Registering for the New England Classic means you’ve also signed onto supporting a really important cause. The minimum pledge requirement for the NEC 150 is $600, and the minimum for the NEC 550 is $3,000.
While some participants “self-fund” and think of it as paying for a great cycling vacation, most of us will raise these funds from family, friends and colleagues.
Here are some tips to help you with fundraising
1 Believe in the cause! Supporting the ADA in finding a cure for diabetes and helping children who suffer from diabetes are really important things to do. So let’s change the reference point. Don’t think of it as asking someone for money; instead, think of it as asking people to join you in doing the right thing. Who can say no to that??
2Set yourself an achievable fundraising goal. You’ll be surprised at how fast you will reach it.
3Pledge yourself first, for the amount you would like to see others pledge. $50 or 100 is a great place to start — this makes it easy to show folks you are already “walking the walk” when you ask them to step up and do the right thing.
4 Ask a few family members or close friends to match your own pledge and put their names on the sheet right under yours. Now when you pass it around, folks will see that the “going rate” is somewhere around $50 or $100. They’ll be more likely to match that.
5Create your own page on the NEC registration site and share it to your social media. Use it to share your excitement about the event and ask your friends to contribute.
6Pass your sponsor sheet around the office (if permissible) and ask your colleagues for support. Check with your personnel office to see if your company has a Matching Gifts program.
7Bring your sponsor sheet to any civic or community organizations to which you belong. The members of these groups are good citizens and volunteers who are used to supporting great causes.
8Remember: you’ll never get what you don’t ask for! Tell people all about the New England Classic and give them a chance to show they care.
With more than 34 million Americans living with diabetes, this disease affects almost everyone. You might be amazed at the number of people who will be generous when asked to support you in your fundraising efforts.
