what is a good way to start a fundraiser?

Try this http://gogetfunding.com/

It doesn't charge you, like most other sites, it simply takes 4% of each donation.

All my best wishes for your cousin <3

First, decide what kind of fund raiser you want to have. Silent Auction, Raffle, Bake Sale, etc.

If you are going to have a silent auction, then start local with merchants giving prizes that would boost their visibility in the community. Season's tickets at a minor league ball team. Play off tickets for a major league team, or even 1 game. Research any star who may have family who has Lymphoma. For example, if Michael Jordan's kid had it, his agent might get you signed Jerseys to raise money for your cousin. Movie passes for a year, bowling passes for 3 months, dinner on Tuesday nights, a 10 min shopping spree at Wallmart you name it. Raffles are big too, bingo or vegas night. Vegas Nights can be big. You may even approach a casino near you that would give volunteer dealers, craps tables and operators. You charge an admission, and give small prizes as an auction. For example: You pay 25 bucks to attend Vegas night. You win 2000 fake dollars. At the end of the night, you auction off say 10 prizes (as listed above) You bid with the 2000 fake dollars on each or any of the ten gifts.

Finally, you can do a straight donation. I would recommend that you approach Fireman, because no one says no to firemen. In our town they call it "Shake a Boot for a Fireman" Fireman park the firetruck along side of a busy street and stand in Fire Gear, holding a fire boot with a banner telling what the fund raiser is for. Try a Facebook donation. Work in cooperation with a bank. Call it the (Insert Boys name) show picture tell story, send to all friends, ask for 25 to 100 bucks. If you have 50 first generation friends, and the letter runs to 1 level of second generation friends. That's 2500 people. If they send 25 bucks each, that's a fantastic start. Good luck, if you post a picture of him in the hospital on your facebook page, my company will be glad to send a modest donation. You can pass that info on to me by marking this as the best answer, and giving me his facebook in your response section..... Blessings!