Milestone One – You joined the effort!

Once you have registered, send an email to everyone you know. Use the Memory Jogger to help you come up with a great list. Remember, people won’t donate if they aren't asked. Other things to keep in mind:

• Tell your story. Why are you walking? Are you a survivor? Are you walking in memory or in honor of someone?

Sample Fundraising Email/Letter

To: _____________

Subject: 2008 Light The Night Walk

Dear _____________:

I will be walking in The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's (LLS) Light The Night Walk on __________, and I need your help in my goal to raise $____ [choose from one]

1. because I am a survivor! [Share story] Please help me celebrate my ___ year of survival and help save other lives.
2. in memory of _________. [Share story] Please help me honor or commemorate ______ with a donation, and help raise awareness and funds for lifesaving research.
3. in honor of _________. [Share story] Please help me honor or commemorate ______ with a donation, and help raise awareness and funds for lifesaving research.
4. because every four minutes someone is diagnosed with a blood cancer; every 10 minutes someone dies from a blood cancer; leukemia is the leading cause of cancer death among children and young adults under the age of 20. Join me in celebrating the 10th anniversary of Light The Night Walk – Making a Decade of Difference.

While significant strides in research have been made over the past 40 years with survival rates doubling and even tripling in some cases, the number of Americans diagnosed with blood cancers continues to grow. The need for research funding is greater than ever.

Please use the link below to donate online quickly and securely:

[Add your link here]

Just click on the red DONATE button on the right. You will receive a confirmation of your donation and tax receipt by email. I will be notified as soon as you make your donation.

Please forward this email to as many people as you can and encourage them to donate as well!

If you would like to learn more about Light The Night Walk, please visit www.lightthenight.org, or you can preview Light The Night by watching this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DOQIYbSySs.

Thanks in advance for joining me in the fight against blood cancers.

Relentless for a Cure,
[Your Name]

Milestone Two – Almost there! Having an impact!

A few weeks before the Walk, be sure to send a reminder to your contacts, including those who have already registered. Thank them for their support and let them know how close you are to your fundraising goal.

• Are you walking in honor of someone in treatment? Be sure to include an update on how he/she is doing.
• Include progress on how your fundraising is going. How close are you to your goal?
• Do you have a Facebook and/or MySpace page? Include Light The Night badges on your page and ask your friends to do the same! You can find badges here: http://community.lls.org/blogs/ltn

Sample Fundraising Email/Letter

To: _____________

Subject: Almost There - Light The Night Walk

Dear _____________:

Dear Friends,

For the past few weeks, my team and I have been raising money for blood cancer cures through the The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Light The Night Walk program. The actual Walk will take place on [insert date] at [insert location]. THANK YOU to those who have donated so far. After my first email, I received $____ in donations from ___ of my friends -- that brought me to the halfway point on reaching my fundraising goal of $____. But I'm not quite there yet!

Here are some examples of where your donations go:

• A donation of $25 provides patients and their loved ones with FREE booklets that contain up-to-date information on their disease and help them make informed decisions about their treatment options.
• A donation of $50 makes possible a Family Support Group with a trained facilitator, where comfort can be found and experiences shared among patients and family members.
• A donation of $100 helps supply laboratory researchers with supplies and materials critical to carrying out their search for cures.
• A donation of $1,000 makes possible one-on-one conversations with healthcare specialists who provide patients with information about their disease, treatment options and help prepare them with questions for their healthcare team.

If you haven't donated, please visit my fundraising Web site [insert personal fundraising page URL]. You will get a receipt immediately for your tax-deductible donation! You can also send a check - payable to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society - to me at [insert your address]. Please make your donation by [insert deadline]. Every dollar counts, and I am grateful for your support.

Our team has collectively raised $________. Its not too late to walk with us! Click here to join my team in our fight against blood cancers: [insert team webpage URL]

Thank you for your support in helping me reach my goal and support those who are fighting cancer! TOGETHER, we will find a cure for blood cancers!
Relentless for a Cure,
[your name]

Milestone Three – Lets walk! Walking soon!

A few days before the Walk, send one final reminder to all your contacts. Let them know that in a few days, you will "taking steps toward cures" and you are hoping they will help you. Invite them to walk with you!

• Don’t forget to ask your donors if their companies offer matching gifts. It’s an easy way to double their donations!
• Let your contacts know that this is Light The Night's 10th anniversary. Ask them to help celebrate the anniversary.

Sample Fundraising Email/Letter

To: _____________

Subject: Countdown to Light The Night Walk

Dear _____________:

In a few days I will be participating in the Light The Night Walk. I will be carrying an illuminated [red/white/gold] balloon [as a supporter/survivor/in memory] of...

For the past couple of months, I have been working hard to raise [insert goal] for the critical work of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS). I am still hoping to collect additional donations before the big event on [insert date].

Some of you have asked where the money goes? Every year, 400 scientists from around the world receive LLS financial support. Funding research takes money. Your gift of $50 today will help support our researchers in advancing new and improved treatments for blood cancer patients.

If you haven’t donated, please visit my fundraising Web site [insert personal fundraising page URL]. You will get a receipt immediately for your tax-deductible donation! You can also send a check - payable to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society - to me at [insert your address]. Please make your donation by [insert deadline]. Every dollar counts, and I am grateful for your support.

I also hope you will consider joining us at the Walk; It's not too late to join our team, [team name]. Collectively, we have raised over $_______.

Thank you for your support in helping me reach my goal and support those fighting cancer! TOGETHER, we will find a cure for blood cancers!
Relentless for a Cure,
[your name]

Milestone Four – Walk results!

After the Walk, share an update of what the evening meant to you. Include a team picture and personal thank you. Let your contacts know they made a difference by supporting you.

• Be sure to thank all of your donors and include a picture from the Walk.
• Let those who haven’t donated know that it isn't too late. They can still donate.

Sample Fundraising Email/Letter

To: _____________

Subject: 2008 Light The Night Walk

Dear Friends,

The evening during Light The Night Walk was beautiful! For one night, hope for hundreds of thousands of patients was shining brightly in red, white and gold balloons.

[Insert team picture]

To date, our team has raised $_____ and I personally have raised more than $_____. I am proud of our team's efforts and the work of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) on behalf of patients and their families.

This year, LLS is set to raise more than $42 million through all of the Light The Night Walk events in the United States and Canada. Those funds will help LLS support lifesaving research and patient services. Since 1949, LLS has funded more than $600 million in research opportunities; this year alone, LLS plans to spend $68 million.

If you haven't donated, please visit my fundraising Web site [insert personal fundraising page URL]. You will get a receipt immediately for your tax-deductible donation! You can also send a check, made payable to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, to me at [insert your address]. Please make your donation by [insert deadline]. Every dollar counts, and I am grateful for your support.

Thank you for your support in helping me reach my goal and help support those who are currently fighting cancer! TOGETHER, we will find a cure for blood cancers!

Relentless for a Cure,
[your name]

Additional Ideas:

• Steps Milestones: There are 2,000 steps per mile. Sell your steps.
  I'm taking 4,000 steps to help fight blood cancers.
  I'm hoping to raise $1 for every step I take.
  How many of those steps will you sponsor?
• Give up your vice for charity!
  Caffeine? $4 coffee x five times a week = $20
  Brown Bag it! $7 a day for lunch x five times a week = $35
  Tap the Tap! $1.50 for every bottle of water you buy, 10 per week = $15
  Date night at home! Dinner + drinks + movie = $40
  Skip the pedicure this week = $20