Tips & Tools

GETTING STARTED 

1. Register for your climb
Climb a familiar building or stadium in your city. As a climber, you commit to a $150 fundraising minimum to help blood cancer patients and their families. Youth (ages 8-17) must raise $50 or more to climb.  

2. Set up your account
Customize your fundraising page with a photo and your story—the reason you’re climbing for people with blood cancer. Fun fact: participants who customize their page raise 3x more than those who don’t! 

Have problems accessing your username or password? Contact us and we’ll get it sorted: BigClimb@lls.org or call (888) 557-7177. 

3. Set your goal
Aim high with a goal that’s meaningful to you. Be bold: your fundraising minimum is only the beginning. Plus, the more funds you raise, the more of an impact you’ll make—and the more rewards you earn.   

4. Consider your personal donation
Kickstart your fundraising by making a personal donation. Need help deciding a meaningful donation?   

• $25 can help a cancer patient to receive free nutrition education and consultations through the LLS Nutrition Education Services Center.   

• $50 can help connect Spanish-speaking patients and families with service and support through LLS’s Latino Initiative.  

• $100 enables LLS to support patients through our Patient Aid Program so parents don’t have to worry about the cost of things like putting dinner on the table while paying for treatment.   

• $150 secures your climb and ensures patients can get the resources they need to survive – and thrive – throughout their diagnosis.  

• $250 helps LLS fund our online support groups for patients and caregivers 

• $1,000 can help fund an LLS research fellow for a week, pushing forward blood cancer research and treatment 

5. Connect to Facebook
When you connect your fundraising page to a Facebook Fundraiser within your Fundraising Tools, your friends on Facebook can donate to your fundraiser with one click! Participants who connect their page to a Facebook Fundraiser raise on average 5x more!  

 

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Fundraising Tips and Tools 

Ask more than once 
Did you know it can take as many as 5 asks to secure a donation? Stay persistent. Try our pre-written templates to get started:  

Big Climb Donation Request Letter Templates 

Double your donations 
Some companies match their employees’ charitable gifts. With our lookup tool, it only takes 30 seconds to check if someone’s donation to you could go twice as far! If the answer is “yes,” don’t forget to submit all qualifying donations to achieve and surpass your goal. More information found here.   

Share your “why” 
Share a personal story, if you’re comfortable. Don’t have or want to share a connection to blood cancer? Consider lifting up Tristan, our 2025 Big Climb National Honored Hero. Think of his story as your ‘elevator pitch’ for your campaign’s impact!   

Inspire others 
No one should face blood cancer alone. Encourage your friends, family, and coworkers to donate to your fundraiser; invite them to climb with you, if it makes sense. Every effort shows blood cancer patients that we’re with them at every step.   

Make your progress public
Whether you’re just getting started or you’re closing in on your goal, keep the momentum going by letting people know! Your passion for our mission inspires others to get involved.  

Develop a social media plan
Use our pre-made social media posts or create something yourself to spread your fundraiser far and wide. Consider photos, videos, or a personal message that motivates your community to take action.  Check out our social media toolkit for tools and inspiration! 

Get creative 
Fundraising can and should be fun! Encourage your community to get involved. Offer up a challenge, set up a dunk tank that takes donations, or host a bake sale. Every idea counts.
Hosting a fundraising event? Here’s a flyer template for that.  

Use your network 
Have connections with a company? Use our ‘Sponsor My Climb’ sheet and inspire a company to donate to your fundraising. The company supports a cause the community cares about, you make progress on your fundraising goal, and LLS can keep moving toward cures and more patient support. Talk about a win-win-win!   

Thank your supporters 
A little gratitude goes a long way. Show some to the people who donate to your goal! A thank-you note is a great touch.  

 

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Recruitment Tips and Tools 

Build your team of climbers to reach—and surpass—your goals.  

Ask individually
Tell someone why you think they’d be a great team member and why getting them onboard matters to you. Be personal! Need help? Check out our templates below so you can inspire others to create meaningful change for those affected by blood cancer. 

• Email Past Climbers
• More templates coming soon! 

Share on social media
By sharing that you’ve joined Big Climb, you’re opening a door for others to join you. Not sure what to say? Start with this example post and caption:

Suggested caption: 
Ready to make every step count? ?? Join my team for BigClimb [CITY] and lets step up to take blood cancer down! 

Cast a wide net
Ask friends, family members, coworkers, gym buddies, club pals—anyone who’s part of your life and feels like a good fit. You might be surprised by who’s eager to step up!
Use this flyer template to get started. Post it in the break room, on your building’s community board, or wherever else makes sense!