Help others by supporting the services at the Institute. Ask friends, family and work associates to sponsor your run. Click on this template for a sample letter that you can use to ask friends to sponsor you for Run, Walk n' Roll.

Emails and letters are great ways of getting people to sponsor you for the run. Personalize your letter when asking for sponsorship by telling everyone a bit of your own story and let them know why you are supporting Rehabilitation Institute at Santa Barbara (RISB). This will help to get the attention of people who care about you and what you are doing. Send a broadcast email to all explaining what you’re doing and why. Every donation helps another person take important steps toward recovery. Checks should be made out to Rehabilitation Institute Foundation.

Incentive prizes will be given to those who generate donations through personal run sponsors. Check out the prizes on the Individual Run Incentive Packages flyer.

Following is a sample of how personalizing your letter can make a big impact on your request. This letter was written by David Powdrell, a former patient and volunteer of RISB, who ran a marathon. You are welcome to use portions of David's letter in your own to let your friends know about the important and life changing medical rehabilitation going on at RISB!

Dear friends,

As you already know, I had a stroke followed up by brain surgery last year. In the Intensive Care Unit at Cottage Hospital, I met with some doctors that recommended I consider moving to the Rehabilitation Institute at Santa Barbara to work on recovery and therapy. It was the best decision of my life.

They do amazing things there. I learned how to walk again. How to use my arm to reach. I learned how to climb stairs. Then how to swim. To play the piano again.

The last 16 weeks I’ve been running a lot and on June 4th, Valerie and I will be running the San Diego Marathon.

What I want to do by way of this letter is to make you aware of the Rehabilitation Institute at Santa Barbara. I am trying to raise some money to support their therapeutic recreation services. These programs benefit the patients and community members and are funded by donations and grants. Your contribution will be tax deductible and provide opportunities for people like myself to return to enjoyable leisure activities. Isn’t that what life’s all about!

I would be greatly honored if you would consider making a donation to the Rehab Institute. Enclosed is a self addressed stamped envelope. Checks are to be made out to RISB.

Thank you in advance for your tax deductible contribution.

Sincerely,

David Powdrell

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