Comment by mikestew | Hacker News Reader

Comment by mikestew | Hacker News Reader

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I saw what I consider to be the epitome of money-grubbing "charity fun run" about five years ago with the "Ugly Sweater Run". They blatantly advertised that there would be no clock, no results, and it would be "about 5K/3.1 miles". For $85. On a private road that was unlikely to require any permits or even much traffic control (Remlinger Farms, for those familiar with the Seattle/Carnation area). I've run plenty of 5K runs with awards, traffic control, support, timing and placing for $35 (and this old man thinks that's high).

But wait, you might ask, what about the charity? Toys for Tots. Bring your own damned toy, because the organizers sure as hell weren't giving the little shits any toys. None of the money was earmarked for the charity, right into the event organizers' pockets it goes.

That's the most egregious example. Other examples abound to solidify my belief that charity fun runs are a racket. Write a check directly, and go find a run that isn't trying to bullshit you with a coat of "it's for charity".

I did my first timed 5K over the holidays for free through a local parkrun:

https://www.parkrun.us/

Apparently they're sponsored, but I have no idea who sponsored this one.

Fun runs are probably generally cost-inefficient, and if what you're saying about the Toys for Tots is true, thats terrible, but I don't quite understand how the pricing relates to the story.

> with awards, traffic control, support, timing and placing for $35

Surly those must struggle to break even? Wouldn't a higher fee, and, more importantly, nearly-zero costs be exactly what you want for a charity run?

> Surly those must struggle to break even? Wouldn't a higher fee, and, more importantly, nearly-zero costs be exactly what you want for a charity run?

The one for 35$ wasn't the charity run, that was the commercial one. The charity one was 85$, thus even if they just paid the commercial one 35$ per runner, they would still comes out with 50$ per runner given, yet if his story is true, they gave 0$ per runner.

To put a lower bound on how much these things can cost. The Kent Fitness League (UK) runs an old school cross country event. It costs two pounds (2015).

I have been to a few fun runs that do not support a charity, cost >$40, and ask for volunteers to help pass out bibs, direct traffic, etc.

I never understood why people would volunteer for an event like that. You aren’t supporting anything except the company that is profiting from the run.

If anyone profits from the run, it’s the company that pulls out the clock and the timing mat. That will be a fixed fee, whether you have volunteers or not. The timing company does not care about charity, or not, they want their money to pull out the equipment. I know a few of these folks, most are one person/mom and pop operations. None that I know of are driving nice cars and raking it in.

The volunteers are to reduce other costs for what is probably at best a break-even proposition. Race directors generally aren’t rolling in cash, either. That is, unless one doesn’t provide any of those services and charges $85.

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