Tips from a Fundraising Rookie

Fundraising can feel intimidating—especially if it’s something you’ve never done before. But as Audaxity rider John Heritsch discovered, sometimes all it takes is simply reaching out to your network.

John, a 20-year employee at Briohn Building Corporation, is riding with the Briohn Building Bicycle Team to raise money for groundbreaking cancer research at the Medical College of Wisconsin Cancer Center. He was inspired to sign up after Nelson and Katy Williams, Briohn’s owners, shared the ride’s mission.

“Cancer has touched my loved ones,” John says. “I’ve lost a brother at 55, a childhood friend at 54, and my brother-in-law has pancreatic cancer. Katy is a cancer survivor, and both she and Nelson have been incredibly generous to me and my family over the years. I want to do the best I can for them and for this event.”

John chose the city loop 25-mile route, and while he considers himself a “novice rider” and not naturally comfortable with fundraising, he didn’t let that hold him back. He started by sending a few short emails to friends, family, and contractors and was able to hit his goal of raising $2,000 in just two weeks.

“It’s not as hard as I thought it would be,” he says. “The more emails I send, the easier it gets.”

His message is clear: you don’t need to be an expert or have a huge network to make a difference. You just need to take the first step. If John can do it, so can you.

So why not join us? Be part of Audaxity to help raise critical funds to end cancer. We’d love to see you with us on August 17, 2025!