Have Fun and Support a Worthwhile Cause with Short Distance Charity Walk and Run Events
5K (3.1 mile) Charity Walk and Run Events, Walk-A-Thons, Fun Runs and Relay for Life
Short distance charity walk and charity run events are the easiest to join in, and some of the most fun! Many times you can register on event day, you will get a free shirt and enjoy a great short walk or run.
There is usually a small registration fee, which can range anywhere from $15-35. Some charities may suggest a higher donation, or request that you get people to “sponsor” you in the walk to raise money. Many organizations offer prize levels depending on how much you raise.
Most 5K events do not have a support system of coaches or offer travel opportunities (like with endurance events). Many times, however, teams for these charity events are formed at your workplace. You can find support and encouragement for your fitness goals and fundraising efforts when you join a team.
If you don’t know of a team to join, invite a few friends to join you. In many cases, people walk the day of the event without training ahead of time at all. So your time commitment to training is all up to your own preferences and goals.
Types of Short Distance Events
Fun Run - usually 1-3 mile run that is usually in conjunction with another event such as an outdoor festival or holiday celebration. Fun Runs are not timed events.
5K and 10K races - A race is usually an event that is aimed at runners, although walkers are usually welcome as well. Timing is important for races and there will be a
time board at the finish line. Some events offer chip timing, which provides accurate time with a small device that is placed on the runner’s shoe.
Charity Walks and Walk-a-thons - Events that are advertised as walks are not timed. The idea is to have fun on a walk and raise money for a non profit organization. The distance is usually 3-5 miles.
Relay for Life - Relay is a type of walk-a-thon that is sponsored by American Cancer Society. It is slightly different as it is a team event, rather than individual. Teams must keep one participant walking or running on a track for the duration of the event.
Fundraising for short distance events
For these kinds of events the fundraising goal is solely up to you. You can participate with the minimum registration or donation amount. This can be an advantage if join in at the last minute, or don’t have time to devote to extensive fundraising. Or you can set a personal goal of any amount you think is attainable.
Where to Find Short Distance Events
One of the great things about short distance events is that you can participate in as many events as you want. If you live in an urban area, there may be an event just about every weekend of the year. Take your pick!
Short distance run/walk events are numerous. Many are sponsored by local organizations and benefit local charities. Other events benefit national organizations.
Some of the national events include:
American Cancer Society - Relay for Life Official Site More about Relay for Life
American Heart Association - Heart Walk
Arthritis Foundation - Jingle Bell Run
Susan G. Komen - Race for the Cure
Find events listed by cause or location
So which event is right for you? Decide which charity or distance fits you best. Now take that first step and join in the fun of walk/run events. Your participation can really make a difference!
September 22nd, 2007 at 12:22 am
hey guys… im a 15 year old teenager.
i want to take part of the 5k runs..
Can u give me updates and newsletters on upcoming events run/walk.
I heard that some runs will give out medals as prizes if u finish the race ?.. Is it true.. Can u get medals even tho u didnt make it first, second, or third place?
please message me.. thanks
September 28th, 2007 at 1:02 pm
You can find out more about upcoming walks at Active.com and Charity Mile. Yes there are many events that will give medals to all finishers. These are usually the longer races, 10Ks, half marathons and marathons. I know our local Komen Race for the Cure gives out medals for just placers in their age groups.
January 7th, 2008 at 2:40 pm
hi i want to do a sponsered walk from yeadon to skipton in the summer holidays the people i am doing it for are jane tomlinson and my great aunt
January 10th, 2008 at 9:32 pm
Hey, I am actually chairing a charity walk committee in
my student council and I just need a few pointers.
Maybe you could help out.
1. I want to have T-shirts made… but whoever participates
would have to buy their own which would range around
$10.00. also…the actual donation which
would be about $8.00 is that like feasable? Or what?
2.Should I set up concession stands along the way?
3. What about lunches or what not? Should people fend
for themselves or should I try and get donations?
I think that is all at this point.
January 17th, 2008 at 3:02 pm
Miranda, I would advise charging $20 registration fee which would include the shirt. What is left from expenses would be the donation. (What cause are you raising money for by the way?)
You can also reduce costs by getting local businesses to donate and then put their logo on the back of the shirt.
Just have water/Gatorade stations along the route. Have a concession stand at the start/finish line.
May 17th, 2008 at 11:38 am
Hello, I like to run ( short distance), my husband and kid don’t run, but like to walk ( fast).
can you give info about run/walk event in the DC metro area, MD and Northern Virginia?
Thanks
Clara
May 19th, 2008 at 10:48 am
Hi Clara, the events listings are being built up on Charity Mile but for now we recommend Active.com as it has the most comprehensive database of events. They are not all charity events though.
March 24th, 2009 at 3:10 pm
I am walking in the National Kidney Foundation walk in Texas and I want to know the best ways to solicit sponsorship for my walk and others to walk with me for my team. Do I just email friends and family and ask them to join our team and charge a donation fee?
Do you know of ways to let kids in on the fundraising?
I am walking for myself and my mother who recently lost her battle with CKD.
Thanks for yuor help!
March 28th, 2009 at 7:20 am
Check with the Kidney Foundation, usually they will have pledge forms. You can also send letters to friends and family (or email). Here are some examples that I wrote for Team in Training (though they were for long distance events.) They should always make checks payable to the Kidney Foundation not to you. Then you turn in the checks at the designated time.
You might also ask the foundation if they have online giving. Many walks use Firstgiving.com which lets you set up a personal fundraising page. Then people can donate online.
April 7th, 2009 at 2:38 pm
I am trying to organize a walk/run fundraiser for a dear friend of mine who has been dx with Multiple Myeloma and her husband who has also having surgery for what the doctors believe is thyroid cancer. Her medical cost are atronomical as you can imagine.
We are able to use a local walking track for free - it is part of our local university. My idea is to charge a $20 fee to enter, and they get a t-shirt for this as well….which we have someone willing to do them for far less than normal. We have drafted a letter to business’ asking for at least a $100 donation for which we will put the name of their business on the back of the shirts.
Not sure what to do at this point to pull it all together. I am sure we can do concessions - Coke usually offers a free trailer if you buy products from them - so that won’t be a problem. We have someone who has offered live entertainment also. If it is a non-timed event, how do we do prizes? Any ideas will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks so much.
Nichole
April 9th, 2009 at 4:47 pm
Hi Nichole -
Regarding the non-timed or non-competitive event, I think the best option is to draw names for prizes. Gather as many prizes as you can and then put the name of everyone who participates in a bucket and then randomly draw them out the old fashioned way for each prize. This way everyone who participates will equally have a chance to win.
If you have big prizes and small prizes you might consider starting with the small ones and working your way up as you award them, leaving your most valuable prize for last. This way there are less names in the bucket and odds get better for those who have not won anything yet.
If you are gathering donations you might consider putting people’s names in twice if they donate x amount of dollars to motivate larger donation amounts.
Hope this helps!
April 14th, 2009 at 7:04 am
I hope you can add the American Diabetes Association’s Step Out: Walk to Fight Diabetes. These fundraising walks are held nationwide and help raise money to prevent and cure diabetes and improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes. There are almost 24 million Americans living with the disease, but with your help, we can STOP diabetes one step at a time!
July 1st, 2009 at 2:03 pm
Looking for a company to buy or have donated finish medals for our fun charity walk. Can you please suggest a companies?
Thank you,
Sara (Mylee’s mommy)