Happy Monday! Or, Moneyday, I guess. If you’re a charity runner, let me know if you want a $250 grant. I like raising money to give it out and I figure one of you is raising money for a cause and could use some money. I’m going to get to that in just a minute.
First, just in case you’ve never been here before, I’m a father of three an a marathon runner. My middle son, Jack, is severely autistic. I’ve named what I’m doing Operation Jack, after him, of course. It started in 2010, when I ran 61 full marathons and an extra ultramarathon to raise money and awareness for a charity I’m a part of called Train 4 Autism. We’re a group of volunteer parents trying our best to help people raise money for the autism-related charity of their choice.
I also have a foundation, the Operation Jack Autism Foundation, which I use to raise money and then give it away. Most of the money I’ve netted has gone to Train 4 Autism. But I’ve also sent it in plenty of other directions. There are so many causes in this world that need help and I love being able to use my hobby (running) to try to make a difference. So, in just a minute, I’m going to explain how to get the $250 I want to give away. But first, …
Race 4 Free
If you don’t have a charity that you’re raising money for, but you’ve thought about running for a cause but are concerned about the commitment, I have a program for my foundation called Race 4 Free and not only does the foundation benefit, but you benefit as well! Raise just $300 and we’ll comp a race entry for you and send you a tech shirt to run in. You get an easy-to-set up fundraising site that you can have up and running in about three minutes, and if you don’t reach the goal, we don’t ding your credit card or anything like that. No obligation if you want to try. Keep it in mind!
And finally, free money …
If you’re interested in the money, leave a comment here and let me know and I’ll get back to you. On Thursday, I’m going to publish a paragraph (that you write) from each of you who wants the money about your cause, complete with links to your fundraising pages, blog, Twitter, etc. I’ll have a poll on my Operation Jack Facebook page, keep it open over the weekend and close voting Sunday night.
Most votes wins the $250 and the Operation Jack Autism Foundation will send a check out next week. It has to be a 501(c)3 charity and while I don’t expect this to be the case, I might not be able to allow organizations if I think it would be divisive or detrimental to Operation Jack. That’s my super-amateur disclaimer.
If you win, you have to write a guest blog for me here. And that’s it. Interested? Let me know! I have no idea how many of you will be interested but I’m going to have to cut this off at the first 20 people who let me know they’re interested.
That’s all for today. Have a great Monday! Let me know if you want some money!
Jeremy Sale says
Sam, as always you know I’m up for a great challenge! Please mark me as wanting to participant. Jeremy
Anne P says
Sam, I am very interested! I am running in October in my first race as a charity runner. I didn’t know that you had the Race 4 Free option and will probably consider that for future races. Great idea!
Beth says
I would love to be a participant!! As you know I am keeping up with my fundraising for Autism Speaks through my first half in Sept! $3,150 raised and a whole lot more to go!!
M says
I’m interested, if you’d consider a charity in Australia.
Natalie says
I am interested if you’d take a Canadian charity! I’m raising $6000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Canada and running my first marathon for my friend’s son who got diagnosed with Leukemia last year.
Joy says
I would love to try for $250 to go to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society in memory of my Grandma. Thanks!
Marci says
My goal is to run ten races to raise money for Make A Wish foundation. I would love to considered for this!
Nellie says
I want to nominate my sister Jojo. She’s running 52.4 in a few weeks as part of the San Francisco Marathon. I’ll be joining her for the last 26.2 as we run in support of the San Francisco Suicide Prevention Center in memory of my boyfriend’s brother, and all other families who have lost someone to mental illness. Jojo is truly an inspiring woman, and I’m incredibly lucky to have her be the voice behind supporting such a great cause.
Elisabeth says
I would love to get the $250 and use it toward my fundraising with LLS/TNT. I’ve been training with the Los Angeles chapter’s Ironteam and on July 28th I’ll be racing Vineman 140.6, a full ironman. It counts, right? There’s a marathon to run after I swim 2.4 miles and bike 112. When I signed up for Vineman with TNT last fall I had never completed a triathlon and my training has had some major ups (from completing my first tri to biking 112 miles) and downs (from crashing my bike and getting a concussion to DNFing my first half ironman attempt). It’s been rewarding and humbling all at the same time. Training for an ironman has been the hardest thing I’ve ever undertaken, and while the training has been exceptionally difficult, I know that in the end its all worth it. The money we raise is going to help people and families living with and fighting blood cancer and helping find a cure.
danielle says
you know my story but others might not…
My brother in law, Aaron T. Sterling, was born with Cystic Fibrosis. From the day he was born Aaron was unable to do something that the majority of people on this earth take for granted: breathe. When he was born in 1981, the doctors told his parents he wouldnt live to the age of 6. With the evolving miracle of technology and medicine, Aaron was able to greatly surpass the age of 6. He graduated from high school, and attended the University of Maine. In 2003, Aaron underwent a double lung transplant, receiving a lung from his brother and another from a family friend. After having a second single lung transplant in 2007, Aaron ultimately lost his battle with CF in 2011- but not without fighting. He left behind a fiance, a loving brother, mother and father, and countless friends who fought right along with him.
Approx. 70,000 adults/children in the world are currently living with this devistating disease, but with the help of donations and medical research they are coming close to finding a cure so that no one has to know what it feels like to be born unable to simply take a breath.
I am the assistant race director for the 65 Roses 5k road race in September, and all of our proceeds go to the CF foundation of New England. http://www.65roses5k.net/
Jen says
I am running the Chicago Marathon for Road Scholars, a program that changes the lives of at-risk high school students through mentorship and half-marathon training. I have been a volunteer group leader for Road Scholars for two years and witnessed the transformation made in the lives of these amazing kids.
Thanks for giving back, Sam! What a fantastic opportunity.
Caroline says
I’m running the 2012 New York City Marathon with Team for Kids in November and would love to put the $250 toward my fundraising. Team for Kids provides free or low-cost school- and community-center based health and fitness programs to children who would otherwise have little to no access to regular physical activity. This cause is especially important to be because sports played a huge role in my life growing up. Participation in sports has taught me how to lead a healthy and active lifestyle, build self-confidence and make life-long friendships. I cannot imagine the person I would be today without athletics and I want to help other kids have a similar experience. Thank you for this opportunity, Sam!
Blog: http://sweetcarolineblog.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/carolinew5
Fundraising page: http://www.runwithtfk.org/Profile/PublicPage/9550
Genna says
Thank you so much for allowing us this opportunity. It is a great offer!
I am running Disney’s Goofy and a half challenge this year on behalf of The Leukemia and Lymphoma society’s Team in Training. This consists of a half marathon on saturday and a full marathon on sunday. This is my 4th season being involved. This year is extra special to me, as I have increased to more than just a marathon, I am also running on behalf of a good friend I have, Erin. Erin was diagnosed with cancer after battling pneumonia. She is one of the strongest people I know. She has not let anything deter her from being happy and so positive. In addition to Erin, I was also told a friend from college, who is now 26 was just diagnosed with lymphoma and is undergoing chemotherapy treatment.
This cause is important for me because it allows me to bring attention to those who cannot run. Each run I think to myself, running is easier than cancer. It is sure hard to run a 39.3 mile race in 24 hours, but it is sure easier than cancer.
I want more people to have more birthdays 🙂
Webpage: http://risforrunning.blogspot.com
donation page: pages.teamintraing.org/sun/wdw13/ghimelfarb
twitter: @risforrunning
Thank you 🙂
Alissandra Hurdelbrink says
I coach with One with the Water™, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, that offers competitive swim training and year-round swim instruction. We emphasize having fun and personally connecting with you so that you can relax and become One with the Water™.
We provide swimming lessons to children and adults, including those diagnosed with autism, Asperger’s, ADD, ADHD, sensory integration, anxiety, Down and CHARGE syndrome, auditory processing disorders and dyslexia. We provide lessons to Service-Disabled Veterans and athletes of the U.S. Paralympics and U.S. Special Olympics.
One with the Water™ is partnered with the US Paralympics to provide year-round training to those who want to learn to compete. This program is designed for persons with mental or physical challenges, what we call “flawless imperfections.” Designed to help swimmers learn and improve skills, maintain and increase physical fitness, achieve success and receive recognition through competition, and experience self-actualization in a regular aquatics environment.
All donations made to One with the Water are used to provide instruction, insurance, and pool space to teach kids with Special Needs.
facebook.com/onewiththewater
onewiththewater.org
Alissandra Hurdelbrink says
I am an avid marathoner and triathlete and this will be my first Operation Jack marathon (best part is it’s the day after Christmas) To me there is nothing better than an event like this after a Holiday!!!
Shannon Norton says
I am not a runner (yet 😉 but I am a walker, and sometimes a jogger. But more importantly I am involved with an amazing organization, Only Hope WNC. We provide services and assistance to homeless youth in Western NC. We are always fundraising, so this $250 grant would be a wonderful blessing. Thank you for considering our worthy cause!
Shuling says
JJ’s List, a non-profit organization focused on community integration of people with disabilities, would love to put the $250 towards sponsoring 2 high school students with disabilities to learn essential employment skills through a 14-week Internet skills and technology training internship. We have developed the SPILLS Curriculum designed specifically to teach teens to use the Internet safely and productively, and will ensure the students learn about everything from good netiquette, and recognizing scams, to searching for employment online and building friendships on Facebook.
Emily says
I am running the Chicago Marathon this fall for Team Salute! I’ve wanted to run for a charity for a long time but wanted to run or a charity that really spoke to me. After my brother joined the marines and witnessing the sacrifices he and my family have gone through made me realize how much our military men, women and families give to us. I see running for Team Salute as my way to give back and to say thank you to them for everything they do for us!
Thanks for this opportunity!!
Allison says
Over the past few months, I have been truly blessed to have the opportunity to get involved with myTEAM TRIUMPH Wisconsin Chapter. mTT is an athletic ride-along program, which provides endurance race experiences for challenged athletes, known as Captains, through the help of able-bodied athletes, known as Angels. Our Captains range from athletes with physical disabilities, cognitive delays, or wounded Veterans; all participating in events that they may never have had the chance to do without this organization.
Often times, people comment that it must be so rewarding for our Captains to participate in events and cross the finish line, but what those people don’t realize is that as Angels, we are inspired by our Captains. For so long, I took for granted my abilities to run, walk, perform simple daily tasks. mTT has helped me to realize that my daily struggles are no where near those of some individuals, and if I have the ability to do something as simple as running, I should never complain about how hard it may be, but share the experience with others.
mTT-WI is growing as word is spread, but because of the cost of equipment (adaptive race chairs cost around $3000, boats for triathlons are around $500, and bike trailers for triathlons/duathlons are around $2000) , the organization is limited in the number of Captains it can allow in events. There is often a wait list for events, and many Captains have missed opportunities to race simply due to lack of equipment.
I’m honored to have been able to share a little bit about mTT here, and would love to some day come out and run your event (possibly even with a Captain!). All of the organizations listed above sound amazing, and any one of them will benefit greatly from your generous donation!