Meeting with Marcie!

Today I met with Marcie, the regional director of Camp Good Days. I could not be more lucky. Marcie is amazing!  She has agreed to help me with whatever I need to make this 5k a success. She said that because she just finished with two big events, she has enough free time in her schedule to do this with me! We talked for about an hour about how we are going to attack this and make it a success in about a months time.

Technically, we should have started planning in February; this would have given us PLENTY of time to get the course established, get permission and clearance from the school district, city, and get insurance, sponsors, donations, etc. However, my project was somewhat halted until I got the permission I needed from my family to host a race in my cousin's honor.

Now that I have their consent, I'm diving in!

One big thing I need to decide is if Marcie is just helping me because she has volunteered her time, or if I am doing this via. Camp Good Days  - this means they can help publish flyers, get the event info in the newspaper, etc., AND makes our T-Shirt (etc.) orders tax exempt. (Big plus...)

At this point, because I am starting the actual action part of the project a lot later than would have been ideal, I think my best option is to go through Camp Good Days. I really like the organization, and am definitely considering sending all of my proceeds there. Though Marcie still says even if I do it via. camp good days I only need to donate a small amount to the organization. 


Some things we discussed ... 


I need to talk to Mr. Powers and figure out what parts of the land around the school actually belong to the school vs. Tompkins County/the City of Ithaca... I'd like to keep the run on school property so that I don't need to get the idea approved and insured by the city ($$$).

I have the building use form, so I need to fill that out and turn it in, and talk to the athletic directors (they have to sign it too).

Marcie will check if anyone she knows has a tent we can put in the middle of the track and have our tables under. I requested tables and water coolers from the school, as well as a few chairs.

While Marcie and I were talking, a women Marcie knows came in and ended up helping A LOT. She is a cancer survivor, and has organized several 5k runs in the past. She wants to meet with me on Friday back at Marcie's office (so so so happy, such a big help).

Marcie and I are going to try and reach out to the Bangs funeral home service and ask them if they might like to donate their time (give us an ambulance) for race day. Hopefully this works out, because if it does it will save a lottttt of money.

Thats the big big thing. Sponsors. I'm going to my bank, Alternatives, and asking if I can meet with someone and tell them about my event/cause. If they donate over $50, they can have their company on the back of the T-shirts we are making. This same policy goes for everywhere we ask for donations. Of course, some places will only donate, for example, a $25 giftcard, in which case we will raffle those prizes off, or give them to the first place runner.

I'm drafting a letter after this blog post that will go out to the businesses I contact about donating and sponsoring. Marcie gave me some sample letters to look at from her past events, which will help.

My T-Shirts are going to be white (5/ 5.50 per shirt) with orange font, and sponsors on the back.
I kind of wanted a colored tshirt but that costs 6 per shirt which will end up being significantly more. I'm doing this through PSP, because they are very efficient and easy to work with.

Right now, we're looking at needing at least $500 for shirts... assuming we get 100 of them.. though this is something I have time to think about... perhaps 75 is a more realistic number.
The shirts need a name and a logo on them, both of which I am thinking about now. It's hard though, I don't know whether or not to include my cousins name in the name of the event... or what to call it... right now the best I can come up with is Run Against Cancer.. Oh!!! What about Strides for Sarah?!?!!!? That one's good.... I'll have to ask my Aunt if having my cousins name in the title is Ok.


I'll need to make a Facebook event, advertise it in the halls with flyers, word of mouth, and bakesales- I'm going to recruit my friends to bake and I'll sell the baked goods in the cafeteria during 5 and 6 lunch periods (when I have free). I'll have forms for pre-registration there, and give people information about how to pre-register even when I'm not in the cafeteria. At this same time, I'll have a sign up sheet for volunteers as well, as we will need people helping with timing, water, food, handing out shirts, etc..

I'll be speaking to coaches and sports teams about running the 5k as a team, or just in groups. The girls lacrosse team has already shown interest.

Much to do, next meeting with Marcie and Beth on Friday...!! !! !!