Dear (Contact First Name), 

Consumed as I am with the subject of thon fundraising, I sometimes wonder why it doesn't attract more reporting.   This month our field had no shortage of coverage.   It was a mixed bag of criticism, praise, pathos and humor.

Smart Money asks "Are Charity Walks and Races Worth The Effort?"  Reporter Anne Kadet does a terrific job of tracing the growth of thon fundraising from the original CROP Walks through the birth of mega-events to the present.   Unfortunately her attempt to analyze fundraising costs -- a very tough subject because so few groups make that info public -- will do more harm than good by implying that most programs are bloated and inefficient.

On a more positive note, Runner's World examines the many ways "the big C" engages runners to raise hundreds of millions each year.   A package of articles entitled "Outrunning Cancer" traces the history of Team in Training and other programs, profiles heroic participants and unveils an alliance with Crowdrise to engage more runners to get involved.

Boston Globe columnist Lawrence Harmon opines that "Boston has reached its saturation point with outdoor charitable events."  While praising the organizers of the Komen 3-Day for the Cure for working well with city officials to combat traffic problems, he calls for a moratorium on additional events.

To leave you with a smile, I point you to the story of Dozer, a goldendoodle that escaped from his owner's yard and ran the last eight miles of a half marathon benefitting a Maryland cancer center. 

Someone videotaped him crossing the finish line and created a fundraising page for him that has generated over $13,000!

David Hessekiel

President

Run Walk Ride Fundraising Council