Fundraising: 5 Tips for Reaching Your Goal for the Quebec Breast Cancer Foundation

There are two ways to look at a fundraiser.

As one big goal to hit… or as a series of small gestures that add up to something much bigger.

A first donation. A share. A text to five people. A post after a training run. And little by little, the counter starts to climb.

Every year, hundreds of Marathon Beneva de Montréal participants run in support of the Quebec Breast Cancer Foundation (QBCF). For many, the challenge isn’t only on the course—it’s also about getting the people around them behind a cause that matters.

Zofia and Valerie both run for the Foundation, and each has found her own way of making it work. Personal story, social media, fundraising events: their approaches look different, but they have one thing in common. They make their fundraiser personal, tangible and, above all, they keep talking about it.

We drew on their experience to put together five tips you can start using right away.

Tip #1: Know 3 important facts about the cause

To get people on board, start with three facts worth remembering:

• 1 in 8 women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime.
• More than 9,000 Quebec women received a diagnosis in 2024.
• In Quebec, breast cancer takes roughly 4 lives every day.

“But behind these numbers lies a reality that goes far beyond the illness. Income drops, expenses pile up, treatments drag on, and financial stress becomes one more thing to carry,” notes the Quebec Breast Cancer Foundation.

La Maison Rose is the Foundation’s hub, where people can access a range of services and activities—dermatotherapy and physiotherapy talks, nutrition workshops, oncoyoga classes, and more. It’s a place to feel welcomed, find community, and get support. Donations are what keep these services running for people living with breast cancer.

The series “Le gouffre lumineux” (lien: https://ici.tou.tv/le-gouffre-lumineux) (worth every minute), loosely inspired by Anick Lemay’s story, shows this reality with remarkable honesty: cancer doesn’t stop at the hospital door.

This is where donations make a real difference. For over 32 years, the Foundation has been funding research and offering free, practical support, such as financial assistance, psychosocial services, oncological yoga, and more. (link: https://rubanrose.org/je-cherche/services-de-soutien/) Education, awareness, and advocacy are also central to its mission.

Tip #2: Break your goal into smaller pieces

A $1,000 goal can feel overwhelming.

But $1,000 is also 20 people giving $50. Or 40 people giving $25. All of a sudden, it doesn’t feel so out of reach.

Give yourself smaller milestones: 25%, 50%, 75%. Each one becomes a new reason to talk about your campaign.

Hit your goal sooner than expected? Raise it—and share the news while you’re at it.

Zofia has already surpassed her first goal: “I’ve already reached my initial goal, and I plan to keep going until I’ve at least doubled it by the end of the campaign.”

Tip #3: Share your “why” in 3 sentences

Before you ask for a donation, answer three questions:

Why this cause?
Why you?
Why now?

You don’t need a long story, and you don’t need to have been personally touched by breast cancer. Maybe you’re running for someone close to you, or simply because you want your kilometres to count for something.

Zofia, for example, is running her first half-marathon in honour of her best friend Jyening, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2025. On her fundraising page, she writes:

“Even on her hardest days, she stayed strong, radiant, and completely herself. A devoted mother to her daughters Leona and Maia, a powerful voice in the Black community, and the kind of friend you feel lucky to have in your life.”

Your story will be different. What matters is that the people around you understand why this fundraiser means something to you.

Tip #4: Share your fundraiser more than once

Posting your link once and waiting? That’s the easiest mistake to make.

Someone sees your post, thinks: “I’ll get to that later”… and never does. Give them more chances to follow through.

• Just finished your first 10 km? Talk about it.
• Hit 50% of your goal? Talk about it.
• One month to go before the Marathon? Talk about it.
• Got a donation that moved you? Thank the person—and mention your fundraiser again.

Aim for at least four moments: when you launch, at the halfway point, a few weeks before race day, and in the final push.

And don’t just rely on social media. A personal text or email to 10 people can go further than a story seen by 500.

Tip #5: Give people a reason to get together

Already reached out to your network and looking to give your fundraiser a boost? Create an event.

Valerie has been doing it for 19 years: “We host a spaghetti dinner where every dollar goes to the cause. We make it welcoming and fun for the whole family.”

It doesn’t have to be that big. A happy hour. A garage sale. A fitness challenge at work. A brunch. A bake sale. A group run where everyone chips in.

The idea is simple: instead of just asking for donations, give people a reason to show up for your goal together.

Bonus: tools and rewards to keep you going

The Quebec Breast Cancer Foundation offers a communications kit and ready-to-share content to help with your fundraiser. Link: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1_HxrnJIfyKJT4yDSmpT2-ITg3C5C1ivc

And to keep you motivated, a rewards program is in place:

• Over $500 raised: receive 4 RunClips.
• Over $1,000: receive a pair of running socks and 4 RunClips.
• Over $2,000: receive a reimbursement of your Marathon Beneva de Montréal registration fees, a pair of socks, and 4 RunClips.

• For more on the rewards program or to get support from the Foundation, reach out to odelon@rubanrose.org.

One more goal to chase during training.

Now all that’s left is to start.

One message. Five people. A first donation.