One of the coolest parts of Relay For Life is seeing all the different ways people come up with to fundraise. Some of the coolest fundraising ideas come from team captains and team members who get super creative.
Lana Hoang, a fourth year Biomedical Engineering major, member of Relay For Life's Fundraising Committee, and captain of Team VSA, founded Hair Ties For A Cure over a year ago as her personal fundraiser. Her success has been incredible! Relay For Life sat down with her to bring you our very first Fundraising Friday post and ask her how she did it!
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Relay For Life: What prompted you to start Hair Ties for a Cure? How did you come up with the idea for Hair Ties?
Lana Hoang: I was searching for a personal fundraiser that would be able to make a big impact, but was easy to do. Inspired by the preppy style at UVA and of course, Pinterest, I thought the hair ties would make a great fundraiser! Also, most boutiques were selling the hair ties for $3+ each, so I felt offering them at a lower price and for a great cause, I couldn't go wrong! (Hair Ties For A Cure sell for $2 each and ALL proceeds go to Relay For Life at UVA and the American Cancer Society).
RFL: How old is Hair Ties for a Cure?
LH: Hair Ties For A Cure started in January 2013
RFL: What is the most important thing you have learned from your personal fundraiser?
LH: The most important thing I have learned from Hair Ties is to not be afraid to ask people for help, or if they would be interested in buying hair ties! Personally I am not in Greek Life, so it has been great interacting with those involved, especially with the ISC and the different sororities, to spread the word about Hair Ties to the Greek community.
RFL: What has been the biggest obstacle in creating, building, and running Hair Ties for a Cure?
LH: Making the hair ties is the biggest challenge, since the whole project of Hair Ties for a Cure is an individual, self-run fundraiser. Ordering the materials and handmaking each hair tie (measuring, cutting, tying, and burning edges to prevent fraying) takes lots of time, especially with such a variety of colors and patterns available!
RFL: What was the most exciting thing that has happened since starting Hair Ties for a Cure?
LH: In Fall 2013, we were sold in Darling Boutique on the Downtown Mall, which was a cool experience to have my product actually in a store!
RFL: What is one thing you wish you had known when you started Hair Ties for a Cure?
LH: I wish I had known how time consuming it would be! Once orders are placed, I coordinate times with individuals to meet up to exchange, but often times it can be hard to coordinate times, or to even get a response back after an order has been placed.
RFL: Any advice to people who want to start their own personal Relay fundraiser?
LH: Don't be afraid to share your ideas with others, whether it be your Relay committee members, teammates, or just your friends! I remember brainstorming the potential of Hair Ties For A Cure with friends and it really helped to bounce ideas off of one another and establish a foundation for the fundraiser. Also, don't be afraid to ask for help! Whether it is sending a blurb out on a listserve, or posting in a Facebook group, the Relay community is willing to help your fundraiser and they won't know you'll need help until you ask!
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Hair Ties for a Cure is part of our larger Big Sis Week Fundraiser this spring! Spoil your little AND help finish the fight!
With RelayLove,
