At Help Hope Live, we know that medical fundraising can be life-changing—but it can also be challenging, overwhelming, and discouraging. If you’re feeling stuck, there is hope.
Our client Ambassadors have been exactly where you are now, and they want to help.
In this post, you’ll find fundraising insights and encouragement from our Ambassadors with links to their stories plus additional tips that might help you.
Our team, Ambassador community, and entire network of hope are here for just one reason: to help you feel encouraged, supported, and valued in your fundraising journey.
That’s the role our nonprofit was born to play—from 1983 to today.
Contact your Client Services Coordinator for one-on-one help and personalized support. If you’d like peer-to-peer fundraising help, ask your Coordinator to connect you to an Ambassador directly.
This post was last updated in February 2026.
It’s Not Too Early to Fundraise
Whether they are living with an injury, illness, or transplant need, our Ambassadors agree: it is never too early to start fundraising.
You can ask for help with confidence knowing that you’re protecting your health and wellbeing by starting your fundraising now.
“Start fundraising ASAP. You’ll be amazed by the support available to you from family, friends, and even strangers.”–Pat McEntee, heart transplant
“Start fundraising now—while the community has your name fresh in their mind.”–Ryan Gebauer, spinal cord injury
“Fundraising with one-on-one guidance gave me a 2-month head start to fundraise before my transplant occurred.”–Greg Wright, heart transplant
“One of the most important times to fundraise is right after a spinal cord injury when people in the community are highly motivated to help in any way possible.”–Josh Basile, Esq., spinal cord injury
“It’s never too early to start fundraising.
The time when people in your community are witnessing some of your struggle before a transplant is also the time when they are the most likely to be able to directly see and understand why you need help.”–Bill Soloway, heart transplant
Love this? Read this: Write a Fundraising Letter (Click Here)
This Is Your Time of Need
Almost every client we talk to shares the same feeling when they start looking at their fundraising options: “I am embarrassed to need, and ask for, help.”
The truth is that even if you are used to being a giver and provider, right now, your time of need has come. Now is the time to ask, and you are not alone in needing help.
“If you’re anything like me, you find it hard to ask for help—especially financial help.
Don’t be afraid to start fundraising. People genuinely want to help other people. It makes them feel good about themselves. That’s how most of us are wired.”–Bill Soloway, heart transplant
“Fundraising with Help Hope Live reminds you it’s okay to ask for help.”
–Amy Sherwood, disability/illness
“Every single one of us needs help beyond what we can do for ourselves.”–Dylan Mortimer, lung transplant
“The idea of being sick AND having to fundraise for a heart transplant was overwhelming to me. I was stuck in the hospital and not feeling hopeful about the future.
Rely on your Client Services Coordinator: as soon as I connected with my Coordinator at Help Hope Live, I knew I had made the right choice.”–Linda Jara, heart transplant
Love this? Read this: Reset Your Perspective (Click Here)
You’re in the Driver’s Seat
Our Ambassadors suggest taking an active role in your fundraising campaign and pursuing connections wherever you can find them for the best results.
Along the way, give yourself patience and time.
“Keep in mind that while Help Hope Live is there to give you the resources you need to help your campaign succeed, you are the one who is making the outreach to your community.
Engage actively in fundraising and do not be afraid to reach out.
There are caring people and organizations who are willing and able to contribute.”–Greg Wright, heart transplant
“The truth is that the people you expect to help can let you down during a medical crisis; however, that new friend that you gain can encourage you, lift you up, and change everything.
Be patient with yourself and others. Don’t rush the process.”–Stephan and Katrina Golden, spinal cord injury
“No one can be a better advocate for you than you.”–Melissa Tuff, kidney transplant
Love this? Read this: Fundraising Roadmap (Click Here)
You Can Ask for Fundraising Help
The most successful campaigns tap into a support community not just to secure donations but also to get fundraising help. Here’s what our Ambassadors recommend.
“You have a team of caring, supportive individuals who help see you through every aspect of your fundraising journey.”
–Andrew McGeady, cerebral palsy
“Don’t be afraid to lean on friends and family to help with fundraising efforts, and get creative.”–Rebecca Koltun, spinal cord injury
“Let your friends help you. Friends can reach out directly to your Client Services Coordinator and hold fundraisers without you being involved. This is especially helpful if you are hospitalized or in recovery.”–Liz Casperite, kidney transplant
“Everyone needs to find a friend to lean on during the tough days who will cheer you on when you think you can’t make it out of bed or take one more step.
Community. Family. Tribe. Call it what you like, but we all need one another. We are not meant to walk this journey alone.”–Sharon and David Talkington, rare disease
Love this? Read this: Social Media Guides (Click Here)
Keep Fundraising to Care for Future You
We always love to hear that clients no longer have an urgent need to fundraise. However, our Ambassadors share reminders that you can’t always anticipate what comes next.
Keep your campaign active to help support future needs.
“Keep your fundraising campaign open even if you can’t fundraise actively or have no financial need right now.”–Linda Jara, heart transplant
“Even though there are many expenses insurance covers directly after a spinal cord injury, there are still expenses I have to continuously cover to maintain my independence and mobility.
My campaign continues to be a key source of support 13 years after I started fundraising.”–Ian Burkhart, spinal cord injury
“Over the years, things change—insurance coverage, health conditions, medicines—and you always need a plan B and a plan C. You never know when something won’t be covered or will change with your needs and care.
That’s why I am still a Help Hope Live fundraising client today.”–Bill Soloway, heart transplant
“Whether it’s within the first few years or decades after a spinal cord injury, fundraising can significantly improve your quality of life.”–Josh Basile, Esq., spinal cord injury
Love this? Read this: Ambassador Stories (Click Here)
Your Community Wants Updates
It’s powerful when you can pull your community into your medical journey so they can better understand the emotional, physical, and financial impact.
Ambassadors remind us that keeping your community updated is an important step for connection and support.
“Initially, I was still very embarrassed to share. Once I made my campaign public to say thank you, the response was greater than I could’ve ever imagined.”–Dianne Vitkus, spinal cord injury
“Keep your community updated on your health. Be prepared to share your personal story and how fundraising helps to make life easier for you.”–Linda Jara, heart transplant
“Sharing our stories is one of the most powerful things we can do.”–Dylan Mortimer, lung transplant
Ambassador Bill Soloway also reminds us that establishing a rhythm of updates early means it will be easier to explain why you still need to fundraise down the road:
“After transplant, when you may be more active and doing things you couldn’t do pre-transplant, it’s harder for people who haven’t been through this journey to understand why you’re fundraising and what you still need.
Early on, you can establish those relationships within your community, sharing why you’re fundraising and what your long-term needs will look like.
That way, supporters won’t need to wonder why you still need to fundraise post-transplant as your campaign continues.”–Bill Soloway, heart transplant
Love this? Watch this: Explaining Why You Still Need to Fundraise (Click Here)
Or read this: Video Fundraising Tips (Click Here)
You Will Find Your Fundraising Fit
One of the benefits of one-on-one fundraising help is figuring out the most meaningful and sustainable strategy for you and your community. Here are just two unique strategies that have worked for our Ambassadors.
“Annual fundraisers like Hope in Action and GivingTuesday do not take a lot of planning and can be a great way to raise funds.
With support from a Client Services Coordinator, these kinds of options can be great if you are new to medical fundraising and feeling overwhelmed.”–Linda Jara, heart transplant
“Art can be a way to incorporate more of who you are into your fundraising efforts. You can help people to see your vision for the future—one that goes beyond survival—and it’s a critical and inspiring message to be able to deliver.”–Dylan Mortimer, lung transplant
Love this? Read this: Fundraiser Ideas (Click Here)
You Matter
We know how hard you are working to fundraise, communicate, connect, and simply stay afloat. When you feel like your tank is empty, take these words from our Ambassadors to heart.
“Find your voice and recognize the value of your experience. You can be a voice of hope. You can bring others together and help them realize that they are not alone.”–Josh Basile, Esq., spinal cord injury
“Let go of expectations. Don’t think about who “should” be donating – instead, realize that people will give when and if they can.”
–Cynthia Noonan, transverse myelitis
“You still have the ability to make a difference in the life of every person you come in contact with.”–Stephan and Katrina Golden, spinal cord injury
“Trust the process. Stay strong. Nothing in life is easy, so take it one day at a time. Reach your inner warrior and fight for life.”–Kevin Lopez, heart transplant
“You are cared about. You have value. Let that idea fuel you.”–Greg Wright, heart transplant
“Just as the sun will rise again, so will I.”–Dianne Vitkus, spinal cord injury
