The word fundraiser can feel intimidating, but what happens when you push past the fear? Whitney Barron did just that, creating a fundraiser in honor of her friend, Kiersten Dyke, who passed away from melanoma at a young age. She raised an incredible amount of money to support melanoma patients for her first fundraiser — and here’s how she did it!
I was lucky enough to know and love Kiersten Dyke. Although we never got to meet in person, she was the first person to answer my questions when I was diagnosed and helped me feel like I was not alone. She was a true light in the melanoma community and radiated positivity, even when her melanoma took a turn for the worse. She would always tell me she was proud of me turning to advocacy so quickly after being diagnosed and being able to lobby for melanoma research. She passed away in April 2026.
My why…there are so many . First and foremost, I wanted to prove that something good came from my diagnosis. I wanted to make everyone that took care of me and prayed for me proud. I wanted to honor Kiersten. She was a joy to so many. I wanted to make a difference. I want other survivors/advocates to feel how powerful it is to walk into the capital and fight for something that’s important to you or someone you love. That is why I’m directing my donations to MRA’s Patient Ambassador Fellowships, which make it possible for multiple patient advocates to attend MRA’s annual Patient Forum.
I 100% had doubt up until the morning of the tournament. The weather was not on my side the weekend leading up to the event. I barely slept. That little voice in my head kept telling me no one was going to show up. On the morning of October 5th, my dad was out checking the course and waiting for the final go ahead from the course manager. Luckily, we were able to play.
If I’m being honest, my hometown truly blessed me. Very few businesses turned me down for sponsorships. My dad and my husband helped tremendously with gathering sponsors and teams. Troy Country Club was also a great help in making sure I was prepared and let me use the course on a day that it is normally closed for maintenance. The chef prepared sack lunches for every player and the lounge was open for other beverages and snacks. They allowed staff to also come in and help work the event.
The event went seamlessly. I got overwhelmed with my check-in process, so that will be redone next year. But other than that, it was amazing. I had 32 amazing sponsors, and 19 teams showed up. People bought mulligans and bid on silent auction items inside. I couldn’t have asked for a better first year.
JUST GO FOR IT!
I planned extremely early. I jotted down a lot of notes. I knew if I didn’t do a little at a time, I would get overwhelmed and lose focus. I actually started designing my logo on my way home from Washington DC. I talked with the country club and got an estimate on the cost. I set a small goal for myself with the intention of giving one fellowship in Kiersten’s memory, paying for the club, and then I would figure out what to do with the rest. To my surprise and absolute delight, we raised $16,200.00 and are able to sponsor not just one, but 3 fellowships!
Keep your goal in mind when you get tired or doubt yourself.
Ask questions, don’t be afraid to hear the word “no,” don’t doubt yourself, let people help you, and look at what other people have done in the past to be successful.
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