Walkathon Charity Events
A walkathon can be a great way to raise money for your organization or special project. Yes, a walkathon is a fundraiser. However, it is much more.
Walkathons are used to let others know about your organization’s mission. These charity events can be used to engage and promote local businesses. They also can be used as a way to identify new volunteers and advocates.
With so many potential benefits coming from one of these walk events, it is no surprise that many organizations are now hosting walkathon fundraising events. There are at least three major items to consider before deciding to get started:
- Successful walkathons require significant planning and preparation. You may have attended a walk event in the past that appeared easy. The easier it looks, the more planning and preparation was probably given to it that made it appear easy. Make sure you have several committed volunteers before getting started.
- Successful walkathons usually require some money before the fundraising begins and always requires insurance that covers the event. if your organization does not have an adequate insurance that will cover the walkathon, this is an additional cost that must be considered before getting started. Enlisting sponsors to your event can be a great way to raise the startup capital required.
- Successful walkathons require something that allows it to stand out above all of the other walkathons and other charity events that are taking place in the same time frame. This something could be some twist to the event itself or it could be something unique about the organization’s mission or project the money is being raised for.
If you still want to hold a walkathon after considering these items, good for you! The purpose of the Walkathon Blog is to provide ideas, tips, resources and stories that will help you in your endeavor.
Enjoy!
Image by rogercarr via Flickr
Students gathered in the Seymour College Union to kick off sign ups for the Relay for Life fundraiser on April 16. Everyone who signed up got a chance to win something from the prize wheel. Proceeds from the Relay for Life walkathon benefit the American Cancer Society. Teams from all over campus annually help raise thousands of dollars for the cause.
A recent advertising task used to promote a school fundraising event called ‘The Walkathon’ where students raise money for school upgrades and utilities and in turn walk for the cause.
“LINK WITH PINK” teammates Jane Herron, Mary Ellen Kuikman, and Kelly Bryant are linking the schools and communities in Chicago’s western suburbs in a grand effort to raise funds for Chicago’s Avon Walk for Breast Cancer. The event will take place in Chicago on June 6 and 7, 2009. LINK WITH PINK is determined to walk the equivalent of a marathon and a half over those two days! 
There was no way Hodgkin’s Lymphoma was going to slow down Ben McCormick. This WVU student brought his walking shoes and a positive attitude to the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life.
