Tips for Choosing a Raffle Basket Theme
About the Basket Raffle
Our Basket Raffle is the highlight of our year. While it’s a fundraiser, it’s so much more than a chance to win fun prizes (though that part is exciting!). At its core, the Basket Raffle is about sharing stories, honoring lives, and building meaningful connections.
Each raffle basket represents a brain cancer patient — a Brain Buddie. These baskets are created to honor survivors or remember loved ones who have passed, offering families a beautiful way to share their story. Through carefully chosen themes and items, each basket shows who someone is beyond their diagnosis.
When you include a basket in our event, you help spread awareness by sharing your story with everyone who attends — and with the person who takes your basket home. Time and time again, winning a basket sparks connection, understanding, and even lifelong friendships between families who share similar journeys.
Every basket tells a story. Every story matters. And each one is filled with love.
Tells us YOUR Story
Sharing a story can feel overwhelming at first. You may wonder how a basket could possibly capture everything that makes your person so special — and that’s okay. A basket doesn’t have to tell the whole story. It just needs to share a piece of it.
Choosing a theme can help focus your story and give others a glimpse into who your person truly is.
Helpful Questions to Get You Started
What is their story?
How is your special person connected to the brain cancer community? How did brain cancer shape their journey and the lives of those around them?
Who are they?
Are they a parent, grandparent, coworker, or best friend? A dog lover, artist, bookworm, or ice cream fanatic? A teacher, chef, athlete, or songwriter? Share what makes them uniquely them.
What do they love to do?
Many baskets celebrate hobbies and activities — hiking, gardening, sewing, reading, game nights, movie nights, or cheering on a favorite team. These passions make wonderful basket themes.
What are their favorite things?
Coffee, donuts, tacos, candy, cats, movies, or a favorite restaurant? Choosing a few favorite things is a simple and meaningful way to build a basket. Some favorites include themes like “Donut Day,” “BBQ Essentials,” or “Taco Tuesday.”
What reminds you of them?
Is there a song, flower, place, or symbol that brings them to mind? Maybe a shared sign like hummingbirds, pennies, or butterflies. These personal touches make a basket especially meaningful.
Basket Theme Examples
We have some example Basket Sheets from baskets that were previously donated to our fundraiser. Take a look at these examples to help guide you.
Raffle Item Donations
Another meaningful way to contribute is by donating individual raffle items, such as artwork, event tickets, travel experiences, spa packages, or gift certificates. These items may be used to create baskets or offered as raffle prizes on their own.
Local businesses and attractions often donate tours, dining gift cards or vacation packages in support of employees touched by brain cancer. Giftcard donations are also a great (and easy!) way to help us build baskets or purchase basket items. Don’t feel limited by having to physically fit your donation into a “basket”.
One especially meaningful example includes the family of a young musician with brain cancer who donated a guitar and music lessons in his memory — sharing the joy of music with others in the way their son loved most.
Who Can Donate a Basket?
Everyone is welcome to participate in the Basket Raffle. While many of our donors are individuals or families directly impacted by brain cancer, anyone who wants to support our mission can become a Brain Buddie.
Brain Buddies may be survivors, patients, caregivers, family members, friends, employers, doctors, children — truly anyone. Each basket tells a story.
We have seen survivors create baskets that celebrate themselves and the things they love, like “How Does Your Garden Grow” or “Sew Much Fun.” Children have created baskets honoring their parents, filled with activities for family time, such as “Board Game Night” or “Baking Together.” Businesses have donated baskets or gift cards in honor of employees. Local firefighters have created a “Fire Safety” basket to honor a teammate. We have even received baskets inspired by a Brain Buddie’s favorite animal or created in memory of a beloved pet.
Anything goes — as long as there is a story behind it.
If you do not have a personal connection to brain cancer, you are still encouraged to participate by donating or sponsoring a basket. Sponsorships help a Brain Buddie or their family create a basket that represents their story and ensures every voice has a chance to be shared. Reach out to us for ideas and ways to help!