One of the biggest challenges charitable fundraisers face is convincing potential donors they actually can make a difference, no matter how small their contribution. Lots of little efforts, a dollar here a dollar there, add up.

Devesh Khatu, a development officer at the San Francisco-based Horizons Foundation, knows all about self-doubts and overcoming them through small efforts strung together. A few years ago he was pretty much a couch potato. Now he's running marathons – helping himself and the philanthropic organization for which he works at the same time.

"I knew a few friends who were into running," Khatu told the Bay Area Reporter last week. "Not being very athletic, I thought it was something I could easily take on myself. I started out running shorter distances, but I've been running marathons for about four years."

The marathon is a line of demarcation for long-distance recreational athletes. Enter the occasional 5-kilometer or 10-kilometer race and you fit right in with the social norm for the weekend athlete. Make a habit of entering marathons and people look at you either with heightened respect or arched eyebrows. People who don't run them can only imagine the high and the lows, the discipline and the dedication, the pain and the pleasure.

Why do it?

"The marathon is basically a challenge – physically as well as mentally," said Khatu, 40. "It just seemed like a great challenge to take on.

"The hardest part? Initially, I didn't think I would have the endurance to last that long. Now that is not such an issue. I love the health benefits from the running, and there is such a sense of accomplishment you get after finishing a marathon."

Or two or three or a dozen. Looking for a greater challenge this year and always looking for more funding sources in a down economy, Khatu, who moved to the United States from India in 1990, decided to combine his two loves by using a dozen marathons this year as his personal pledge effort. Starting with the Austin Marathon in February, the Napa Valley Marathon in March, and the Boston and London marathons in April, Khatu has completed nine marathons so far. His most recent was the Nike Women's Marathon this month, finishing in 3 hours, 48 minutes and 12 seconds for 165th overall and third in his age-group.

"That was the most fun," the openly gay Khatu said. "It was geared mostly toward women, so I thought in solidarity, I would wear a pink tutu.

"This has been a tough year financially for a lot of organizations. I just thought this would be a good opportunity to try. The supporters have been fantastic. I hope to raise much more before the end of the year. I'm hoping to find more people."

Finding new donors is his new focus. The San Francisco Marathon in July put him over his initial $10,000 fundraising goal after just six marathons. So he issued himself –and the community – a new challenge. He said if he could double his number of donors from 75 to 150 by the end of his last marathon in 2009, the December 6 California International Marathon in Sacramento, he will run the January 17 Mumbai Marathon, giving him 13 marathons in less than 12 months. His next two marathons are the New York City Marathon November 1 and the Philadelphia Marathon November 22.

Supporters can pledge by visiting www.horizonsfoundation.org/page/devesh.

Team SF to host Gay Games VIII reps

Promotional representatives from the 2010 Gay Games in Cologne will be feted by Team San Francisco 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, November 3, at Magnet, 4122 18th Street. The visit led by Ingo Toenges, marketing officer for Games Cologne, is part of a West Coast tour from Vancouver to San Diego, with stops in Seattle, Portland, Los Angeles, and Palm Springs. The event is open to the public. Shawn Kelly and Erich Richter of San Francisco are expected to be honored at the event for their honorary lifetime member awards from the Federation of Gay Games.

For information about Team SF, visit www.teamsf.ning.com.

Homophobic slur earns suspension

The NFL and the Kansas City Chiefs said Pro Bowl running back Larry Johnson was suspended from team activities while his repeated use of gay slurs is investigated.

When reporters approached Johnson about a homophobic slur he used on Twitter and disparaging remarks made about the Chiefs head coach Todd Haley, Johnson reportedly responded, "Get your faggot asses out of here."

Johnson apologized for his remarks, saying, "I regret my actions. The words were used by me in frustration, and they were not appropriate. I did not intend to offend anyone, but that is no excuse for what I said."

It is not known how long the suspension will last.

Late registration available for California Dreaming

Registration remains open for California Dreaming, billed as the "largest same-sex dance festival in the USA."

The November 7 event at Hotel Whitcomb in San Francisco includes dances in open single, syllabus single, American smooth and rhythm, international, and Latin styles. A welcoming party will be held Friday, November 6, at Vima Dance Studio, 560 Third Street in San Francisco, and dance champion workshops will be held Sunday, November 8, at the same studio.

For information on the event and registration, visit http://www.californiadreamingdancesport.com.