Are you desperate to do something worthwhile some weekends? Racing for charity may be just what the doctor ordered. Charity races allow you to do something active while giving back to the community. Read on to find out what these are all about, how to get involved, and how to raise the most support for your race.

Charity racing is a simple concept. You sign up to participate in a charitable run/walk, and then ask friends, family, and associates to "sponsor" your race with donations that go to the organization associated with the race. These races can be a great way to motivate yourself to both get in shape and rally your friends behind a good cause.

When selecting a race, keep in mind that they're not all created equal. Some may be marketed under the banner of helping others, but may have little direct impact on a bona fide charitable cause. Your best bet is to do a little homework before picking your race. A good place to start is charitynavigator.org, which rates charities based on a four-star system and provides nitty-gritty details on how organizations spend their money--they even list some CEO salaries. The site is also a good tool for finding a cause that's close to your heart, as you can browse charities by category. For more tips, check out GuideStar's 10-step guide to giving wisely at guidestar.org/news.

Charity races are open to just about anyone, regardless of fitness level, although some may charge an entry fee. Most are billed as "run/walks," and the focus is more on banding together for a day of fun and awareness than a no-holds-barred athletic competition. Also, you can sign up far in advance, allowing the pressure of the impending race day to kick-start your fitness and training regimen. If you enjoy working out with others, create or join an existing team of racers who have committed to raise funds and get fit together.

If you're uninterested or unable to participate in the standard run/walk, there are plenty of alternatives:

• Hardcore athletes should check out various triathlons such as 70 Wild Miles, a fund-raising triathlon aimed to assist the fight against cancer, found at 70wildmiles.org; or Nautica Malibu Triathlon, which raises money for cancer research at the Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, found at nauticamalibutri.com.
• Got Saturday night fever? Some universities sponsor fun-filled "dance marathons" in support of charities. The Dance Marathon at UCLA (bruindancemarathon.org) raises money for pediatric AIDS research.
• Would you rather ride than run? Check out the Breakaway from Cancer races at breakawayfromcancer.com or ask at a local bike shop about charitable cycling events.
• Racing isn't the only way to participate in an event. Charity races require a lot of volunteer support. Look for links about volunteering on race websites.

Now that you've picked your race, it's time to start fundraising! Try these tips to get going:

• There are various online tools (like firstgiving.com and justgiving.com) that streamline the process and make it easier than ever before. Many races now offer online giving pages that you can personalize and use to solicit donations, so you don't have to keep track of cash and checks.
• MySpace fiends, take heed: social networking sites like MySpace and Facebook are great tools to promote your chosen event. Send a bulletin to your friends with a link to your PayPal or donation site.
• Many companies will match gifts that their employees make to charity. Ask your friends to check if their employer participates in this kind of program.
• One of the perks for sponsors is that many charitable donations are tax-deductible. Be sure you know beforehand if the organization qualifies for tax-deductible donations. Check out irs.gov for more info.

Sources: guidestar.org; aafrc.org; irs.gov; foundationnews.org; charitynavigator.org; detroitmarathon.com; aidswalk.net