About Walk-a-Thons
Walk-a-thons are a type of charity fundraiser. Also known as a walking marathon or a sponsored walk, the walk-a-thon is often used by schools, communities, and other organizations to raise money. Walk-a-thons have become popular types of fundraisers for many different causes, and have raised millions of dollars around the world. They are a quick and practical way of raising money, as well as a way to bring people together and exercise.
Other People Are Reading
-
Identification
-
After an organization decides to host a walk-a-thon, members of the organization or other volunteers agree to walk to raise money. A course is set and pledge forms are distributed. Often a group, such as Walk-A-Thon Services, will be contacted to plan the event (see Resources). Usually a kickoff meeting will be planned, a track and time will be decided, pledge forms will be made, and donations will be tracked electronically or through the mail.
Function
-
The members or volunteers participating in the walk-a-thon will walk a determined distance or amount of time around the track. Money will be raised by attracting sponsors prior to the walk. Sponsors will agree to donate a certain amount of money, of their choosing, per lap walked by the walker. If a pledge decides to give $2 per lap, and the participant walks 20 laps, he will have raised $40 from that pledge. Often participants seek pledges from many people, making for large donations in walks with many participants.
-
Features
-
Walk-a-thons are completed in a set amount of time, usually on a track, at a school or athletic field. Walk-a-thons are usually lighthearted affairs, with participants walking together and enjoying lively music. They are similar to other physical activity-based charity events, such as marathons or cycling events, but are usually low-intensity and not competitive. Often walk-a-thons can raise many thousands of dollars, with as much as many hundreds raised by a single person.
Types
-
Many walk-a-thons have come to serve as fundraisers for many of the most important issues in American and world culture. Walk-a-thons have come to raise millions of dollars for issues that have affected millions of people worldwide. Among the most well known walk-a-thons are the AIDS Walk, the Breast Cancer 3Day, the MS Challenge Walk, the March for Babies, the Relay for Life, and the Walk and Rock.
Significance
-
Walk-a-thons have become popular as charity and fundraising events because of their light-hearted nature, as well as their mobilizing effect. Walk-a-thons bring together communities for physical activity, and can have donations from a broad range of ages and economic groups. The word "walk-a-thon," which comes from a 1930s mixing of the words "walking" and "marathon," has come to represent a sense of awareness for a cause, and has since the fundraising event became popular in the first half of the 20th century.
-
