Cancer vs T-Shirts, the Throwdown! Fighting for the Cure with Embroidered Clothes

[caption id="attachment_1008" align="aligncenter" width="3000"] Image source: Lucilleroberts.com[/caption] Have you ever participated in a charity walk to cure cancer, Alzheimer's, or some other terrible disease? If you haven't then I highly recommend it -- not only will you help raise money for charity and burn a few calories, but you can also reduce the risk of developing the disease that you're there to fight! For example, did you know that good exercise can help battle Alzheimer's? What better way to fight that disease than with a 5k walk?   And what better way to advertise the event than with custom embroidered t-shirts? If you're running a charity event, then it's absolutely critical that you include custom embroidered clothes for the participants. It will help to spread the message about your cause in the one of the cheapest and most effective methods available.  

The Drive to Brag

You've probably heard that cynical phrase, "There's no such thing as a selfless good deed." As much as I hate to admit it, it's kind of accurate. Whenever you do a good deed, you improve your image in the eyes of others. I realize of course that many people do good deeds without the intent of reaping all of the good karma afterward, but scoring brownie points is still a major motivating factor for many people.   [caption id="attachment_1011" align="aligncenter" width="612"] Image source: Ryanraaaar.tumblr.com[/caption] If you hand out customized t-shirts or hats during your fundraiser event, then people will proudly wear those articles of clothing for years to come. Some do it as a way to support the cause, while others do it because they did a good deed and they want to impress others. Cynical? Sure -- but it's true. People like to brag about their accomplishments and charity groups have been exploiting that desire for decades.  

Benefits of a Free Shirt

When I was a kid, I was always bewildered by free t-shirts at cancer walks and other fund-raising events. "I don't get it," I would mutter to myself. "If they're trying to get us to give them money for cancer research, why are they spending that money on t-shirts and giving it right back?" It was a bizarre contradiction to my eight-year-old mind, but now that I'm older it makes a lot more sense.   [caption id="attachment_1010" align="aligncenter" width="3072"] Image source: Activeforcharity.wordpress.com[/caption] If you spend money on free shirts, then what you're basically paying for is advertising. Every person who wears your custom embroidered shirt or hat will become a walking billboard to support your cause. They will share that message with friends, family, and coworkers. And best of all, charity t-shirts invite conversation. People like to ask why somebody participated in a charity event because it's such a feel-good topic and it often leads to personal stories about a sick loved one.  

Selling Charity Shirts for Profit

The other alternative is to sell customized clothing at charity events. The benefit of this approach is fairly obvious: your organization doesn't lose any money. Every purchase pays for the cost of production and all of the profits can go directly to charity. The only downside to this approach is that you won't reach as many people. All of the people who do buy shirts, however, will proudly advertise your message.   [caption id="attachment_1012" align="aligncenter" width="1222"] Image source: Justjared.com[/caption] Regardless of whether you choose to give away shirts for free or sell them for profit, t-shirts and customized hats are a must for any major fundraising event. Both options will help your organization raise more money in the long run (though the for-profit approach will be much faster).