Marathon Team Update #10

Posted on by Alisheya Luthman

Final Team Meeting on March 24

The final team meeting has been rescheduled from March 18 to March 24 at 6:00 PM. EST Please mark your calendars and plan to join us as we review important final details ahead of race weekend! Click here to RSVP.

Second Fundraising Deadline 

A friendly reminder that the second team fundraising deadline of $7,500 dollars/per runner raised is due by 11:59pm on March 31. As a reminder, if you have not reached the $7,500 minimum by 11:59pm on the 31st, your credit card will be charged for the incremental amount to reach the deadline. These charges will be applied to your total fundraising commitment and will not be refunded. 

If you have incoming donations, or incoming matching gifts, please alert us ASAP so we can make sure we update your total, even if the gifts haven’t arrived to us yet / aren’t on your page. If you plan on meeting the commitment by making an outright donation, you can do so directly onto your TeamRaiser without us having to charge your card.  

As we get closer to the second team fundraising deadline, here are some ways to increase your fundraising success: 

  • Host a St. Patrick’s Day themed dinner party or game night! Both are great ways to ask guests to donate for a delicious meal or fun night. Don’t forget to include your fundraising link in the invite. It will ensure that even those unable to attend can still contribute to your goal! 
  • Ask EVERYONE! And make sure to follow up! Remember, no response does not mean no. Send a follow-up email/text to those you sent your initial outreach to. Let them know how your training is going and tell them that there’s still time to donate. 
  • Use social media as an advantage – Instagram, Twitter, and even LinkedIn are great platforms to showcase your efforts! Ever heard of Venmo? Post on your Instagram story asking if you can request those who like your story $5-10 on Venmo! 
  • THANK your supporters! Remember to acknowledge all your donors and thank them for their generosity., regardless of the size of their donation. Each donor is important, and it’s important to recognize each gift. 
  • Make the Ask Accessible! Small donations add up quickly and feel approachable to potential supporters. Consider framing your ask in simple ways like:
    • “If you’d consider donating the cost of a coffee ($5–$10), it would mean so much.”
    • “I’m looking for 20 people to give $25.”
    • “Sponsor one mile of my race for $20.”

Support a Stepping Strong Runner Day!

Third Team Fundraising Milestone: $15,000 by April 3 

All runners who raise $15,000+ by April 3 will receive a B.A.A. Celebration Finishers Jacket or any previous incentive for our third fundraising milestone!! That’s right, our team is offering to buy YOU your Boston Marathon Celebration/Finishers Jacket if you raise $15,000+ by April 3 at 11:59pm. If you qualify, our team will reach out for sizing soon, and we will coordinate shipping/pick up race weekend.

For those who want to purchase the jacket themselves, please click here for women and click here for men. 

18 – 22 Mile Training Run on Saturday, March 21

The longest training run of the season (18 – 22-miles) is scheduled for Saturday, March 21! For many of you, this will be your longest run of the season, but don’t worry, you’ll have us, and plenty of support including a Stepping Strong water stop along the way!  

For those of you who are coming from out of town, Joint Ventures is located at 660 Beacon Street in Kenmore Square. Doors open at 7:30am and the run will start at 8:00am. We can’t wait to see you all CRUSH it!  

Team Office Hours

Office hours are available for questions, fundraising guidance, or general support. Please drop in at any of the times below:

If you have any questions, please contact us at marathonteam@bwh.harvard.edu. 

From start to finish, 

Ali 

Marathon Team Update #9

Posted on by Alisheya Luthman

As we get closer to race day, please be sure to read all email communications in their entirety!  

Marathon Madness Challenge Winners 

Congratulations to our February Marathon Madness winners! Josh O. raised the most money and Emily  L. received the most donations. You have some Stepping Strong swag heading your way! 

Another month of the Marathon Madness Fundraising Challenge has arrived with two more chances to win if you receive the most donations or raise the most in the month of March! Don’t forget that on 4/1 (the championship!) the individual who raised the most money and the individual who received the most donations over the course of the three-month challenge will each receive a custom Stepping Strong YETI! Please note that if you are fundraising with other runners on a ‘team,’ the totals will be divided among the number of people you are fundraising with. 

Final Team Meeting has been rescheduled

Please note that the Final Team Meeting has been rescheduled from March 18 to March 24 at 6:00 PM. EST Please mark your calendars and plan to join us as we review important final details ahead of race weekend!

Last Opportunity for Stepping Strong Swag! 

  • When: NOW – March 10  
  • Cost: $26 shirt / $40 pullover (Pieces are nonrefundable; cannot be exchanged) 

Third Team Fundraising Milestone: $15,000 by April 3 

All runners who raise $15,000+ by April 3 will receive a B.A.A. Celebration Finishers Jacket or any previous incentive for our third fundraising milestone!! That’s right, our team is offering to buy YOU your Boston Marathon Celebration/Finishers Jacket if you raise $15,000+ by April 3 at 11:59pm. If you qualify, our team will reach out for sizing soon, and we will coordinate shipping/pick up race weekend.

For those who want to purchase the jacket themselves, please click here for women and click here for men. 

18 – 22 Mile Training Run on Saturday, March 21

The longest training run of the season (18 – 22-miles) is scheduled for Saturday, March 21! For many of you, this will be your longest run of the season, but don’t worry, you’ll have us, and plenty of support including a Stepping Strong water stop along the way!  

For those of you who are coming from out of town, Joint Ventures is located at 660 Beacon Street in Kenmore Square. Doors open at 7:30am and the run will start at 8:00am. We can’t wait to see you all CRUSH it!  

Team Office Hours

Office hours are available for questions, fundraising guidance, or general support. Please drop in at any of the times below:

If you have any questions, please contact us at marathonteam@bwh.harvard.edu. 

From start to finish, 

Ali 

Special Delivery Coming Your Way + Updates

Posted on by Alisheya Luthman

Your official Stepping Strong marathon team gear is headed your way via FedEx! 🎉 Once it arrives, please try everything on as soon as possible. If you experience any sizing issues, or if your package has not been received by the end of February, please email marathonteam@bwh.harvard.edu right away so we can assist.

Team Office Hours

Office hours are available for questions, fundraising guidance, or general support. Please drop in at any of the times below:

Fundraising Tip

Instead of posting a general “Please support my fundraiser,” try being specific about the amount and the impact. For example:

  • “I’m looking for 10 people to donate $26, one dollar for every mile of the marathon.”
  • “Would you consider sponsoring one mile for $26?”
  • “Help me reach my next goal of X by Marathon Monday!”

When donors know exactly how much you’re asking for and what it represents, they’re much more likely to give. A clear goal and a tight timeline can make all the difference!

Donor Questions & Donor Advised Fund Gifts

Friendly reminder for you and your donors that the best way to get questions answered is to reach out to me directly (marathonteam@bwh.harvard.edu and/or 857 505 1225), rather than contacting the general development office or Kiran Rai. I will triage all inquiries and make sure each gift question is processed quickly and accurately! For additional guidance about gifts, you can also refer to the second team meeting PowerPoint by clicking here, which has all the relevant information laid out clearly.

From start to finish,

Ali

A Special Message from the Reny family

Posted on by Alisheya Luthman

We are so honored that you’ve joined the Stepping Strong Marathon team in support of the Gillian Reny Stepping Strong Center for Trauma Innovation. Your dedication means the world to not just our family, but to all the trauma survivors whose lives are being transformed through the Stepping Strong Center’s groundbreaking research and programs.  

This Valentine’s Day, we want to take a moment to share how much we love and appreciate your commitment to this cause. Our passion for supporting trauma survivors comes from love—love for our precious daughter, the incredible Brigham physicians who saved her, the family and friends who stood by us, and every single person who has become part of the Stepping Strong family, including you.  

When our family stood at the Boston Marathon finish line in April 2013, we had no idea how, in an instant, our lives would change forever. But through tragedy, we found purpose. As we count down to race day on April 20, we hope you feel immense pride in knowing that your efforts are making a tangible difference for trauma survivors everywhere. Every step you take is part of something bigger—a movement of hope and healing.  

Wishing you an extra special Valentine’s Day! We hope it’s filled with love, joy, and maybe a little extra chocolate. ❤️  

With heartfelt gratitude and lots of love,    

Audrey, Steven, Danielle, Kyle, Elyse, Gillian, and Matt 

Marathon Team Update #8

Posted on by Alisheya Luthman

Team Gathering on 2/23

There was a change in schedule and the Renys are now hosting a final small team gathering (in-person) on 2/23! If you are available and would like to attend, there are limited spots, so click here to RSVP!

Fundraising Tip

Reach out to your network on Saturday, February 14 and ask them to share the LOVE and support your upcoming run! See below for language you can personalize for an email/text/social post.

This Valentine’s Day, I invite you to share the love by supporting the Stepping Strong Marathon Team. As I train for the historic Boston Marathon, my teammates and I are doing more than preparing for a race, we are running to transform the lives of trauma survivors.

Every mile is a labor of love, fueled by our commitment to advancing trauma research and care through the Stepping Strong Center. Your support won’t just carry me to the start and across the finish line, but it will help provide critical funding for research grants, educational programs, and patient-focused initiatives, to develop innovative treatments that revolutionize trauma care and rebuild lives.

If you’re able, please consider making a gift today. You can visit my fundraising page here: <INSERT LINK>.

Thank you for sharing the love and being part of this journey with me.

Donor Questions & Donor Advised Fund Gifts

Friendly reminder for you and your donors that the best way to get questions answered is to reach out to me directly (marathonteam@bwh.harvard.edu and/or 857 505 1225), rather than contacting the general development office or Kiran Rai. I will triage all inquiries and make sure each gift question is processed quickly and accurately! Here are a few key reminders:

  • Donor-Advised Fund (DAF) Gifts: Donors can use their DAF to support your fundraising. All they need is the following information:
    • Tax ID: 04-2312909
    • Charitable/Non-Profit Organization Brigham and Women’s Hospital/Mass General Brigham
    • Address: 263 Huntington Ave. #318, Boston, MA 02115-4506
    • Designation/Comments: Stepping Strong Center at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Support of <RUNNER NAME> Marathon Run.
    • Donor Advised Fund Gifts are also known as Charitable Funds, Family Funds, etc.
  • Please ensure donors know you’re fundraising for the Stepping Strong Center at Brigham and Women’s Hospital
    • Some donors are disputing their donations because they do not recognize the charge on their credit cards
    • Disputed charges are reversed and removed from your fundraising page.
    • Credit card charges appear on statements as ‘Brigham and Women’s Hosp’

For additional guidance about gifts, you can also refer to the second team meeting PowerPoint by clicking here, which has all the relevant information laid out clearly.

Team Office Hours

Office hours are available for questions, fundraising guidance, or general support. Please drop in at any of the times below:

From start to finish,

Ali