Running can be a very introverted activity. A person generally runs for the personal reasons of keeping himself or herself in shape, experiencing the joy of running a personal best, and competing against other runners. However, running can also have a positive impact on other individuals. By running for a cause, you are not only improving your live, but also the lives of others. In this way, the sometimes selfish sport of running can be a wonderful gift to your fellow human beings.
To “run for a cause,” people generally sign up for a race in order to raise money for their favorite charity. Runners establish a fundraising goal and ask their friends and family for support. Some races, such as the Susan B. Komen Race for a Cure (breast cancer charity), are entirely focused on fundraising and are not meant to be competitive.
Occasionally, runners will form fundraising teams with co-workers or friends who are strive to raise money to meet an overall team goal. Being a part of a fundraising team can be very motivating and also forms strong bonds among the team’s participants.
Another way to run for a cause is to join a running team like the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Team in Training or the American Arthritis Foundation’s Joints In Motion. In these teams, runners train together in weekly group runs over a period of months for a specific race, while raising money for the charities. Generally, the training programs are geared for half marathons and marathons.
Perhaps the coolest part of signing up for a team like Team in Training is that the team members are assisted by volunteer running coaches and also expert fundraisers who help the runners maximize their potential athletic and fundraising potential.
If you have always wanted to run a specific race, but simply did not have a motivation to sign up, consider using fundraising as your ultimate motivator. Running for a cause may be one of the most rewarding things you ever do.
Image courtesy of Dan Brock
