I’ve said it before: If I had to pick one theme of the hundreds of lessons here, the one underlying thing to learn, it is to “Ask!”
This is the last day before Sally and I (each) run 13.1 miles for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. We have each raised funds before and we have learned to ask EVERYONE if they would donate to our campaign.
Years ago, training for my first event, I met another runner who told me that she was planning to ask her rich sister, but not her poor sister, to support her. A friend told her that it was their business, not hers, to decide who would give. So she asked both, and sure enough, the poor sister is the one who came through with the big donation. “Ask everyone!” she said. So i do.
Sally and I asked everyone. We asked our friends, neighbors, former classmates, co-workers. Between us, we asked two dentists and periodontist, and raised $250 from them. When i said I was going to ask “the drummers,” meaning my African drumming group, Sally told me to ask Ringo. Huh? So I did. He didn’t donate. Yet. But I asked. (btw if you happen to have a connection to Ringo, this would be a great time to get in touch and make this story SO much better)
Now it’s the day before the race and we have raised SEVEN THOUSAND DOLLARS to fight blood cancers and to support patients. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is doing some great stuff, including fighting for patients to be able to have new easier and effective chemotherapy paid for just like inpatient IV treatment. Silly that anyone has to fight for this, but as long as they do, here we have people who will ASK for what is right.
So keep asking for whatever it is you need. It’s the only way to get it.
Jane's Lessons Learned 