How Can I Organize a Walk-a-Thon for a Cure?

Select a focus for the walk-a-thon -- a disease or illness and a corresponding charity to receive the proceeds. Research the charity thoroughly. Call its office and ask for a written statement that details how much of the money actually goes to benefit the victims.

Draw upon your friends, family and neighbors to form a planning committee. Recruit dependable people with expertise in event planning, fundraising, marketing or public relations. Find people who are afflicted with the focal disease, or who have survived it, to inspire other people to participate.

Make a detailed plan for the walk. Distribute it to the planning committee for review and add changes as necessary.

Schedule a time, date and place for the walk-a-thon. Choose a location that has sufficient parking and restrooms and is well known, such as a park, popular walking trail, or even a shopping area. Ask police about any restrictions that might make a different area preferable. Choose a time; early morning is usually best for walk-a-thons. Choose a date on which little else is happening. (Avoid holidays.) Allow at least five weeks to fulfill all the planning stages.

Inspect the route and clear it of any hazardous debris. Choose a route that's no more than five miles, as extreme distances might deter potential walkers.

Prepare for medical emergencies. Ask at local hospitals for volunteers to staff a first-aid station. Create a waiver form that advises participants about potential risks of the walk-a-thon.

Set a fundraising goal. Be prepared to give details about where the money will go and how the charity or organization will spend it.

Estimate the walk-a-thon's budget and confirm it with the planning committee. Campaign at local businesses for sponsorship, donations and event services. Set a participation fee. Encourage participants to pre-register by mail, fax or email so you will have an idea of how many walkers will attend.

Order all required event-related materials and items, such as participant T-shirts, tables, drinks and snacks, and waiver and registration forms.

Campaign to the community. Write a short news release for newspapers and radio and TV stations. Create fliers or posters and distribute them to gyms, coffee shops and businesses. Ask businesses to include walk-a-thon information on their websites. Encourage the planning committee members and volunteers to advertise the event on their social networking websites.

Recruit volunteers at local schools. Use volunteers to help with traffic control, event setup and monitoring and cleaning of the route.

Confirm all details of the walk, including the time, day and place. Have a fallback plan in case of rain. Make sure all permits and fees have been paid. Remind the planning crew and volunteers of their duties.

Set up tables for snacks and food, walker registration and donation collection two hours before participants are scheduled to arrive. Create a feedback form and encourage walkers to fill it out and suggest areas for improvement. Announce how much money was collected and thank all of the participants.