To register, send the following information (copy, paste, and fill in your details) to fivethousandfootsteps@gmail.com
(Please copy and paste)
NAME OF WALKER:
DATE OF REGISTRATION:
ADDRESS (to send registration packet and collection envelope):
EMAIL:
PHONE NUMBER:
PLEDGE TO RAISE (please attempt to raise a minimum of $500):
___ Yes, I am willing to pay a registration fee of $5.00 to defray the costs of my registration packet. Please send a bill in my registration packet. (Not required, but greatly appreciated!)
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION!!
Scroll down for the details on how to participate (this will also be sent in your registration packet.)
HOW TO FIND SPONSORS AND COLLECT PLEDGES:
Ask anyone and everyone! The worst they can do is say, "Sorry, no thanks." Remember, NO AMOUNT IS TOO SMALL! Your collection envelope will provide a commitment page; donors may make a one-time donation, or may commit to a certain amount for each mile you walk. The more you walk, the more you raise. Donors may set a maximum limit on their donation if they so choose.
Donors may write checks or pay by paypal or credit card directly to the Reece's Rainbow website. Checks should be made out to Reece's Rainbow and the memo section should note the donation is for "Five Thousand Footsteps." All donations are tax deductible (see Reece's Rainbow website or contact for specific information.) NOTE: Personal or cashier's checks are the preferred method of payment (Paypal and credit cards charge service fees.)
HOW FAR DO I NEED TO WALK?
Our goal is to walk the distance from Chicago (location of this fundraiser) to Eastern Europe (see disclaimer on home page for note.) The more walkers that participate, the less miles each person will have to travel. You will be notified by November 1st through email (or you can always check this website) to find out how many walkers are participating and how far you will be traveling.
DO I HAVE TO WALK EVERY DAY?
That depends on how far you will be going, but expect that yes, this will be a full 30 days of walking (think of it this way, you are going to be in great shape for the holiday season!) Remember, the more you walk, the more donations you collect. It'll be hard work, but your 30 days of work will help children who are truly in desperate situations.
HOW DO I KEEP TRACK OF MY MILEAGE?
Depending on how you are participating, you can use a variety of sources to calculate your miles. If you are walking on exercise equipment (treadmill, elliptical, etc.), use the display screen to determine your distance. For walking outside, you can use a pedometer or download an application to your cell phone (for those are are fancy enough to do so) to calculate distance.
For distance calculators online, try:
http://www.mapmyrun.com/
http://www.walkjogrun.net/
If you have no calculator readily available, figure you probably walk a mile in 15 minutes (at a leisurely pace.) So in hour of of leisurely walking, you'd cover 4 miles.
Use a calculator if possible, though; otherwise, you may be under or over-recording!
IMPORTANT: At the end of every week, please update how far you have walked, so that I can track the walk-a-thon progress online.
Now, the most important information:
WHY ARE WE RAISING THIS MONEY?
All monies donated will be given toward the children at greatest risk of aging out of the orphanages (between 4 and 5 years old) and being placed into institutions. Once institutionalized, many kids are no longer available for adoption, and the conditions are such that the majority do not thrive or survive very long.
These are NOT kids that we think of as "needing" to be institutionalized. These children have conditions such as Down Syndrome; today, in the U.S., children and adults with Down Syndrome receive services and education that help them to live fulfilling lives. Unfortunately, in Eastern European nations, Down Syndrome (and other congenital defects) are shunned by society. Oftentimes, these children still have parents, but the parents are unable to come to terms with their child's appearance. While we can be angry at parents for giving up their children, realize that the support systems that we have in the U.S. are not available to these families. They become societal outcasts and do not have any access to educational or medical services that would otherwise help them. These are children that truly need and deserve a chance at life.
There are many families that would love to make the kids are a part of their family. Unfortunately, the average cost of an international adoption is very high (typically around $30,000.) The costs involve paperwork, home study reports, travel fees, and more. Because of the high costs, many families commit to adopt children, but must wait until they can afford to travel and pick up their children. Reece's Rainbow provides grants to the children, so that when a family chooses him/her, the money goes with the child in order to help pay for the adoption.
Some of the children already have families hoping to adopt them. Others still need families to commit. The numbers of children in need, and particularly those at risk of aging out of the orphanages (near being institutionalized) are great; the more money we raise, the quicker we can get these children into safe and loving homes. Every penny raised in this fundraiser will be sent to Reece's Rainbow in order to help bring families together!
WHO IS HOSTING THIS FUNDRAISER?
Me, myself and I. I'm not an organization, and I'm certainly not a professional fundraiser. I'm Sarah White, mom to three beautiful kids, praying that someday I'll be able to bring home more children in need of loving homes. Until that time comes, I'm going to do whatever I can to save these children who are so desperately in need.
I'D LIKE TO PARTICIPATE BUT I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO WALK EACH DAY.
How about walking as a family instead? Get mom, dad, and the kids involved. Or maybe there is another group that you know that would agree to walk with you; if you can help, find a way to do so! The purpose of walking is to make the journey for kids in need; if it takes a village to help a child, then so be it! Just remember to keep track of everyone's progress so that you can update your mileage logged each week.
Thanks for your participation!
