•Dance-a-thons: In these events,
participants have to dance to provided dance music for a
specific amount of time. This type of event is good
if you have a younger target donor list.
•Sew-a-thons: In these
events, participants sew (or quilt or craft) for a pres-set
period of time or until a specific number of items
have been created. As an added bonus, the things
created this way can then be sold at a fair or sale.
However, if you decide on this sort of marathon, you will
need to make sure that you can find enough volunteers
willing to sew or craft for an extended period of
time!
•Exercise-a-thons: These
were popular a number of years ago, but it is still
possible to find this sort of marathon hosted by
non-profits. Participants are encouraged to exercise
for a specific period of time or are encouraged to take
part in once type of activity (skiing, swimming, horseback
riding, biking, boating, aerobics, skateboarding, in-line
skating, or some other activity). It is important to
ensure that the marathon is not so long that people will be
injured, and it is important to provide some medical help
at the marathon site to ensure that anyone who is injured
or becomes ill can get the help they need.
•Clean-a-thons: This
type of marathon is very popular among groups with a
"green" theme. In exchange for the possibility of
cash and prizes, participants agree to clean part of a city
or highway, often agreeing to pick up specific amounts or
garbage in order to get sponsor support.
This type of marathon is good
because it has several side advantages. The city or
town area will usually look much better after the event,
which means that media or town politicians will often
support such an event, ensuring more participants.
Schools, neighborhood groups, churches, and other groups
interested in the community are usually willing
participants, ensuring that you have enough people taking
part.
And this can be a fun event, with
participants working together in their
community. It is easy to
organize. Remember that you will need to provide
refreshment, prizes, and garbage bags as well as thick
gloves to protect participants. You will also need
someone to take collected recyclables to be recycled.
Additional volunteers will have to follow up with
participants in order to get sponsor's
contributions.
•Kiss-a-thons: As the
name suggests, in this type of marathon calls for
participants to kiss for a specific period of time.
In many of these marathons, participants have also tried to
get participants into the world book of records for the
longest kiss.
•Fasts: Marathon fasts
are becoming quite popular. Events such as the "24
hour famine" raise awareness about world hunger as well as
the money that can change poverty. Participants need
to be told about the dangers of long-term fasting before
beginning.
•Cook-a-thons: In these
events, which are often better for small towns where
security issues are not as much of a concern, participants
cook for a specific period of time. The food cooked
can be sold to raise even more money or can be donated to a
shelter or food bank. These marathons can be expensive to
sponsor unless you can get a company to help you, as the
cost of cooking supplies can be quite high.
•Eating contests: Part
race and part marathon, these contests are often part of a
fair or bazaar. Participants try to eat as much of an
item (usually a pie) within a set period of time, and are
usually lots of fun.
•Sit-ins: In the 1960s,
sit-ins were used to protest certain conditions or
institutions. Today, some non-profit groups are
using sit-ins to raise money and awareness for
specific issues. Participants spend a few days in a
specific area, "camping out" creating a stir about an issue
while also raising money through sponsors. This type
of marathon requires lots of organizing and careful
controls to keep everyone safe. Also, you will need
to find someone willing to lend space for your
event.
•Read-a-thon: In this
type of marathon, participants read as many books as they
can over a period of a few weeks. In exchange,
sponsors give participants a specific sum of money for
every book read. Since this activity takes place on
participant's own time, there is no need to provide a space
or refreshments.
Participants also provide their own
books, making a read-a-thon one of the more inexpensive
forms of marathon to organize. Schools and libraries
are often willing to help advertise or support this type of
event, as well, so you can be sure of getting help with
this type of project.
In fact, any event or activity that can
be organized to take place in a group for a few hours can
generally be made into a successful marathon. For
inspiration, try looking at the Guinness World Book of
records and other similar reference works for activities
that could be converted into a marathon.
