Charity Walks Blog

Participants getting started with their walk at the 2010 Richmond Arthritis Walk

It rained on the morning of the Richmond Arthritis Walk, but that didn’t dampen the spirits of the many who turned out to support the fight against arthritis.

The charity walk event was held on April 24, 2010 at the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Medical Center at Stony Point in Richmond, Virginia. The Arthritis Walk is the signature fundraising event for the Arthritis Foundation.

The area was filled with music, food and fun. Just seeing the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile put a smile on my face as I arrived at the charity event. The participants were led in a Tai Chi warm up exercise routine just before walking the three-mile or optional one-mile course.

One thing I found very interesting and exciting is that the Arthritis Foundation is now accepting donations via text messaging. This event was the first one to offer the service to participants. I wrote about the importance of this donation technology a couple of years ago at http://www.everydaygivingblog.com/2008/05/mobile-giving.html.

I enjoyed being a part of the Richmond Arthritis Walk. If you were not able to be there, watch the slide show below to view some of the pictures I captured at the event. Consider getting involved in an Arthritis Walk near you.

The Arthritis Foundation is addressing the needs of some 46 million Americans living with arthritis, the nation’s most common cause of disability. To learn more about how to get involved in an Arthritis Walk in your area, go to http://LetsMoveTogether.org.

Thanks,

Technorati Tags: Arthritis, arthritis foundation, arthritis walk, Charity Event, charity walks, Fundraising Event, Oscar Mayer Wienermobile, Richmond, Richmond Virginia, Stony Point, Tai Chi, Text Messaging, Virginia Commonwealth University

Participants of all ages had a fun time at the 2010 Walk MS charity walk event in Fredericksburg, Virginia

I attended the Walk MS charity walk event in Fredericksburg, Virginia. It was held at James Monroe High School on April 10, 2010.

Over 400 walkers participated and $36,000 was raised through this event (with several more weeks of fundraising to go) to support the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Participants of all ages were in attendance.

The event was fun! It had some great elements that I am sure required a significant amount of planning by the staff and volunteers. Some of those elements included:

• Music
• Raffle
• Sponsor booths
• Food (including pizza at the end of the walk)
• Tattoos (temporary of course)
• Banner signing
• Dog contest
• Decorations

Safety was not forgotten. There was a first aid station at the event, stations along the route and a local motorcycle group monitored the walkers as they walked the scenic route through historic Fredericksburg.

Virginia Senator Edd Houck was one of the VIPs in attendance. Two things surprised me about his participation. First, his speech was motivational and had nothing to do with politics. Second, he participated in the walk in support of his daughter who was diagnosed with MS a few years ago. He was an excellent “celebrity” for this charity walk.

Check out the photos below that I captured at the event. Go to http://www.IWalkforMS.org to learn more about the MS Walk.

Thanks,

Technorati Tags: Charity Event, charity walk, charity walks, Edd Houck, Fredericksburg Virginia, James Monroe High School, Ms Walk, Multiple Sclerosis, Multiple Sclerosis Society, National Multiple Sclerosis, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Volunteers, walk event, Walkers

Enjoy these photos I captured at the 2009 Richmond Jingle Bell Run/Walk held on Saturday, November 21 at the Stony Pointe Fashion Park in Richmond, Virginia. Funds raised from this walk event benefited the Arthritis Foundation. To learn more about the Jingle Bell Run/Walk, go to http://www.arthritis.org/jingle-bell-run.php.

Technorati Tags: arthritis foundation, Jingle Bell Run, Richmond, Richmond Virginia, walk events

A 3k Walk and Fun/Run benefiting LUNGevity Foundation for lung cancer research, is scheduled at Genesys Health Park nature path in Grand Blanc, Michigan, September 12, 2010.  Registration & entertainment starts at 12:00 with the walk starting at 1:00.

This event will feature music, speakers, a kids’ walk, silent auction, prizes, awareness/information table, give-a-ways, lung cancer bracelets, t-shirts, and goodie bags.

Volunteers are also needed. For more information:

Contact: Rochelle Molyneaux

Email: rymolyneaux@yahoo.com

Website: www.michiganlungcancerwalk.org or www.lungevity.org

p.s. If you would like your charity walk mentioned on the Charity Walks Blog, please send your proposed blog post to roger@charitywalksblog.com.

Technorati Tags: charity walks, Grand Blanc, Grand Blanc Michigan, Lung Cancer, Lung Cancer Research, Lungevity, Silent Auction, Volunteers, walk events, Walk the Walk

Walk with a purpose! On November 21, 2009, 39 cities around the country will be participating in the Give thanks. Walk. benefiting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital^®. The nationwide walk will kick off the sixth annual St. Jude Thanks and Giving^® campaign that asks consumers to “Give thanks for the healthy kids in your life, and give to those who are not.”

Need more reasons to sign up?

• The Give thanks. Walk. is a great way to continue achieving individual fitness goals by participating in the 5K event.
• Make it a family affair! Form a team by recruiting family and even friends for this pre-Thanksgiving walk. Get a head start in burning off turkey and the fixings.
• Registration is free; however, participants are encouraged to raise funds by seeking sponsors. All funds raised support the lifesaving mission of St. Jude.
• Get a free T-shirt! Raise $35 and get an official event T-shirt.
• Registration is easy. Log on to www.givethankswalk.org for more information and to register.

Technorati Tags: 5k Event, give thanks walk, Healthy Kids, St Jude, walk events