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Greetings!
It recounted challenges facing venerable events like the Pan-Massachusetts Challenge (registrations down 10%), AIDS Walk Boston ("bracing for the worst") and Team In Training (more people giving, but they are giving less).
One theme that has emerged in my own discussions with industry leaders is that, in general, participation levels are stable or up, but that fundraising per participant is down.
"We've pulled out all the stops to attract more participants this year," said Betty Ross, associate vice president for campaign development at the National MS Society. She thinks that the three-to-five mile MS Walk events are particularly benefitting from the fact that "many people are looking for something to get involved with that they can feel good about in this tough environment."
At other end of the physical impact spectrum, registrations are nearly double last year's level for The Children's Tumor Foundation's NF Endurance Team and fundraising is "on budget", according to Director Steve Kendra.
To help us share updates and ideas I've created a Run Walk Ride Group on LinkedIn. Join us as we work through this challenging year!
David Hessekiel
President
Run Walk Ride Fundraising Council
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Amazing Race Host's Ride Across America Promotes Bike MS 
As hard as she and her colleagues have worked to attract new participants to Bike MS, Betty Ross is the first to admit that their top promotion came to them from out of the blue.
On March 28, Amazing Race host Phil Keoghan started a Los Angeles to New York ride sponsored by GNC and supporting Bike MS. Along the way, Phil is hooking up with Bike MS events and generating tremendous publicity for the MS movement. Visit the website to experience the scope of this impressive, integrated marketing campaign.
"We were thrilled when Phil's people approached us about this opportunity. They have been incredible to work with and have generated a tremendous amount of publicity and interest in Bike MS," Betty said. |
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PDK Launches "Chalk Walk"
 PDK International, a professional association for educators, kicked off the Chalk Walk series honoring and supporting teachers this spring in nearly 40 markets across the country and even one in Tokyo!
PDK Development Director Lynn Lewis is at the helm of the Chalk Walks. She anticipates that the May 3 event in Los Angeles will be the biggest in this inaugural year.
"It's already clear that the "hook" for this walk is the appreciation we all feel for those favorite teachers who helped make us what we are today," Lynn shared in an email. "Registrants for each of our walks will be able to give us the name of that favorite teacher and we'll list them on our website and lift them up in that walk."
In addition to Chalk Walks organized by PDK chapters, the organization is getting inquiries from school districts and other groups that Lynn anticipates will help grow the program in the years ahead.
"The possibility that all of this would work took shape at the 2008 Run Walk Ride Fundraising Conference," Lynn was kind enough to share. |
4/16 Teleclass: Dan Pallotta , author of "UnCharitable"
Pallotta Team Works invented long-form AIDS and breast cancer events that attracted 182,000 participants and netted hundreds of millions for charity between 1994 and 2002. The company's work was so groundbreaking that it was the subject of a Harvard Business School case study, but Pallotta Team Works had to shut down in 2002 because of a dispute with the Avon Products Foundation, its main client.
Reflecting on his experience and the entire social sector, Dan Pallotta uses "UnCharitable" to explore norms that he believes seriously hamper the effectiveness of companies and causes fighting disease and other social ills. In this one hour teleconference, Pallotta will lay out his central thesis; revisit the rise and fall of Pallotta Teamworks; and describe reforms he feels are necessary for nonprofits to make major progress in the years ahead.
Join us on April 16 from 1:30 to 2:30 pm ET. The session is $99.00 or FREE to RWR members.
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HOW ARE YOU DOING VS THE COMPETITION?
Get the latest info on America's top athletic event fundraising programs with the 
This just-released study enables you to compare your event stats to dozens of others.
Delivered on a handy data CD, the study is $199 by itself or FREE with membership in the Run Walk Ride Fundraising Council.
CHECK OUT
Statistics, advice & more
Conference May 27/28
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