Fundraising for a cause we believe in is something a lot of people take part in around their communities. An agency that is close to my heart that I enjoy helping raise funds for is AccessCNY. This organization provides numerous services for people with disabilities in the area.
Every summer, hundreds of people gather at a local park for AccessCNY's annual fundraiser, Anything That Rolls. This event brings together manual and power wheelchair users, roller derby teams, bike riders, strollers, scooters, and anything else that rolls. The three-mile paved course along the lake offers participants the opportunity to travel as far as they please, with water and check-in points along the way.
Families in the community plan their team themes & names, and members raise funds for months prior to the event. My team for the past five years has been "Rolling with the Punches" and we've had several themes. A few of my favorites were making scooters into Mario karts and carousel horses. We won the Most Team Spirit Award with our Mario theme. My team has consisted of family, friends, and co-workers, and we have enjoyed working together for a great cause.
In addition to encouraging rollers and strollers along the course and back, teammates each receive a participant finisher button from the volunteer cheerleaders at the end. After completion, everyone can then enjoy a free ice cream bar, balloon animals, snacks, and music before the awards ceremony.
Anything That Rolls has been a huge part of the local community for the participants. Helping to raise funds for people with disabilities is something that we all look forward to. My advice to readers who also want to fundraise is to find a great team of event planners, a strong will to work hard toward a goal, and above all else, make a fun, entertaining, and inclusive event for all!
About the Author
Jess has been an active wheelchair user for the past 16 years. She lives in Central New York with her husband, Jason, and their four dogs. As an advocate in the community, she enjoys volunteering on the Anything That Rolls event planning committee, working with patients and families at the local children's hospital every Wednesday evening. In her spare time, Jess and her family spends time doing adaptive activities like axe throwing and zip-lining!
Most of the stories here on LiveQuickie.com were submitted by readers. Do you have a story to tell? We'd love to hear it. Submit your story here.