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Walk-a-thon
What is North South Foundation (NSF) BIKE/WALK-A-THON?
The WALK-A-THON is a pleasure walk, expressing your support for a cause
dear to your heart in India or the one by the foundation. This is not
meant to be a competition. You can do it with your family, friends or
alone, at your own pace. You pick the distance you want to walk.
Why should I do it?
As a professional in US, you’re aware of the importance of education.
The foundation’s motto is to give a helping hand to those who have a
desire to continue college studies, but simply can not continue because
of poverty.
All the donations are income tax deductible. Moreover many corporate
businesses match such donations, so you can choose to have your
contributions matched.
The overhead expenses are minimal since all the organizers in India, and
US are volunteers, who willingly give their time (& contributions)
to share their care for others and our beloved India.
What do I need to do?
You can raise pledges from friends, family in form of lump sum amounts
(starting from $1 to any) or your own contributions. You can designate
the proceeds for the cause, foundation is working for, or of your own
choice. Please talk to the organizers for more details.
When you register at the site you can submit the completed pledge form
with the collections (preferably checks or cash also). If pledges are
still to be collected, mail the check to the address indicated on the form.
How to conduct a Walk-a-thon for a Cause & Fun?
- Conducting a Walk/Bike-a-thon
A walk-a-thon is one of many ways to pursue the cause you believe in.
It can also be promoted as a community picnic cum walk-a-thon. A team
of 3 to 4 volunteers would be a minimum and few more hands make it a
piece of cake.
- Venue & Date
Choose a centrally located forest preserve or wooded park in your area,
pick a date (also rain date) for the event, and then reserve the venue.
It is ideal if the site has natural trails for people to walk or bike.
It is also nice if the site has picnic tables and shade for both rain
and shine. It is even better if you can take a grill for heating corn
and/or barbecuing chicken. Some parks require a proof of insurance to
conduct the event. In some cases, parks themselves do this for you for
an extra fee. Otherwise, if you are a homeowner, you can have a rider
written by your insurance agent.
Make sure that the date is not clashing with any other Indian or local
function. Select the date such that it is not expected to be too cold
or too hot. Since you are likely to conduct the event on a weekend,
pick early afternoon for the walk/bike-a-thon. It is hard for people to
get up early on weekends! Visit the site and note down the requirements
for any additional placards, billboards, and so on for the convenience
of walkers and bikers.
- Preparations
Publicity is the main part. One has to spend a significant amount of
time on this aspect, especially when the event is being organized for
the first time. Send a press release to the local Indian newspaper or a
regular one in your area. Press release should include the venue, date,
and time as well as the purpose of the event. Encourage adults as well
as children to participate. Many children in school are familiar with
the concept of a walk/bike-a-thon. Prepare a flyer along with a
walk/bike-a-thon pledge sheet, the list of local business sponsors and
directions.
In the flyer, list names and phone numbers to call, in case people want
further information. Display the purpose of the event, date, time, and
venue prominently in the flyer. Directions to the site should be concise
and clear. Pledge sheet should include space for listing the name,
address, phone number, and pledge by each sponsor. Include some prizes
for most miles walked, most pledges received, most contributions
collected, and so on, through sponsors. Distribute the flyer to the
members of the local Indian associations, local Indian grocery, video
stores, and temples. Invite a well-respected community leader to preside
the closing part of the ceremony. Make a list of items and arrangements
required for the event. Look for sponsors. Most of the businesses like
grocery stores and restaurants would be willing to donate food, drinks,
etc.
To assure a good turnout, get together with 10 volunteers and assign a
list of 10 to 20 names to each volunteer. Each volunteer is responsible
for personally calling each person on his or her list and getting them
to actively participate by walking or biking in the event. Each
participant should be encouraged to get 10 or more sponsors. If each
volunteer gets 10 participants to walk or bike and each participant gets
10 sponsors, then you will have 100 walkers/bikers and 1,000 sponsors.
If each sponsor pledges one dollar per mile and if each participant
walks five miles, you can collect $5,000. If the pledge is two dollars
per mile, then the collection can double to $10,000! A ten-dollar
contribution by a sponsor is not an unreasonable expectation either.
- Day of Walk/Bike-a-thon
Have a first-aid kit. Reach two hours before the scheduled time with
three to four volunteers. Setup a registration table. Set up food court
from sponsors or else at least soft drinks and light snacks. Set up
garbage bags. If it is at all possible, supply T-shirts with proper
insignia and have participants wear them. This is good publicity.
During registration, provide information about the site and include any
maps. Have people sign in and record information about pledges. Inform
the registrants to report back the miles walked at the end and sign out.
Let them know about the event’s closing time. Since most people follow
the Indian standard time, it is more convenient to let people move ahead
in small groups, rather than wait for everyone to come in and then start.
This is more like an open house, with people coming in at their convenience.
Take pictures of groups and provide directions. Receive groups after the
walk and ask for any feedback. At the closing time, make sure that every
registrant is checked out and organize the closing ceremony. When groups
return after the walk, provide snacks including any barbecuing favorites.
Indians love food. So make sure you have enough of it. If you receive
free food from restaurants, let your guests know who donated the food.
Make sure the area is left clean. When you close, make certain that
everyone is accounted for. Send a press release covering the event along
with a picture to both Indian and local newspapers. Participants love
to read about the event in which they had a part to play and see their
pictures in a newspaper!
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