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If you think bake sales, walk-a-thons and car washes are only used to raise money for sports uniforms or school trips, you need to keep reading. These and other types of fundraising events can help you raise money to offset the cost of a transplant operation or even help pay for the immunosuppressant medications which are a necessary, if not an expensive, reality of life post-transplant.

In 1992 Bill Fuchs, from Utah, was told he needed a double lung transplant. His insurance company, though, denied payment for his transplant. Bill and his wife Pam, however, would not let their future be decided by an insurance company. Instead, they held golf outings, sponsored helicopter rides, collected aluminum cans, sold candy bars, held bake sales, gave children pony rides and used various other fundraisers to raise a total of $85,000 for Bill's medical expenses.

While having an insurance company deny payment for the actual transplant operation is one of the major reasons a person turns to fundraising, it's not the only reason. Even if the transplant is covered in full, a family could experience a huge financial hardship dealing with the relocation costs of living close to a transplant center while continuing to pay the mortgage back home. Or, perhaps the co-payment on medications, lab tests and related medical expenses takes a large chunk out of the family budget. In addition, the extensive search to locate a bone marrow match can run into thousands and thousands of dollars, which may or may not be covered in full by the insurance company. The reasons to raise funds can vary, yet most experts would agree that it is not a job you should tackle alone.

"As soon as you are told that you or a loved one needs a transplant, that's when you should call a nonprofit organization," explains Patricia Kolff, director of the National Transplant Assistance Fund (NTAF). By contacting NTAF, or one of the other non-profit organizations early, you can learn what you should and should not do, obtain help in establishing your goals, have your insurance policy reviewed and much more.

Pam followed this advice when she began fundraising for her husband. She contacted NTAF. According to the director of NTAF, this step is crucial because "this means the person's donation is tax deductible and there is fiscal accountability for the family, so no one in the neighborhood can question the use. When people donate money, they want to make sure the money is being used for the purpose it's donated for."

Pam held a full-time job in the beginning while she was planning and executing the fundraising efforts for her husband and admitted that at first she "felt overwhelmed." Eventually she quit working so she could devote all of her energies to their fundraising efforts.

Bill, a detective sergeant with the Riverdale Police Force, was able to keep working, taking an oxygen pump with him, the first two years after his diagnosis. His insurance company finally did reverse its decision and decided to cover the transplant, but, that didn't stop their fundraising efforts.

"We didn't know how much of a percentage they would cover, we didn't know what type of complications we might encounter, plus we had the expense of traveling from our home to the transplant center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania," explains Pam. "It also gave me something to do for him instead of just sitting there worrying. It gave us something to work for and gave Bill a lot of hope."

The most successful fundraiser the Fuchs held was inserting into the local newspaper a flyer with Bill's photo and an explanation as to why he needed the money. The printing was donated for the 10,000 flyers so their only out-of-pocket cost was to pay the newspaper to insert the flyers. The first time they distributed the flyers they received $5,000, the second time they raised $7,000, which was far more than they expected.

Unfortunately, Bill never had his double lung transplant; he died 20 days after his second lung reduction operation. The fundraising expertise that Pam developed on behalf of her husband prompted her to start her own company, Medical Information Resources.

"After Bill died I thought, 'What can I do?' Our life had revolved around his transplant for so long and I had a hard time finding information about fundraising," explains Pam. "I thought I could really help a person who didn't know where to start."

By working with any of the three transplant funds in the country, you can make sure any money raised will not be considered taxable income. This is important since it protects you from paying income tax on any of this money. Plus, if you receive Medicaid or funds from any state renal program, you don't have to worry about having the money you raise be counted towards your eligibility requirements.

Another advantage of working with a professional organization is the guidance and support you can receive from someone who's been there. For a fundraising event to be successful, it takes planning, strong organizational skills, exposure and, at times, lots of attention.

For example, if you sell candy bars at various locations, you'll need to check the locations frequently to replenish the supply and empty the donation cans. Should you even sell candy bars? Or, based on your situation, would another type of event have the potential to be more successful? How do you go about obtaining media coverage of your fundraising event? The professional fundraising expertise of the organizations listed at the end of this article can answer these and other questions in addition to providing assistance with your fundraising efforts.

From their many years of working with the transplant community, these organizations know the toll a medical crisis can have on a family. Many of their services are created to help a family cope. For example, The National Foundation for Transplant offers advocacy and intervention on behalf of their patients with transplant institutions and related providers of services. This can relieve the workload and anxiety for both the patient and his or her family. And the Children's Organ Transplant Association (COTA), which works with patients of all ages who need a life-saving transplant, offers negotiating services. COTA staff members will work directly with transplant centers and surgeons, hotels and airlines to ensure the lowest cost for services.

These organizations vary in their approach but their end goal is the same Ñ to help those waiting for a transplant. Contact these organizations for more information and once you start fundraising, remember this advice from Pam, "The main thing is to keep trying. Don't ever get discouraged."

For more information contact:

COTA (Children's Organ Transplant Association) 2501 COTA Dr. Bloomington, IN 47403 800-366-2682 www.cota.org

National Foundation for Transplants 1102 Brookfield, Ste. 200 Memphis, TN 38119 800-489-3863 www.transplants.org

National Transplant Assistance Fund 3475 West Chester Pike, Ste. 230 Newton Square, PA 19073 800-642-8399 www.transplantfund.org

Medical Information Resources 377 West 5250 South Ogden, UT 84405 888-203-6062 www.medicalfundraising.org

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