Donna and Barbara

At Firstgiving, we are always advocating for you to get your friends involved in your cause of choice. Whether they donate to your page, join you in your event, or make a fundraising page of their own; the support of your friends and family can get you farther in your fundraising goals than you can alone.

We saw a perfect example of this with Donna Kalisek, a woman who has struggled with Myasthenia Gravis, a chronic incurable muscle weakening disorder with no known cause or cure, since the age of nine. On her own, she has raised $565 dollars for the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation. Upon further investigation, we discovered two more Firstgiving pages for the same cause, each featuring pictures of Donna! Together, these three pages have raised a whopping $1,510, about three times what Donna raised alone. 

Donna and her friends Barbara and Ginnyalso all work together for the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation. Not only are they supportive friends, but they also serve as prime examples of two ways to promote your page.

Donna and Ginny

First, Both Donna and Barbara mentioned on their pages that June was Myasthenia Gravis Awareness month and launched their page during this time. Not only does this help the cause gain more awareness, but it also increases the chances of your page being discovered on the web since there will generally be more interest and curiosity about this cause during the month of June. That is why Awareness months are so great! By helping them, they’re helping you!

Second, Donna, Barbara and Ginny all used their Firstgiving pages to promote an event. While Donna used her page to celebrate her 50th birthday (Happy Birthday Donna!), her two friends mentioned the MG-a-thon. Because of the grave muscle weakness many patients experience with this condition, people with MG generally cannot participate in walks, runs, bike, bowl or any other physically demanding A-THON. This is a unique event that allows for people with the illness to rally and fundraise together. Donations go to speading community awareness of MG and to providing treatment to patients with no cost!   

While Donna may lack strength from her condition, it is clear that she has the strength and support of her friends to keep her going.