill's RMHC Fundraiser at checkout!)

For those of you who'd like to donate but don't wish to make a purchase, you can do so at the link below!
Kerri's Ronald McDonald House Charities Fundraising Page
Thank you for your support!

Running for Charity Series - Voices of Ronald McDonald House Part I

Today I would like to introduce you to a childhood friend of mine, Jennifer Lentini. Jen is a great example of why I chose to run for Team Ronald McDonald House. The following is a guest post from Jen herself:


"At 13 years old I received a heart transplant. The Ronald McDonald house was a wonderful organization that offered much more then housing to families of sick kids but support. My family lived to close to use there facility. Though , they had many actives and events that they had to help with not only the child that was sick but the family as well. I remember when I was 13 after my transplant that holiday season I went there to make Christmas cards to send to sick children. They also had Halloween dances and even if you did not stay at the facility they had activities for siblings to attend. Years later , I went with the key club in my high school for a Halloween party. It was extremely special because I was able to help younger kids as I was helped when I was waiting for a heart transplant."


Jen just competed in her first ever Transplant Games of America. It is now 18 years after her first transplant, and Jen has developed complications from the medication she's had to take from the first transplant. She has been told that she will need a second heart transplant and also a kidney transplant.  Unfortunately, Insurance does not cover all the necessary treatment and travel expenses.  Therefore, in order for her to receive the most optimal level of care and treatment for her condition, Jen is depending on our support.
If you would like to donate to help Jen with her medical expenses you can do so by visiting this link: http://tinyurl.com/TEAMJEN


Jen shared her story with us today to show you just how much your donations to the Ronald McDonald House mean to the families who use their services. The Ronald McDonald House is more than just a place to spend the night. It is a place that brings hope and smiles in a time of fear and tears. 

I am running the runDisney Glass Slipper Challenge in Orlando, FL in February to raise money for the Ronald McDonald House. This race series consists of a 10K (6.2 miles) on Saturday followed by a Half Marathon (13.1 miles) on Sunday. You can find my fundraising page by following the link below, and if you are willing to make a donation I would so appreciate it! 

CLICK HERE TO DONATE TO RMHC

***As an added bonus, you will receive one entry to an online raffle for every $5 donation made to the Ronald McDonald House.
Prizes include tee shirts, Pace Bands, Compression Socks, Race Distance Decals, Disney Princess Items, and more.***

Running for Charity - runDisney Glass Slipper Challenge

Well, it's official! I am a member of Team Ronald McDonald House!
I will be running the runDisney Glass Slipper Challenge during the Princess Half Marathon Weekend next February. I will be doing the Enchanted 10K on Saturday and the Princess Half Marathon on Sunday. It will be a total of 19.3 miles and it's all to help raise money for an amazing charity.

Ronald McDonald House Charity provides care and support for families of seriously ill, critically injured or medically fragile children being treated at area medical facilities.
Ronald McDonald Houses serve more than 8,000 families each day around the world, saving them over $257 million a year in hotel costs.

Guests of the RMHC pay only $15 a night, if financially able. Contributions and volunteers do all the rest.

A $15 donation sponsors a family for one night and allows them to spend time closer to their sick child.
It will also let you choose 2 songs for my running playlist to listen to while training and while doing my 19.3 miles come race weekend.

Please consider donating using the link below to help families stay together during a difficult time in their lives.
http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/kerri-hill-1/2015-team-rmhc-rundisney-princess-half-marathon-we


Do you run for charity? Which one and why?

I Run for the Bling (and charity) - Virtual Races

People ask me why I run. It's a very simple answer.
BLING.
I love shiny things. I love medals. I know that I could just buy myself some medals and be done but it's not the same. I want the glory that goes along with the bling.

The problem is that it gets expensive to register for all of these races and then travel to them. I also can't request all of these weekends off from work. That's when an amazing thing happened. Someone told me about Virtual Races.

I was hooked.

A virtual race is a "race" that you get to run on your own time, at your own location. Sometimes there are specific dates or a date range that gives you time to finish it, but all of the ones I have done allow you to finish using your own goals.
The distance for the race can vary. Some are 5k, 10k, 13.1 miles or 26.2 miles. Some don't have a set distance. Some you pick your distance when you sign up, others you don't have to tell them anything.

Cost for virtual races can vary significantly. I only sign up for the ones with medals. I pick and choose based on two criteria.
#1 - the medal design. It has to be awesome. Has to be something that I wouldn't get if I signed up for a local race.

#2 - the charity. Yes, you read that right, the charity. A LOT of virtual races are started as a way to raise money for charities. I've signed up for a few that were organized by individuals trying to raise the money for their charity sponsorship of a "real" race they were doing. I've also signed up for a few that just take part of the proceeds and donate them to a charity that I care about like the American Cancer Society, Ronald McDonald House, or Make a Wish Foundation.

I recently signed up for a super cool race series by donating to Saint Jude's Children's Hospital in honor of someone who is signed up as a charity racer for them. Are you ready to see the medals I will be receiving? I don't think you're ready...
It's the Frozen for Cures Virtual Race Series. By signing up for the full series I got a bonus medal. I am SO excited about this. You can sign up by visiting THIS LINK. It's for a great cause.

The organizer of this series has another series going as well. I know there are a lot of you who will appreciate this one. It's the Magical Friendship Virtual Race Series. You can register HERE and you'll get these amazing medals. Look how they all connect when you register for the full series!

I have signed up for several other virtual races and I will post photos and links for them once I've completed my goal distance for each.
I have found that signing up for virtual runs helps me get motivated for my training for my "actual" races that I have coming up.

Do you run for bling? What's your favorite medal in your collection?