Friday, August 27, 2010

More or Less??

I have written about 5 different fundraising letters for our JDRF Walk. I can't decide which angle to take. I want to let our friends and family know why this is so important to us, how D has affected every bit of our lives, those things all the other Drents know but noone else would. I want them to KNOW too. Not to feel sorry for us or give us pity. But to fight with us and give us strength. I also want them to read the dang thing! To say all I want to say, the letter gets too long. I know that many people don't take the time to read lengthy letters (no matter how important they are to the writer!) So I tried sweet and simple...doesn't pull at the heart strings...and we know what those are connected to in this. Tried to be creative and write a "if a cure was found..." Again, too many things came to mind, it became a beast of it's own. (may add that as a separate addition to the letter.) With just over a month till our Walk on October 3rd, I really need to get going on this and make up my mind before it is too late to send a letter. For those of you veteran "walkers", what have you done that worked best??

5 comments:

  1. Instead of a letter I am going to do a video slideshow with simple sentences and music. Burn it on DVD/cd's and sent them out. 2-3 minutes and done. Now just to pick out the pictures... Good luck whatever you decide.

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  2. Hey Denise - I have written 3 letters this year and still can't decide which to send. Send me your email and I will send you the ones I've worked up.

    Houstonwehaveaproblemblog@gmail.com

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  3. You know...I have been planning on uploading my walk letters to my site at BETA BUDDIES as well. I'll do it this weekend for sure.

    I think the video that April Ann suggested is nice...especially if you are a big FBer...but I still think a letter campaign needs to occur if you want a big turn out or to raise lots of money.

    I usually try to keep the letter to one page (so the readers will read it)... I do discuss breifly about how "d" has affected Joe's life and our family's life. I also talk about JDRF briefly...so that people know they are donating to an AWESOME organization that donates over 80% of the money directly to research.

    I'll upload the letters later and will come back and leave a comment so you know to go scope it out.

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  4. I have this problem too. :( My letters always want to be pages long...but I only want a 1 pager so I end up with a smaller font. The first paragraph is the most important...tug the heartstrings there and you'll get them to read the rest...I think. :)

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  5. This was hard for me also. I did a lot of email letters with a video(you can check it out on my blog). It is hard to make it short when we have SO MUCH to say.

    BTW~ congrats on your win. I am sooo super jealous.

    Atleast I still have my Juicy!

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