Final WALK pamphlet cover62309 - The ALS Association Greater ...

Join the fight to cure
Lou Gehrig’s Disease
Saturday, October 17, 2009
11:00 am
(Registration begins at 9:30 am)
William Land Park
Sacramento, CA

to Defeat ALS ……………………………………PAGE 3 Team Up……………………………………………………..PAGE 4 Walk
Tips for Successful Fundraising…..........PAGE 5 Email Fundraising Campaign…………………………….PAGE 6 Fundraising,
1: Email, Option 2: Snail Mail…………………...PAGE 7 Option
Fundraising Letter…………………………..…...PAGE 8 Customize It!...............................................................PAGE 9 Sample
Donations…………………………………….PAGE 10 Matching Gifts, Double Your Dollars in No Time…....PAGE 11 Submitting
Day Information…………………………………….PAGE 12 Walk
Our Mission: The mission of the ALS Association Greater Sacramento Chapter is to lead the fight to cure and treat ALS through global, cutting-edge research, and to empower people with Lou Gehrig’s disease and their families to live fuller
by providing them with compassionate care and support.
Our Vision: In the quest to create a world without ALS, our vision is to care for and support
lives
all people living with Lou Gehrig’s disease as we leave no stone unturned
in our relentless search for a cure.
90 minutes someone in the United States is diagnosed with ALS Every
90 minutes another
person loses their life to this devastating disease Every
for one ALS patient
can cost up to Care
a year ALS can impact anyone!
$250,000
are no racial, ethnic, or socioeconomic
boundaries There
average life expectancy
post diagnosis is two to five years The
Presently, there is no
cure for ALS
Table of Contents
2 ALS…………………………….……………..……...PAGE About
Facts about
ALS

aseball legend Lou Gehrig was diagnosed in 1939, nearly 7 million people worldwide have heard the same devastating words “you have ALS.” Every 90 minutes someone is diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s Since
and that same time span, another person is lost to this catastrophic, progressive neurodegenerative
disease. ALS is characterized by a degeneration of motor cells in the brain and spinal cord leading to muscle weakness. As the disease progresses, it causes severe impairment of mobility, speech, swallowing, and respiratory function. Disease),
occurs throughout the world with no racial, ethnic, or socioeconomic boundaries, typically striking ALS
men and women between the ages of 35-70. More than 350,000 people around the world are currently
POSTERS—Help us distribute Walk posters by placing them in businesses,
libraries, schools, etc. by volunteering!
FLYERS—Walk information brochures are perfect to use religious
school bulletins, mass distribution at cash registers in local businesses,
etc.
HOST A PARTY—Invite family and friends to your home and include a or
About ALS
Want to help spread the word?
with ALS. In the United States alone, there are more than 30,000 people battling the disease. Between 5 and 10% of those cases are familial, occurring more than once within a family. Presently, no viable treatments exist to effectively slow or stop progression of the disease. living
the advanced stages, care for an ALS patient can cost up to $250,000 a year. The average life expectancy,
is approximately two to five years from diagnosis. While research has shed light on possible causes of ALS, there have been no definitive answers, and its cure remains a mystery. In
———————————————————————————————————————
representative from our Chapter to talk about ALS and how they can help find a cure! “I lost my husband to ALS two years ago. I am starting
to re-build my life thanks the support of The
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Association, Greater Sacramento Chapter.” Gwen, Sacramento, CA. ALS

Walk to Defeat ALS was launched in 2000 and is the ALS Association’s largest nationwide
fundraising event. It is designed to raise money to find a cure for ALS and to increase The
of the disease. The Walk to Defeat ALS has grown, with 150,000 participants nationwide
raising more than 18.7 million each year to support the year-round work of The ALS awareness
Association.
Walk to Defeat ALS
Why Walk?
the Greater Sacramento Region, the event continues to be a milestone in our community’s effort combat this devastating disease. Since inception, Walk to Defeat ALS participants and sponsors have made this event the In
Sacramento Regions most powerful and effective response to ALS. Held in William Land Park, the Walk Defeat ALS empowers patients, friends, families, and the business community to do something
about a disease that leaves many feeling powerless. Greater
Because it ’ s fun….
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Because it offers hope...
number of people being diagnosed with ALS in California continues to grow at an alarming rate. The Walk provides support for our most urgent goal—to offer programs and services to ALS patients and their families throughout the Greater Sacramento Region, that includes 24 counties. Without the funds you will personally contribute or collect through your fundraising efforts, The ALS Asso-
The
Because
not provide the services so desperately needed by ALS patients throughout the Greater Sacramento Region. could ciation
Because you can….

encourage you to form or join a team. Forming a team contributes to a great Walk experience! It’s easier than it sounds. A Walk to Defeat ALS team can range from We
in the Walk at the actual walk site the day of the event, but participate electronically online instead. By becoming a “Virtual Walker” or “Virtual Team,” you are able to
donations for yourself or for your Walk online – without the need to be in attendance on Walk Day. collect
Potential Donors
Acquaintances
Accountants
Alumni
Attorneys
Auto Dealerships
Banker
Business Vendors
Clubs CoClubs
Co-Workers
Dentist
Doctors
Dry Cleaners
Employers
Family
Fitness Clubs
Friends
Hair Dressers
House of worship
Insurance Agents
Neighbors
Out of state friends
& relatives
Restaurants
Schoolmates
Sports Teams
Team Up!
Start Forming a Team!
people to 2,000 people. Invite co-workers, friends, family, club members,
business associates, and people from your school and/or place of worship to join you for some great fun to help a great cause. Everyone can benefit from the experience. Team participation allows you a 2
to enjoy each other’s company while pursuing a common goal. People like to belong and be a part of a community. If they see that you and your team have a real bond, they will be attracted to it! chance
Virtual Walkers
Walk Team” or “ Virtual Walkers” are people who cannot “Virtual A
out emails and letters to everyone you know announcing your commitment and inviting them to join you. Include a brochure and a link to your Personal Walk Page! Send
up with a phone call or an email to find out who is interested in participating. Ask each person who joins your team to recruit another member. Follow
“Each year our family comes together to remember
Dad. We celebrate him on Walk Day every year as we continue to hope for a cure..”
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Redding, Ca. Family,

• Be
• Be
• Make
• Learn
• Send
• Ask
• Ask
•
help you earn fabulous prizes for going above and Stay
Putting the FUN in
Fundraising! Have Bake Sale,
Wash, or Yard Sale. Hold a 50/50 raffle Car
payday! on
a shirt! Let people sign an ALS t-shirt for $5.00 and then wear the shirt Sign
the Walk. Cinema Day! Show a movie at during
and charge admission. lunchtime
Fundraising—Tips for successful fundraising!
Be optimistic. Excitement is highly contagious and potential sponsors should feel how enthusiastic you are about their contributions.
Be Committed. When you raise funds for the ALS Association, you are directly helping people living with ALS in the Greater Sacramento area and funding research about this mysterious disease.
Make the first pledge yourself. When your friends and family
members see your name and contribution, they will know how
you are.
Learn As Much As You Can About ALS. Call us to request brochures about amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and Chapter serious Send Emails. Send an announcement of your plan to programs.
in the Walk to Defeat ALS to friends, business associates, church members, family and old acquaintances. participate
Pledge Sheet for small and large donors. Tell sponsors what
beyond. More importantly, you’ll feel good know- ing that you made a difference in the life of some- one with ALS.
Don’t be shy about asking. The #1 reason people
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give is that they’re not asked. don’t
Ask for a Specific Amount. Consider keeping a separate your average gift has been and challenge them to beat it.
Ask for Donations on Pay Day. Timing is very important. When you ask is almost as important as Who you ask.
Stay motivated! Keep in mind sponsorships can

een said that people don’t give to causes – people give to people. The most effective way of raising money for the Walk to Defeat ALS to conduct your own letter writing campaign. You won’t fail if you follow these steps; and that’s a promise! It’s WRITE YOUR LETTER—
What’s your story? Explain the Walk and why you are participating. Urge your donors to go online to make a donation on your behalf. It’s fast, easy, and secure! Also,
sure you include a your letter asking that check donations be mailed directly to (be sure to include the team captains name and contact information). We want to ensure that you get make
credit for all donations. Ask that checks be made payable to The ALS Association Greater Sacramento Chapter. It’s great to mention that all donations are tax deductible! TAX ID 68-0159292.
When writing a fundraising letter,
you should always invite people to walk with you and your Team! proper 100% of funds raised will support our patients through support groups,
research, respite care, loan closet and durable medical equipment grants.
Email Fundraising Campaign
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got involved with the Walk to Defeat ALS because it’s a fun way to raise awareness for ALS and everyone shares in the vision to one day find a cure for ALS.“ PAL , Sacramento, CA. “I

email from system include link your fundraising and link your team page, making it east to donate and/or join your quest!
1. Log-in to My Walk Center Each sent the will a to personal page a to
Address Book icon to upload email addresses from an existing address book (Yahoo, Hotmail, etc.) or you can enter them by “Our first year participating
in the walk, in hand! The address book is available year after year when you use same login as previous years. support of my dad, we made $30,000 within 6 weeks” Grenz-DeFazio Family
the Click 2. Step 2
CA Sacramento,
1 Step 1. Photocopy your letters or print out multiple copies. Sign each letter individually, perhaps with a handwritten personal note like “Thank you in advance for your support.”
Enclose a copy of your pledge sheet with your donation
at the top of the list so everyone knows you are personally con-
to the cause you are asking them to support! Our Chapter will provide letter writing support, check our website for dates and times. tributing
Option 1: Email
Use the Email tools in My Walk Center to raise more money (with less effort and postage!)
Option 2: Snail Mail
Step 3. Click the Email tab at the top or My Walk Center page. We have crafted some excellent letters for you to use when asking people to contribute to your team’s goal. You may customize the letter with your personal story or just fill in the blanks that look like this – {{You Info Here}} Visit our website for templates.
Step 4. Save your creation. Click Preview to see your email and then SEND. Don’t forget to follow up with a thank you note after your donations arrive.
Send hard copies of your letters through mail
Step 2. Mail your letters, including a self-addressed return envelope! It’s never too early to send letters asking friends, family members, and business associates to support your efforts. If you are concerned
about postage, let the ALS Association pay for it! Stuff and address your envelopes to the individuals on your list. Put all of your
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in a big and drop-off or mail the envelope to the Great Sacramento Chapter office at: Attn: Walk to Defeat ALS, 2717 Cottage Way, Suite #8, Sacramento, CA 95825. letters

Friend, The ALS Association Greater Sacramento Chapter is kicking off its annual Walk William Land Park on October 17th. Sue Jones and I are co-captains a team we have formed in Dear
of our friend, Bill Jones, who was diagnosed with ALS last year. Please join our team, “Win the Fight.”
There are 3 goals we hope to achieve – AWARENESS, EDUCATION, RAISE MONEY honor
that ALS exists but is sometimes relegated to the back seat. In the U.S. AWARENESS
approximately 30.000 people are living with ALS today and 300.000 people who are alive and well today will die from it. That’s a lot, but often not enough for an acceptable profit margin for major pharmaceuticals to take on. alone
You’ve heard the saying “growing old is not for wimps?” Well, neither is ALS. ALS destroys a person’s motor neurons. Motor neurons are responsible for relaying
messages from the brain to the muscles. When muscles no longer receive those messages,
a person’s abilities to perform even the simplest of tasks such as buttoning a button,
EDUCATION:
brushing teeth, standing, smiling, speaking and eventually, breathing are lost. There is no known cause or cure. Death is only a guarantee.
Sample Fundraising Letter
MONEY: (You knew it was coming!) This is the major fundraiser for our local chapter of The ALS Association. The folks do wonderful things for ALS patients and their families. Just ask Bill and his wife. And, ALS research is important. There is no known cause, cure, or means of controlling progression of ALS, but that will come. We it will. RAISE
then, the ALS Association will be by the sides of those in need, easing the day to day burdens that this disease inflicts. So I’m asking for your help. Please take out your check book and write the most gener-
Until
ous check you can, payable to The ALS Association, Greater Sacramento Chapter. Or, better yet, join our team and help with our effort. Sincerely,
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Walker Joe

online donations and send emails to team members and potential donors. You can also post photographs, tell your story, and inspire people to join you or donate to this cause. It’s so easy! Team captains should customize a team page to describe their team and invite others to join. It will show receive
entire team’s progress toward the collective goal and list all of the members. Be creative and upload
a picture of your team from last year. It’s a great chance to represent why you’re walking! If you get stuck, let us help you—916-979-9265. the Personal Page—Registering for the Walk to Defeat ALS automatically sets up your very own online fundraising
web page! Through the web site, you can encourage friends and family to join your team, contrib-
online through our secure server, and even create their own fundraising pages to benefit the ALS Association!
Step 1: Go to www.walktodefeatals.org and log in using your username and password. If you have forgotten
Step 3: You will notice a generic picture and text has been inserted.
ute
one or both of these you can have them sent to you by choosing the option on the login page. Click on My Walk Center
Step 2: Choose the Walk you have registered for. You’re now My Walk Center. Choose the button along the top row entitled Personal Page.
change what appears on standard page, change your settings in the grey box at the top of page. It makes a huge difference to personalize your page.
4 Step 4: Place your cursor the editable text box and type away. Tell To
the Walk, why it helps PALS (Persons with ALS), and most importantly why you are walking! (Be sure to SAVE your work often).
Step 5: Don’t forget to upload a picture. On right side of the about
page, choose the Browse button. Find the folder on your computer
where you have your photo saved. editing
Customize It!
access to many exciting and helpful online features. Your Personal Webpage enables you to have You
Add your favorite photo of your loved one or a photo of you Walk Team. You can even write a caption underneath. The Walk to Defeat ALS website is user-friendly. Almost every page has a feature called What Should I Do Next? Just click on this button whenever you need more assistance. Please feel free
to call us 916.979.9265 with any questions.
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may be mailed to Sacramento office address in advance of the Walk to Defeat ALS. When
submitting donations by check, please ensure that the donor’s name and address are on the check,
well as the Walker on the memo line. Checks
don’t send cash in the mail! You can turn that cash into a money order or check. Just make sure you include the donor’s contact information. As Walk day approaches, donations submitted to the office may take up to three weeks to process. Please
the Walk, the processing time may be considerably longer and we appreciate your patience! Just remember, the earlier you turn in your funds raised, the sooner your thermometer will rise. After
•
•
• Click Log-on
Enter the information from each check or cash sponsorship you have received. Send us the
checks and watch your thermometer rise!
Submitting Donations
participant collecting donations must turn in his or her own contribution envelope! You’ll get one closer to the Walk. Direct donors online. When a person donates online on your behalf, you will be notified by email. Each Entering Donations Online to My Participant Center
on the icon “My Progress”
on the link “Enter Gifts Received Offline”
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companies will match their employees charitable contributions. Programs vary from business to business, but the most common match is dollar to dollar. Be sure to ask your employer about it! And don’t forget to ask all of the people who sponsor you to find out if they have a matching gift Many
at their workplace. If your company does have a Matching Gifts program, read and fill out the forms you get from your company carefully before submitting
program
it to The ALS Association.
www.matchinggifts.com/als to see if your company participates.
If your company is not listed, please talk to your HR department!
Visit How to Raise Over $200 in Fewer than 7 Days!
1—Start by sponsoring yourself for $25
2—Ask 2 of your family members to sponsor you for $20
3—Ask 3 friends to contribute $15 each DAY 4—Ask 4 co-workers to contribute $15 each
Matching Gifts—DOUBLE YOUR DOLLARS IN NO TIME!
5—Ask your boss to match your co-workers donations DAY 6—Ask 6 companies that you or your business works with to sponsor you for $5 each.
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7—Share your success with your team, friends, and family. DAY

egistered Walkers will receive a Day of Event Preparedness Guide in the mail the week before the Walk with last minute instructions. Wheelchairs, power and manual, are available participants unable to walk the route, by notifying the Chapter Office at (916) 979-9265 before October 15th. All REGISTRATION/CHECK-IN
IN —Registration starts 9:30 am. If you have turned in $75 or more in advance of the Walk, you will be able to pick up your T-shirt. There will be a record of walkers who were credited with donations received prior to the Walk. Please be sure that all Walkers (even those in strollers) register/check-in and that a waiver is signed.
EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION
pick-up is also available during Early Bird registration on October 15th & 16th at our Chapter office located at 2717 Cottage Way, Suite 8, Sacramento, CA. 95825. For more information or to schedule a time to drop your donation off, please call (916) 979-9265. T-shirt TEAMS Teams are encouraged to meet in a specific location and gather for team photos prior to the Walk. Plan to arrive early and enjoy the music and festivities. Wear your team t-shirts! Then, plan on getting warmed up by engaging in our pre-walk warm-ups and feel enthusiasm.
WE WILL WALK RAIN OR SHINE
the event of inclement weather, please attend the designated Walk event, check-in and turn in your donations. It’s your choice if you would like to walk or jump back into your automobiles.
MUSIC & ENTERTAINMENT In
Festival immediately following the Walk. Multiple musicians will be performing along with clowns, face painting, crafts and vendor demonstrations. Check our website for more information. Music FOOD & BEVERAGES
Breakfast foods will be provided at no cost to walkers.
Walk Day Information
A delicious array of restaurants will have lunch options for sale throughout the Music Festival.
RAFFLE Raffle tickets will be for sale for $1 each or $10 per
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Winners will be announced during the Music Festival. dozen.