3-Day June Fundraising Calendar

With Memorial Day behind us and June finally here, it’s beginning to look a lot like summer! This weekend marks the two-month countdown to our first 3-Day of 2017 in Michigan, and the rest of the month is going to be full of sun and fun.

With all kinds of holidays and events happening in June, let’s get going!

June is National Rose and Fruit & Veggies Month, among others, so there are plenty of fun ways to use those holidays to your advantage:

Give your next round of fundraising letters a twist, and attach a note to a rose! Drop them off personally, or use them as thank yous to your donors. Everyone loves a fresh flower!
Fruit and Veggies Month is the perfect time to take advantage of the summer’s fresh produce! In that honor, make smoothies at your next team meeting using some of our simple recipes. Or, sell homemade smoothies as a fundraising effort! If you’re an expert gardener, maybe you could sell some of your harvest for fundraising dollars, too – we know lots of people who love a homegrown tomato!
It’s also Adopt a Cat Month, so grab your team, and volunteer at a local animal shelter! Giving those sweet animals a cuddle will bring the team together through fun and charity.

There are plenty of Walk & Talks, New Walker Meet-Ups, Get Started Meetings and Training Kick-Offs happening in June. There are also multiple Race for the Cure events across the country! These are perfect times to get training in and meet other 3-Dayers! Those races, and some other events, are highlighted in the calendar above, but you can find the complete list on our website here. We will also be calling out more local events on our Facebook page, so keep an eye out.

Other key days this month include:

June 2: Donut Day: This is one of the biggest food holidays of the year, because everyone loves donuts! Check out Pinterest for fun crafts like this one to use for delicious fundraising efforts.
June 8: Best Friend Day: We’ve said it before, and we’ll keep saying it…the 3-Day is better with friends! Use this day to talk to your friends and colleagues to join your 3-Day team. They can still register now!
June 18: Father’s Day: Reach out to your dad, grandfather, uncle or other important man in your life. It’s important to remind them that you care!
June 20: First Day of Summer: Get your team together, and throw a big fundraising event! Have everyone pitch in different food items, and encourage people to show off their signature summer recipes. Then, work with local restaurants and other vendors to donate more goodies to make this the perfect Summer Kick-Off Barbecue!
June 23: National Pink Day: This is the best day of the year for a 3-Dayer! Use any number of our pink-themed fundraising ideas to make the most of this day. It’s also the perfect way to end your June on a high note and hit your latest fundraising goal.

Also, make sure to join our 3-Day Social Stars! This is an easy-to-join group that’s part of our social media community, where you can earn prizes for interacting with the 3-Day on social media. Talk, connect, and share with us!

What are your fundraising and training goals for June? How will you work to achieve them?

Tuesday Training Tip: How to Get Back on Track

Welcome back everyone! We hope you all had a wonderful long weekend full of just as much relaxation as it was full of fun training walks in the sun.

However, if you took some time off from training this weekend, and are looking to get back on track, we have you covered! It’s important to take time off, especially if you’re on vacation, to give your body a break. However, with our first 3-Day of 2017 just over 60 days away, lots of walkers are kicking their training into high gear. Here are some ways to make it a little easier to hit the trail this week!

Write it down

Keeping a journal, making your work out part of your daily to do list, or using fitness apps all help you stay accountable with your workout schedule. You can also add weekly or monthly goals to your day planner or online calendar for extra incentives. Making training a part of the things you have to do will help keep you from canceling that day’s walk, and you’ll get an extra feeling of accomplishment when you cross it off your list.

Do it first

Working out in the morning can be tough thanks to that pesky snooze button on your alarm. However, knocking out your fitness routine in the AM will give you more free time after work, and again, make it less likely that you get busy and have to reschedule. It also gives you an extra boost of energy to start your day with a bit of an adrenaline rush! Then you’ll be all the readier to take on the day.

Make it social

We talk about besties, teams and support groups a lot on the 3-Day, and there’s a good reason for that! Every activity is better with someone at your side, so grab a pal for your work out this week. Try a new class together, go for a walk and catch up, or just keep each other accountable with check-ins throughout the week. If you can find a friend, family member or colleague you like training with, it will make it a welcome activity in your day!

ariel-lustre-242326

Reward yourself

Everyone loves presents! So, plan to give yourself some! Set goals for how often you want to train in a certain week or month, or give yourself a “miles walked” goal, too. Once you hit your goal, treat yourself to something special. Pick up a ticket to your favorite concert for the summer, give yourself a spa day, or load up on fun 3-Day merch to rock on the event.

Get jamming

Sometimes you need something extra to put that needed pep in your step, especially on a morning walk,. Create a morning or walking playlist, or follow the 3-Day on Spotify, to streamline the tunes you need to get your day going just right!

greg-rakozy-234360

Bring a pet pal

Aside from your besties, another friend that can help keep you moving is your furry pet pals! Take your pooch, or even your cat, on the trail with you. You’ll have an energetic partner who is more than happy to be spending time with you! For safety reasons, we can’t allow pets on official 3-Day training walks, but if you’re out on your own personal training walk, your dog could be a welcome companion.

REMINDER: The health, safety and training information contained in this blog post, or otherwise provided to you in connection with your participation in the 3-Day, is not intended to replace or be construed as medical advice and any such information is not a substitute for seeking medical advice or treatment from your medical provider. Before starting any exercise, program or following any recommendations, advice or other instructions regarding training for the 3-Day or any athletic event, you should first consult a physician and have a physical examination.

May Fundraising Calendar

Hooray, it’s May! Hopefully we have seen the last of April showers, and have only flowers to look forward to for this coming month. We also hope your fundraising efforts will be blooming, thanks to new and creative ways to take advantage of warmer weather.

Plus, there are all kinds of holidays and events happening in May. Let’s get moving!

May is a big month in terms of honoring all things fun and festive, and there are plenty of ways to use those holidays to your advantage:

National Photography Month: It’s time for team photos! Take shots of your team to use on your social media pages when you promote your fundraising goals. Also, send out the photos in your fundraising letters, so potential donors can put a face to all the amazing work you and your teammates are doing. You can include photos of the people for whom you are walking as well.
National Recommitment Month: This means it is the perfect month to re-evaluate your goals and get back at it! Circle back with potential donors that you haven’t reached out to in a while, or whom you haven’t heard from yet. You can also recommit to your training goals as well!

National Barbecue Month: This one is a no brainer! Host a barbecue for your team, and work with local restaurants to help donate or subsidize the food. Invite friends, family, neighbors and previous donors, and ask for a donation to attend. It’s also National Hamburger Month, so you can encourage guests to bring recipes for their best burger, or the most unique one.

National Bike Month: While we are all about walking, biking is also a great to get in cardiovascular training for the 3-Day. Grab your teammates for group ride over a weekend, and ask donors to pledge a donation for every mile you ride as a team. National Bike Week starts in the third week of the month, so you can hold a long group ride then and raise money for the 3-Day.

There are a whole heap of training walks, New Walker Meet-Ups, Get Started Meetings, Video Conferences, and more happening in May. You can check out all the upcoming walks, meetings and more on our website. One to surely keep on your radar is our Get Started Meeting Video Conference, which will be available across the country online. This is great for any 3-Dayers who don’t live in the same city as their team, or who are new to the 3-Day.

16602945_10158188211785392_6742203616637006412_n

Other key days this month include:

Kentucky Derby (May 6): Host a fun and fancy brunch at your house for friends and family! Encourage people to wear their Churchill Downs best, and keep the races on TV so you can keep an eye on the races…and the fashion! Have guests vote on their favorite hats, snack, and enjoy the afternoon. This is a great team event for fun bonding, and a perfect event to invite potential donors to so they can meet the rest of your team.
Mother’s Day (May 14): Show all the moms, aunts, grandmas and wonderful ladies in your life some love! Send out pink cards or flowers to remind the women in your life that they are loved on that holiday and always.

17203145_10158332998665392_5360588626436648132_n

Flower Day (May 20): Sell bouquets, or even single flowers with a message explaining why you are walking the 3-Day. It’s a simple and sweet way to encourage donors while also brightening someone’s day.
Memorial Day (May 29): Need a date to host your National Barbecue Month event? Memorial Day is the perfect time! Everyone has an open day on their calendar, and what a better way to spend their day off than on a good cause like the 3-Day?

What are your fundraising and training goals for May? How will you work to achieve them?