I have a confession to make – I have no practical experience in fundraising. While I have dedicated myself to advocacy for Charcot Marie Tooth and neuromuscular diseases through writing and facilitating a support group, I have never put together a fundraiser on my own and find the task daunting. So, recently I ventured into the fundraising arena in one of the simplest ways possible, through starting a Circle of Friends with the Charcot Marie Tooth Association (CMTA).

Using the Circle of Friends program, I easily created a spot on their website for my campaign. I was able to choose a name, Help Cure CMT! I now have a donation page dedicated to my campaign, making it easy to donate. Next, I have been sending out a personal appeal to family, friends, and other acquaintances to contribute to the CMTA through the Circle of Friends page. Social networking sites such as facebook also provide a means for spreading the word about fundraising efforts.

A Circle of Friends site can also be used to collect donations fundraising events as well. Scrolling through the various groups can provide creative ideas for holding fundraising events.

Exciting research through the CMTA’s Strategy to Accelerate Research (STAR) initiative provides hope that effective treatments and cures for the various types of the neuromuscular disease Charcot Marie Tooth will soon be available. Goals of STAR include introducing effective therapies within five years for CMT Type 1A (the most common type of CMT), extending research protocols to other types of CMT, and developing therapies that will reverse symptoms of this disorder within ten years.

Research requires funding, however, which is where you can help. Consider donating to STAR through attending a fundraiser, donating to one of the Circle of Friends campaign, and/or becoming personally involved in fundraising. You can find all of the information that you will need to start a new Circle of Friends on the CMTA website.

Resources

CMTA, (n.d.). Help Cure CMT! CMTA Online Community. http://www.cmtausa.org/index.php?option=com_community&view=groups&task=viewgroup&groupid=221&Itemid=15 . Retrieved 11/7/12.

CMTA, (n.d.). Group Finder CMTA Online Community http://www.cmtausa.org/index.php?option=com_community&view=groups&categoryid=7&sort=alphabetical&Itemid=15 . Retrieved 11/7/12.

CMTA, (n.d.). Managing a Circle of Friends Campaign. CMTA website http://www.cmtausa.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=313:managing-a-circle-of-friends-campaign&catid=30:administrator-help&Itemid=110 . http://www.cmtausa.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=37&Itemid=147 . Retrieved 11/7/12.

CMTA, (n.d.). STAR – The CMTA Strategy to Accelerate Research. CMTA website. http://www.cmtausa.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=37&Itemid=147 . Retrieved 11/7/12.

CMTA, (n.d.). Start a Circle of Friends. CMTA website. http://www.cmtausa.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=52:start-a-circle-of-friends&catid=9:get-involvedCMTA website . Retrieved 11/7/12.