Jesse Willms to Bare All to Raise Money for Cancer and Transplant Charities

Edmonton, Canada, January 28, 2011 --(PR.com)-- Edmonton philanthropist and entrepreneur, Jesse Willms, is going to go for the gold during two runs this year to help raise money and awareness for worthy non-profit organizations.

“I believe it’s important to do whatever it takes to help the community,” Willms said. “By getting out there and helping out The Kidney Foundation Of Canada and The Alberta Cancer Foundation, I hope to do just that.”

The most intriguing of the runs will be the Alberta Cancer Foundation's Underwear Affair on June 18. It's going to be a 5k run with a twist – everyone will be running in their underwear! And Willms has made it fun by raising the stakes.

“I told my staff that if five of them ran with me, I'd let them pick out the underwear I run in,” Willms said. “They've been teasing me all week that I may end up out there in a pink thong!”

The goal of the race is to raise money for testicular, ovarian and prostate cancer.

The other race is more toned-down but just as important, Willms said. On May 1 he'll be participating in the Give The Gift Of Life Fun Run for the Alberta branch of The Kidney Foundation Of Canada.

“More than 250 Canadians die every year waiting for a transplant,” Willms said. “That doesn't have to happen. If we can raise enough money and awareness of the problem, we can make sure that there are enough kidney donors to help every Canadian who needs help. I think that is an important goal for us to come together and make it happen.”

Willms said participating in events like these are crucial for charitable organizations because building awareness of their existence is very important.

“Right now it can cost a non-profit group up to $50,000 just to raise $175,000,” Willms said. “But it doesn't have to be that way. If non-profit groups can build up good will and word of mouth, it ends up costing them much less to generate donations. That means they can raise more money with less marketing and advertising costs, and dedicate more funds to accomplishing their missions.”

Willms is well known in the Edmonton community. He started his first business when he was 16 years old in his basement. By the time he was 22 he had built it into a multimillion-dollar organization.

Then, last summer he was inspired by Bill Gates and Warren Buffet to become a philanthropist. Since then he's donated hundreds of thousands of dollars and many hours of his time to respected non-profit organizations.

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