Mahoney and her cohorts had planned a day designed to be the opposite of serious to raise money for Suzanne Dolson-Fischer, a 37-year-old wife and mother of two small children, who was battling chronic lymphocytic leukemia and large cell lymphoma: a kickball tournament. But sadly, on March 1, just a month before the fundraiser was to take place, Dolson-Fischer lost her battle against the disease.

“Suzanne wanted to be there — she said it several times — and we did our best to keep her involved through her final days, sending her mockups of what the shirts would look like, etc.” says Mahoney. “She put in a request for a muddy field so she could watch us all slipping and sliding and getting filthy!”

In a testament to this spirit, and to support the Fischer family, which is burdened with hefty medical bills, the show will still go on. How it all came together is a story Charity Mile members are sure to appreciate.

In mid-January, Mahoney and Iamiceli came up with the idea of holding a kickball tournament to raise money for the Fisher family. The first step, on January 12, was setting up a Facebook page to spread the word. “By that evening, we had more than 200 fans on the page,” Mahoney marvels.

Securing a location turned out to be “fortuitously easy,” says Mahoney, who had anticipated having to deal with bureaucratic red tape to gain permission to use a field. However, Cargain, one of the co-organizers, offered that she had organized kickball tournaments for the Lupus Foundation, and Peekskill’s parks and recreation department had always been very amenable.

“And they were,” says Mahoney. “We didn’t have to worry about anything. Peekskill parks and rec has been terrific to work with!”

To ensure a day of maximum fun and fundraising, the next big tasks were securing refreshments, raffle items, t-shirts and other incidentals. Here again, enter the power of Facebook. “I would post that we needed something and by the end of the day, five people would have stepped forward offering the items,” says Mahoney. “Beyond the sadness, it has been an amazing experience because people have been so incredibly kind. It’s the kind of stuff you never see or hear about on the news. It’s been overwhelming, actually.”

“The local bakery, restaurants, bake shops, everyone is doing something,” she adds. “We now have a ton of stuff to raffle off – including items from the New Jersey Nets basketball team and the New York Rangers hockey team.”

The KIFS Facebook page now has upwards of 700 fans, and more than 100 people have registered for the tournament. “Many more people have just sent money and plan to be at the tournament, even if they aren’t playing,” says Mahoney. “This actually started to get so big, I have had to distribute tasks.” Mahoney is handling administrative and registration tasks, and Iamiceli and Cargain are respectively managing the event’s food and raffle aspects.

“It’s been tough for Suzanne’s family — to lose your mother and your wife and then to have bills rolling in – it’s kind of a kick in the stomach after the fact,” says Mahoney.

“When you look at the medical bills, what we raise might seem small, but the family is very appreciative. This is a good chance for everybody to get together and have fun and remember Suzanne.”

Kerry Mahoney lives in New York state, where she plays on a heckuva bunch of softball teams and, to pay for all those cleats and jerseys, has a job that involves “organizing a lot of meetings.” After this interview, she told Charity Mile: “It is important to stress this day is not about cancer, it is not about fighting a disease. This day, this fundraiser is about celebrating the life of Suzanne.  It’s about a mother, wife, daughter, sister, best friend, acquaintance…a young woman who was here such a short time and yet impacted so many lives. It is a reminder to all of us to appreciate each other and to live with a passion for life every day. How we live is the greatest tribute we can give Suzanne.”

Photo by Stephen Korecky

A marathon, or even a half marathon, is a race distance that many people may have no desire to accomplish. It takes a special kind of person to take an interest in and complete these types of advanced running events. However, the action, and even the dream or idea of, completing one always brings about a sense of accomplishment. Believe it or not, there is a way to instill this sense of accomplishment in your participants without requiring that they run a marathon distance all at once.

I’m talking about a year long marathon. With this type of event you split up those 26.2 miles throughout the year encouraging participants to take part in each of the hosted events and raise funds for your organization in the process. In addition, your events will appeal to those people who are not likely to run a full marathon or half marathon at one time.

Now, before you think I want to you to plan over 5 – 5Ks in one year, let me explain. There are at least two ways that you can design such an event. The first is to focus on run/walks. This doesn’t mean you have to plan each one. You could simply plan the first one to kick off the year.

Next you identify five or six others in your area throughout the year especially targeting those who are not yet specifically organized to support a charity. You can approach the coordinators about partnering with them to raise funds for your organization. There are still plenty of run/walk events out there that do not support a charity, but may be willing to do so.

Once you have your events identified you’ll want to promote them to your participants at your first kick-off event. Let them know that they will earn miles for each event they participate in with the ultimate goal of completing a full marathon (adding the mileage for each event) by the end of the year.

From that point you can decide how to honor those who do. You might want to distribute donated prizes, honor your highest fund raisers or hold a celebration at the end of the year.

The second way you can accomplish a year long marathon is to include different kinds of athletic events throughout the year. This approach may be easier if your organization prefers to host each event themselves.

Some examples of events you might choose to host include a 5K run/walk, a bike ride, a triathlon, a community sports tournament such as volleyball or basketball and a group exercise class. If these events don’t translate to specific miles then you can assign miles to the events yourself. For example, a high intensity group exercise class lasting two hours might translate to 9 to 12 miles considering that most runners would complete 3 miles in about 30 minutes.

All of these events would be under the umbrella of your year long marathon. You can host each of these events in honor of your charity and use registration funds and additional fund raising campaigns for support. At the end of the year you can honor those who completed the marathon via all these events, and those who raised the most money with a celebration and donated prizes.

Have you planned or participated in this type of year long event? If so, let us know about it in the comments.

This topic came to mind last week when I read an announcement for a Zumba Fitness Night for Charity hosted by the Miami HEAT. A $50 ticket includes a Zumba class, a Latin fusion dance exercise class, a basketball game and a donation to the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women program.

Now this is a big event, no doubt, and it was planned by some pretty large and well known organizations. However, just because you don’t have access to something quite this big doesn’t mean you couldn’t plan a similar event in your area. There are likely several organizations or companies that are more visible than you, or visible to a different audience, that can help you extend your reach.

Here are three ways you can make your event bigger and increase exposure the next time around.

Do you have high school or college sports in your area? Seek out a partnership with a school system. Consider mimicking the same type event as described above. Hold an exercise class or a run/walk before a game and donate the proceeds to charity.

Would a large medical network be willing to participate in and support an event? Perhaps it is a hospital or a medical school. Approach them about supporting your charity fitness event. If they become involved and advertise you can reach a large audience from all over your state as well as your local community.

Is there a well known local event that you could piggyback off of? Maybe it is a holiday parade or concert, or a local food and wine festival. Approach the coordinators and find out if you can arrange a way for your event to make it on the agenda. A charity fitness event can fit nicely with these types of community parties.

After reading yesterday’s post about about planning a charity fitness class maybe an example of this type of fundraising event would be helpful. The Charity Pumpkin Bootcamp offered by Yun Fitness Boot Camps in Columbus, OH is a class for a cause which also incorporates the Halloween season.

The class takes place on Saturday, October 17^th, 2009 from 9:15 a.m. until 10:00 a.m. at Dexter Falls Park in Columbus, OH. Participants can register online and the cost is a $15 donation per person. All of the proceeds go to the Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Greater Ohio, Kentucky & Indiana– Central Ohio Region.

Oh yeah, you will need to bring along a pumpkin. The fun twist on this event is that the class will take you through an 8 to 10 station circuit utilizing your pumpkin during the workout! In addition, participants are welcome to dress up in their Halloween costumes.

This class is being cross promoted through Boot Camps with a Purpose. The BCWAP began in May 2007 through Elite Personal Training in Exton, PA. Now fitness centers and studios around the country (and even a few international locations) participate by hosting their own charity boot camp classes. The organizer of the event selects the charity of choice and 100% of the proceeds go to support that charity.

 You can submit your event online by including your contact information and details about your upcoming class along with information on your selected charity. If accepted into the BCWAP system you will be given a full webpage devoted to the promotion of your specific class. You will also have the option to seek sponsorship for the opportunity to order BCWAP t-shirts for your event.

 If you are looking for a new way to raise funds for your organization creating your own boot camp, such as the Charity Pumpkin Bootcamp, is a great way to do it, and organizations like the BCWAP can help support your efforts along the way.

 Photo by mikebaird

If organizing a race isn’t something you aspire to take on, by thinking outside the box you can still incorporate health and fitness into your fundraiser. Hosting a charity fitness class is one way to do this.

For this type of event you will hold a class for the public for a set amount of time. Part, or all, of the participant registration fee goes to benefit the charity. In addition, you can require fundraising minimums and promote team participation.

Fitness classes can be just as appealing as a race and follow the same principals when it comes to planning. However, the logistics of putting together such an event tend to be less complicated. First you’ll need a planning committee, a few volunteers and sponsors. Once you are ready to start planning you can incorporate the following steps.

Select a day for the event, preferably on the weekend such as a Saturday morning.

Determine the length of the event. Some events last only one or two hours, others are more like fitness-a-thons that can last the entire day or through the night. If planning an extended event consider registering teams and allow members to alternate their participation throughout the event, exercising for a half hour or hour at a time.

Choose the type of activity you prefer. Popular classes for these types of events include boot camp, kickboxing, indoor group cycling and Pilates. You can choose one, or make it a day full of several different types of classes.

Consider your budget. Costs will include giveaways, refreshments, hiring an instructor if you cannot find one to volunteer his or her time and renting a facility if necessary. From there, you can begin to seek sponsors just as you would for a race to help offset costs for your organization.

Determine how you will garner funds for the charity. Set a registration fee, about $15 to $30 for a one to two hour class. Also consider setting a minimum for fundraising for individual participants or teams such as $100 per team.

Find a qualified instructor or group of instructors to teach the class. This type of event provides a great opportunity to join forces with a local fitness center. By partnering and utilizing their staff and facility you can both make a difference and support a worthy cause.

Decide on giveaways. Much like a race you can provide t-shirts, goodie bags and even door prizes for those participating.

Plan to make it a party. Whether the event is a few hours or all day, plan to provide food, drinks and keep the music pumping. For longer events, incorporate breaks to refresh and refuel.

Incorporate prizes by holding a raffle or awarding those raising the most funds. You can also award prizes to encourage your participants and create fun atmosphere.  For example at the end of the day give awards for the most enthusiastic, best costume, most energetic, or most motivating.

I’ve written before about my new-found love of mind/body exercise and mentioned how it can be a beneficial addition to any training program whether you are a walker or a runner. Lately, yoga has become strongly associated with running for many people from intensely trained athletes to the casual participant in this weekend’s 5K.  There are guides and videos available geared specifically towards runners and many people are speaking out about how yoga has helped their running and vice versa.

The truth is the activities are very similar in nature. Ask any runner why they run and many of the answers you’ll get back will be associated with the fact that it is meditative, it allows them to clear their head, it’s invigorating or it relaxes them. These are some of the same reasons exercisers also enjoy yoga.

If you’ve thought about adding some yoga to your training routine and haven’t made the commitment yet here are a few ways that yoga and running, or even high-intensity walking, work hand-in-hand.

Breathe easier. Yoga is strongly focused on breathing exercises which help to relax you and allow your body to get much needed oxygen while it’s working. The breathing techniques you master in yoga can go with you on your run to assist in your ability to meditate and promote endurance.

Improved flexibility. This one is a bit of a no-brainer. You only have to take one look at a yoga pose to know that flexibility is a key ingredient. Being flexible translates to ease of movement. Muscle and joint flexibility, which can be improved through yoga, helps you to move more efficiently during your run. It is even more beneficial when you are climbing those stairs and hills or tackling a trail.

Strength and stamina. It takes a lot of body strength to hold those yoga moves and stamina to keep yourself there for extended periods. This is where running gives back to yoga. The strong legs and core you’ve developed through the miles will allow you to stay strong and keep proper form during yoga.

If you are looking for resources specifically for yoga and running you’ve got quite a few options. Here are some resources for more information and some ideas for how to incorporate yoga into your training program.

Runner’s World – Yoga for Runners

Yoga Journal – Yoga for Runners

AOL Health, That’s Fit – Yoga for Runners -More important than You Think!

IDEA Fitness Association – Yoga for Runners DVD  

Photo by lululemon athletica

Well, guess what. I found one!

I tend to overdo it a bit on health magazines. Since I live abroad I always want to make sure I have reading material in English. I pulled an issue of Shape® magazine out of my stack was thumbing through it the other day when I came across Shape® Pilates for Pink; a joint program with the Breast Cancer Research Foundation®.

What a cool event! It takes place in October, of course, with that being Breast Cancer Awareness month. You can actively participate in two ways. Pilates studios and fitness centers can register with the program and offer classes throughout the month to raise money for breast cancer research.

You can also participate in classes taking place in your area. For those in the New York City area you can sign up for Pilates in the Park and take part in classes offered in Union Square Park. This event usually takes place the last weekend of September.

While a fairly new event, Shape® Pilates in Pink was almost instantly successful. I can see why. Who wouldn’t love doing mind/body exercise while raising money for a good cause? In 2007, 500 Pilates studios joined the event. Their classes and fundraising resulted in over $100,000 for breast cancer research.

Details haven’t been released for the 2009 event yet. It is a good thing to keep on the back of your mind though. If you currently take Pilates classes encourage your studio to become involved in the event. If you own a studio, register online and offer classes to raise funds for a great cause.

It is so exciting to see a different type of physical activity being used to support an important charity. It is another great reason to get involved in some mind/body exercise and see what you’ve been missing!

A year or so ago if you had asked me if I liked classes such as yoga I would have told you no. Honestly, I found it quite uncomfortable to be still for so long. Not to mention that some of the extreme stretches were really kind of painful.

Reading all the evidence that it is so beneficial and watching others thoroughly enjoying it, I was somehow motivated to keep exploring options for mind/body activities. After about four months of sticking with it I have started to see what all the fuss was about.

I love this component of my workouts! Seriously, if there were charity events that involved yoga, Pilates or Tai Chi you can bet I’d be participating. I’ve become a believer that it can greatly affect fitness levels and improve performance overall.

Any type of physical activity is a great stress reducer, but that of the mind/body variety really makes you focus on letting your thoughts go and taking a mental break.

Training for an event takes a lot of focus along with the physical strength and endurance. Throwing a mind/body class into the mix helps you to refocus on your goals.

In addition to the mental benefit it is so helpful for increased flexibility and range of motion. This is a key component for successful performance of all kinds of other activities like walking, running and biking.

About six months ago I found I was having some intense pain in my hip that only got worse with my group cycling classes and with running. I had to take an extended break and even when I returned the pain was nagging.  

I’ve gotten into a class at my gym that combines the movements of yoga, Tai Chi and Pilates. While at first I felt that the poses were aggravating my injury, after a few weeks, the pain was nearly gone. I found that a major cause of it was simply a lack of flexibility which my mind/body workouts have improved.

The American College of Sports Medicine covered mind/body exercise in this fall’s edition of their Fit Society Page. Take a look if you’d like to learn more about its history and benefits.

Do you include mind/body exercise in your training regimen? How has it helped you? Any favorite classes?

Photo courtesy of LocalFitness Pty Ltd