FUNDRAISING IS EQUALLY AS HARD AS TRAINING FOR A 19k Altitude Climb

I’ve never been great at asking people for money. You’d assume that after 15 years of being involved in the Ulman Foundation that I’d be better at it, but it is never easy for me. So to raise this $15,000 for the Mt. Kilimanjaro trek has been a big hurdle for me.

But one thing that I have always found has helped, is to be true to my ‘why’ — why am I raising funds? Why is this important to me? I recognize that I have a unique story as a 4x cancer survivor and my passion for helping those who have been forced to endure a cancer journey gets stronger each day as I have this unique experience and I want to help others navigate and hopefully see what life on the other side of cancer can look like.

That’s why I have been sharing my story of survivorship with the Ulman Foundation and to have others relate — whether they have dealt with cancer or not — being labeled a survivor has a stigma and a responsibility.

But asking people to donate to me or to the foundation — to help other young adults with cancer — is challenging. I can jump on the Peloton, go for a run, pack a day bag and go for a hike and it is fun and rewarding. Ask someone to share their hard earned money to a cause that might not be as close to them as it is to me… that is like doing a triathlon without the bike or running shoes.

And because of that, I try to mix things up to raise funds. I run a March Madness bracket pool (or my recent World Cup Pool that you should participate in), I throw Happy Hours, I dedicate miles, I cook meals at the Ulman House and I try to put the ‘fun’ in fundraising. But it’s not easy. So if you see me post about fundraising or receive an email from me asking to support, please know that it is because I care deeply about this organization and the impact it has on the tens of thousands of people it has helped in these 25+ years.

Be prepared for more FUNdraisers in the future from me, but just know I’d rather just take a hike with you.