Conducting a Lift-a-thon

A lift-a-thon is a great way to raise money for your program and at the same time motivate your wrestlers to pump iron. Here's two examples of how it's done.

Example 1 - by Scott Barker, Mountain View High School, CO

We give the kids just one week to collect sponsors. Each sponsor fills out a form (Word format). At the end of the week they do two lifts, the Squat and Bench. Instead of going for a one Rep Max, we use the Bigger Faster Formula for a Rep Max. It seems to go faster and is much safer. BFS formula is Actual Weight + Actual Weight x Actual Reps x .03. We use a spreadsheet to make it easier to calculate their total. We write down their Max Lbs. on the sheet (Word format) of paper that verifies their total pounds. We give them one week to collect the money. We collect anywhere from $1,500 - $3,000 on this activity depending on the number of wrestlers and how much we can motivate them! Be sure to include the names of all donors in a program to recognize their support and/or send a note of appreciation.

Example 2

Wrestlers have a pledge sheet to get people to sponsor them. The lifting could be done during phys ed classes and/or after school. We use three lifts: bench, squat and deadlift. We take the maximum lift for each one then add all of the weights up to get a combined total. The amount owed by each sponsor would be sponsor's amount x combined total. Every participant is expected to get $150 in pledges. This is the only fund-raiser in which wrestlers are asked to help. Everyone that participates gets a t-shirt.

Example 3 - by Ray Nunamaker, former coach Nazareth High School, PA

For a more wrestling-related activity conduct a "Takedown-a-thon" for the season. This can create extra fan interest for the sponsors, and can also put some gentle pressure on the team to perform. Encourage the wrestlers to get as many sponsors as they can (friends, teachers, parents) who are willing to commit to a small contribution to the wrestling fund (perhaps 25 cents), for every takedown they score during the season. Create pledge forms so this is rather easily tracked. After the season have the wrestlers collect on the pledges and add the money to other funds you might have. Use it for something the team needs or for some fun event.

Instructions for wrestlers:

• Pick up a pledge sheet from Coach as soon as possible.
• Ask friends, neighbors and family members to support you in the lift-a-thon.
• Fill in their name, address and the amount pledged per pound on the pledge card. Be sure to get the full mailing address including zip code. Write clearly! The Booster club will send a bill for the pledge.
• Pledges must be at least 5 cents per pound. If someone wants to pledge a flat amount, just write "flat" and the amount they want to pledge in the per pound column,
• If you collect any pledge money you must staple the money to the pledge card and turn it in when you turn in your pledge card. Be sure to mark "paid" beside each person that paid their pledge to you.
• Be honest about how many pounds you expect to lift at the competition.
• Pledges from fellow students have not been successful in the past, please use good judgment.

Note - There is a company that can assist you in all aspects of conducting this type of fund raiser. Choose-A-Thon.com helps you host a Walk-A-Thon, Jog-A-Thon, Lift-A-Thon or even a Read-A-Thon! We have never used them, but if you have, tell us about your experience.