Bill Turner, a first-time FCBA rider from Harrison, Maine, is currently the leading fundraiser across all rides in 2017. Bill will be trekking from San Francisco to Santa Fe (segments 1-4) with the cross-country ride this summer, and has raised over $6,400 to-date. He continues to make progress toward his fundraising goal of $11,000.
Read more about Bill’s ride – and consider donating to his campaign – at: https://fullercenter.donorpages.com/BikeAdventure/WilliamTurner/
FCBA: Why did you decide to join the Fuller Center Bike Adventure this year?
BILL: “Riding across the USA on a bicycle is on my bucket list. While searching for a mechanism to accomplish this, answered prayers lead me to the web information regarding the Fuller Center Bicycle Adventure. Connor got back to me very quickly with details when I inquired last spring. I find the concept of what the Fuller Center is all about very appealing and look forward to sharing time with other folks on the trip, and those we will meet along the way. I was ecstatic to discover that I could use my riding effort to raise funds for a home in Haiti. My wife and I partially support an orphanage and the education of three children there. Doing 1700 miles will be a good start on a potential cross country goal, the location of the segments is attractive, and the event fits into the time slot I can make available this year. Henry and Connor have been wonderful to deal with.”
FCBA: Tell us about your unique fundraising goal, and why you recently decided to increase it:
BILL: “Fundraising goal went from money for one home in Haiti to two homes. [Ed. Note: Bill increased his goal from $5,000 to $11,000 last month.] Having experienced short term mission trips to Haiti over the past three years, I have had wonderful opportunities to worship Jesus and work with folks who are spiritually rich and economically poor. Having worked on some homes while there, I understand the condition of much of the housing stock after the earthquake and hurricane and have some idea of the joy and security that a simple home will bring to a family. Many folks in Haiti still live in tarp houses put up by Samaritans’ Purse after the earthquake 7 years ago. When I was about to send out a second reminder notice, and realized we were close to the original goal 4 month prior to the event, prayer, God and my wife led me to increase the fund raising goal to two homes.”
FCBA: What strategies/methods have worked well for you so far?
BILL: “I started fund raising in 2016 just as soon as I signed up for the ride hoping to catch some end of the year donations. I have mostly focused on sending emails to now hundreds of folks I have met over 66 years of living; mostly folks I have had a business relationship and/ or friendship with. We also informed folks in the 90 Christmas letters we sent out. If you know our family in any way, you likely know of the fundraising effort. I used the opportunity of the reminder sent out in late January 2017 to increase the fund raising amount; based on the challenge we were offered that if we went for 2 homes, a donor would add another $500 after we reached $10,000. I use to fund raise for the Bike Across Maine event for the Lung Association. I learned then that emails to folks I knew was very productive compared to phone calls.”
FCBA: Can you offer any final tips for our other Bike Adventurers as they kick their fundraising campaigns into high-gear this spring?
BILL:
“Some thoughts:
- Be sincere. Be focused on your fund raising page and in your emails as to why you are riding and raising the funds.
- Tell the people why you believe in what you are doing and what will be accomplished with the funds.
- Be polite in reminding folks at some point after your first ask, that there is still an opportunity to contribute.
- Both churches we are involved in have put up notices and inserted a notice in their bulletin.
- Use local newspapers to get the word out.
- If you are involved in some type of civic group, let them know.
- Get a donor to start some type of a challenge when you are ½ or 2/3 way to your goal?”
