Run For a Reason: Team RMHC
The Eugene Marathon’s Run for a Reason program provides local and national charities a platform for fundraising by encouraging individuals to join their team and run for a good cause. One local organization — Ronald McDonald House Charities of Oregon & Southwest Washington — took that platform and raised it to a whole new level in 2022. We had the chance to chat with Jessica Ubel of RMHC’s local chapter about what she did to make 2022 so successful.
How big was your Run for a Reason team and how much did you fundraise in 2022?
We had 59 people running for RMHC! Including our sponsorship dollars and peer-to-peer fundraising, we raised nearly $55,000!
After a two-year hiatus from in-person races, how were you able to get your team members to sign up and rally around the 2022 Eugene Marathon?
We used to do an independent walk in Eugene for RMHC, even before we had a local house in our community. It was gaining a little bit of traction, but partnering with the Eugene Marathon offered opportunities we never could have had before, not the least of which is having a well-known and well-run race that ended on Hayward Field! I believe people were ready in 2022 to be part of an in-person event, but being part of our team offered some fun perks! Benefits of joining our team were a pre-party, a Run for RMHC t-shirt, Eugene Marathon race registration, swag bags and more! (Side note: because we got almost everything donated, we kept our costs very low.) I owe a lot of credit to the Leadership Board, who recruited runners and walkers from their workplaces. We also gained runners from as far as New York through the Eugene Marathon's Run for a Reason site, which could have never happened on our own.
As the team captain, how did you encourage your team members in their training and fundraising?
I sent out regular emails to our team members. I provided ideas for raising money, tips on training, and most importantly, kept our mission -- providing free night stays and meals to families traveling for their children's medical care -- front and center! Remembering the WHY you're doing what you're doing is key. We also had an honorary Team Captain, Lucy Love, who has been a guest at the Ronald McDonald House many times. She represented other kids who have stayed in and love the Ronald McDonald House and she stole all our hearts!
What advice would you give to a local charity doing the Run for a Reason program for the first time?
If you want this to be a successful fundraiser, it will require some legwork, no pun intended! First, get buy-in from your people: donors, board members, and staff. If they are willing to create teams and rally people, you've solved the biggest piece of the puzzle. Then make sure to find a good online peer-to-peer fundraising platform. There are a ton out there, but I do suggest Pledge-it, which is what we use. It offered what we needed at a low cost. Finally, keep it fun and about your mission!
What are you looking forward to most for the 2023 Eugene Marathon?
I'm beyond excited for the 2023 Eugene Marathon! In 2022, our Springfield Ronald McDonald House was the test case that showed our Oregon & SW Washington Ronald McDonald House Charities chapter what was possible. This year, our Portland Houses and Bend House are going all-in with us, and our goal will be to have 100 participants. The Eugene Marathon has been a dream to work with! It is an amazing event and and I hope that other organizations experience success in their Run for a Reason program as well!
Are you interested in creating a charity team for the 2023 Eugene Marathon or running for one of our existing teams? Visit our Run for a Reason page to learn more.