It's summertime, when you and your co-workers have vacations. Why not do both them and yourself a favor by extending their trip, in the name of MS Challenge Walk fundraising? It's easy — just raffle off one of your vacation days! If you don't mind giving up a paid day off, you may be able to transfer it to a co-worker. Of course, to be eligible, they need to buy raffle tickets in support of the NMSS.

Before you start soliciting your co-workers, be sure to get permission at your workplace. A suggestion: start just one rung up from your position in the company hierarchy. If your supervisor doesn't approve the idea, keep moving up, or talk to your human resources director. This is a better approach than starting at the top, because then if you get a no, there's nowhere left to go!

Once you have approval, you can start selling raffle tickets to your co-workers. After a week or so, have a public drawing by placing all the sold tickets into a hat or fishbowl and drawing one winner. Inform your supervisor (or HR) to allocate one of your paid days off to the holder of the winning ticket.

This is a great fundraiser because it shows creative thinking and requires almost no physical resources, yet the prize is something everyone wants. Good luck!

Ken joined the MS Challenge Walk in 2005, more than a decade after his mother was diagnosed. After walking for three years and 150 miles, he switched to the support crew and now rides his bicycle along the trail, providing whatever encouragement (and snacks!) he can to the 600 walkers. He is also an alumnus of the event's steering committee and is this site's webmaster.