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What's It Like To Walk? |
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Fundraising & Training Everyone has a personal reason for participating in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer. It may be a sister, mother, best friend, or even yourself, or the man in your life. But for 2 days and 39 miles, we are all walking together toward one goal. You are never alone on the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer join thousands of others who share your passion and commitment to making a difference in the fight against breast cancer. Together, We’ll Walk With Purpose. Walk as far as you can up to 26.2 miles on Saturday and 13.1 miles on Sunday all so that medically under-insured women and men can get the medical care they need, and leading research teams are supported in their ongoing search for a cure. You choose the distance you walk - It’s not about mileage. It’s about commitment to the breast cancer cause. Together, we’ll raise important funds. Even if you’ve never raised a dime before, you’ll discover you can be an incredible fundraiser. And you’ll be amazed at the generosity of others who support your efforts. A commitment to participate in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer is also a commitment to raise a minimum of $1,800 to help the Avon Foundation provide access to care and finding a cure for breast cancer. Sound impossible? Not at all!! In fact, most walkers exceed their fundraising goal. Avon Walk Online Tools and personal support by an Avon Walk staff member - your Walker Buddy - make it simple to exceed your fundraising goals. Together, we’ll create incredible memories. As you fundraise, train, walk or volunteer, you’ll meet people who share your passion and commitment to making a difference. And camping out on Saturday night, you’ll share stories and good times with new friends and old. The Avon Walk - Start to Finish The Avon Walk is not a linear journey, but begins and ends at the same location* Though this doesn’t make your walking magically easier, we think it gives a unique “full-circle” perspective to the city and to the weekend. NEED HELP WITH FUNDRAISING OR PHYSICAL TRAINING? YOU GOT IT. Once you register for the Avon Walk, you will be assigned your very own “Walker Buddy”—an Avon Walk staffer who will be your main contact, , and your pillar of support as you prepare for the event. Your Walker Buddy will help you develop your own personal fundraising plan, find Training Walks in your area, and will be there with you every step of the way leading up the Avon Walk weekend. Our online Message Board, local Introduction Meetings, and fun-filled Connection Events will also allow you plenty of opportunity to join up with other walkers and Crew members to share encouragement and ideas along the way. Regularly scheduled, volunteer-led Training Walks help you enhance your physical condition and build endurance in preparation for the Avon Walk. Training Walks range in difficulty from short beginner treks to longer distances that can take several hours they also cover a variety of terrains and speeds. Schedules are posted on the local pages of the website and your Walker Buddy will always have a current schedule. EVENT EVE. Event Eve is when you may officially check-in, receive your Avon Walk wristband, get your tent assignment, turn in any last-minute donations and get ready to walk or crew. Event Eve is held the Friday before the Avon Walk starts, from mid-afternoon to early evening, at a hotel near the event’s Ceremony site; you will not need to be at Event Eve the entire time. Your participation in Event Eve should be a quick process, especially if you have taken care of all of your administrative tasks, such as reaching the $1800 fundraising minimum and completing your medical form. We also secure a block of rooms with discounted rates at the Event Eve Hotel (or at other hotels nearby) near the Avon Walk’s Ceremony site. This option is ideal for anyone who is from out-of-town or wishes to be close-by for Saturday’s early morning start. All hotel and transportation arrangements and costs are the responsibility of the Participant. ONLINE CHECK-IN. In 2008, we introduced Online Check-In, which enables you to take care of tasks like completing your medical form and selecting your tent mate, from the comfort of your own personal web page! (Participant Center). We will be offering online check-in again in 2009 and more details will be coming soon. Please visit your Participant Center often for news and updates on this helpful feature. OPENING CEREMONY. Before you take your first step, you will take part in a wonderful Opening Ceremony that brings all Avon Walk participants together for the first time, early on Saturday morning. We don’t want to give away too much, but we can promise that this ceremony will be inspirational and motivational -- and not too long! You’ll drop off your gear, grab some breakfast, fill your water bottle, stretch a little -- and before you know it -- you’ll be on the road! ALONG THE ROUTE. There is no minimum mileage required. Most Walkers choose either the option of walking a total marathon distance over the course of the weekend (13.1 miles on Saturday, plus 13.1 miles on Sunday), or a marathon and half distance (26.2 miles on Saturday, plus the 13.1 miles on Sunday). The distance you walk is up to you, and you don’t have to decide ahead of time. Expect encouragement (clapping, cheering, honking, whistling and all-out enthusiasm) from well-wishers along the way. Your participation in the Avon Walk benefits everyone; don’t be surprised at the gratitude you’ll be paid in return. You’ll experience interesting and amazing parts of the city! Safety is our number one priority and you can feel confident that you will be taken care of along the route. SUPPORT AT EVERY STEP. The route will be clearly marked with directional signage. At certain points, where extra vigilance is needed, you will find friendly and helpful Crew members to point you in the right direction. Support services will be set up all along the route (approximately every 2-3 miles). There are three types of support stops: Quick Stops, Rest Stops, and a Lunch Stop. Quick Stops have portable toilets, water and sports drinks. Think of them as the walking equivalent to a ‘drive thru’. Rest Stops are where you may choose to spend a little extra time and rest a bit. In addition to portable toilets, water and sports drink, you will also find delicious snacks and medical services. The Lunch Stop is considered by many to be the highlight of the day. It has the same services as a Rest Stop, plus…well, lunch! HALF-MARATHON TRANSFER POINT. If you choose to walk the half-marathon distance (approximately 13.1 miles) on Saturday, your day’s Walk will end at the scheduled Rest Stop closest to this distance. Buses will be waiting there to transport you to the Wellness Village, your home for Saturday night. WELLNESS VILLAGE—A GREAT NIGHT’S SLEEP. The Wellness Village is your home away from home for the night after your first day of walking or crewing. Here you’ll be welcomed with cheers and thanks. And you will find just about everything you need to relax and wind down from your day’s trek. There’s delicious hot meals (Saturday dinner and Sunday breakfast), hot showers and camaraderie like you’ve never before experienced. A cascade of two-person sleeping tents reside throughout the Wellness Village where you’ll also find the Avon Walk Shop, medical services, evening entertainment the “Fireside Follies”, stretching and yoga classes, mini foot-massages, sponsor information and activities, breast cancer, beneficiary and Avon Foundation information. The Wellness Village is a special place, and it’s one you can share with your friends and family—invite them to visit you in the Village, and celebrate what you’ve accomplished. CLOSING CEREMONY. Each Avon Walk ends on Sunday with a Closing Ceremony to celebrate your enormous accomplishment. As you cross the finish line, cheered on by friends, family, media and guests, the Closing Ceremony is a “must-see” and is one of the best ways to bring awareness to the breast cancer cause and provide you with the opportunity to recognize the huge difference you have made. It is one of the most celebratory elements of your Walk experience, giving you a chance to rejoice in your accomplishment and honor the people you are helping. TOGETHER, WE’LL CHANGE THE WORLD. As a walker or volunteer Crew member, you’ll share a life-changing journey with others who share your commitment and passion. Even if you don’t know anyone else who is participating at the time you register, you’re guaranteed to become part of an amazing Avon Walk family that will last throughout the event weekend and way beyond, raising not only funds, but awareness about breast cancer. Together, we’ll take a meaningful step towards finding a cure. *The Avon Walk Rocky Mountains is the only Avon Walk with a linear route, with the start and finish in two separate locations. |
