Fatcyclist.com is as many know a popular blog that I read and to whom I post comments. Not sure that the humour is always to my liking as everyone has their own likes and dislikes and that is reflected in the comments that arrive and the blogs that are linked there. Today I was disappointed to read some comments that reflect badly on those posting them. Lance has been compared to another Charitable Foundation ( Susan G.Komen for the cure ) that has been in operation since 1982 and deals with Breast Cancer. I was aware of the Pink run from seeing people running at an event in Hyde Park , London some years ago. I was on my bike on that occasion so saw a few water refreshment tables on their route in the Park. Until today I was unaware of the background and profile of this important and popular charity.
People following Fatty are inspired to set about fundraisers of their own thus raising monies which they give credit to Fatty and Livestrong as an umbrella entity. Many charities are out there competing for the attention of the public and it can be more likely that good luck rather than successful organisation that brings the charity to the attention of the general public. Each of these charities are structured in a different way and so is their method of seeking publicity. Some sell Badges or Poppies, others pay agents a % age of the take and still others use Media Marketing in a variety of ways.
Livestrong uses the Yellow Wristband which started out at $US1 each but by now I would have thought they could be charging more since people were Ebaying them at £4 to £6 each with postage. In buying 10 wristbands people were able to pass some to their friends and others used Ebay as a profitable distribution point. Why Livestrong did not build a client mailing list to follow up and so sell other items surprises me, because when someone has bought from you they are easier to approach at a later date and thus sell additional items. Livestrong does have email marketing but I have yet to see follow up on the wristbands that I have bought. This wristband idea has now been copied by a plethora of fund raising organisations.
Comments on Fatty’s blog today reflected a couple of people’s take on how Charities should be organised and how the funds raised should be utilised, comparisons of how each organisation operates do not always have the full facts so as to make effective comparison. Again where “Tall Poppy Syndrome” enters the arena some will look for the negatives and try to make them compare to the positives of another organisation thus creating a disparity with reality. One of the comments was from a Blogger who was about to start fundraising to the benefit of Livestrong and the negatives posed caused her some misgivings. My comment I hope reassured her a little since she had declared to all and sundry in her sphere of influence how committed she was to these ventures.
Copied is the comment:
“ Arlenna
GO AHEAD with your fund raiser, do good, remember that your heart is in the right place !
Too many out there are jealous of “Tall Poppies” , one is called “flandis” and there is a US Gov. scheme” where if you cause a ruckus and the treasury gets any benefit then you get 10%, not bad for dobbing in your friends and mentors? Oh you also get to stand on your box and sound off about what you know best, CHEATING !
Most Charities have operating expenses, that is why readers of this blog encouraged “Fatty” to continue Ads so as to cover some of his expenses.
In 10 years Lance has raised the Profile of Livestrong to international level and doing that cost money, as time passes the %’s will change, nowhere do i see him say !00% will go to Cancer research, no charity will ever be able to do that. Could more be done or Costs be reduced, who knows and this is not the forum to discuss pros & Cons.
Hopefully you will be successful and encouraged to plan more events with Fatty, Livestrong and other Charities you know ! ”
Salvation Army is the only charity I know where 100% of the funds collected in the tin at the pub or on the street get to the person doing the counting. From there who knows what is defrayed for salaries and upkeep of full time staff but be sure they work hard at keeping those expenses under control.
Lance and his team flying by Private Jet may be the only way to meet the time constraints and movement of baggage required to operate in this busy world. I am sure the Naysayer’s would have been down on Admiral Mike Mullen taking Lance And Robin W. and others to Iraq & Afghanistan or Oprah W. her entourage to Australia.
To those Naysayer’s I say “Check your facts, then check them again or keep your opinions to yourself ”!
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