Walk for Thought - Minnesota Brain Injury Alliance

The Brain Injury Association of Minnesota’s 

Walk for Thought 

9 a.m. Saturday, October 4, 2008 

Canal Park, Duluth • Como Park, St. Paul 

Silver Lake, Rochester 

Thank you for supporting individuals across the state whose lives have been impacted by brain 

injury by becoming a Team Captain for the Brain Injury Association of Minnesota’s 7th Annual Walk 

for Thought! We are very excited that you decided to join us on the path to a better tomorrow. 

Your help is invaluable to raise money and awareness for individuals with brain injuries as you 

recruit people to participate. It is with your leadership the Walk for Thought will be a success. Our 

goal this year is to raise $110,000, to help provide support for the 100,000 Minnesotans who have 

experienced a brain injury. 

The following materials can be found in your packet: 

• Information on managing your team 

• Fundraising tips 

• Team registration and roster materials 

• Walk sponsor forms 

• Sample donation letter 

• Directions to the Walk location 

Feel free to make photocopies of any materials you need. 

Extra registration brochures and promotional posters are available by calling 612-378-2742 

or 800-669-6442. You can also register online on our new and improved Web site! Go to 

www.braininjurymn.org and click on the Walk for Thought logo. Click on the location in which you 

intend to walk and go to “Create a Team.” 

Your contribution to the Walk for Thought as a Team Captain is greatly appreciated. We are thrilled 

that you have decided to join us on October 4, 2008! 

Sincerely, 

Walk for Thought Team Staff and Volunteers

Tell Your Employer 




Take The First Step: Manage Your Team 



1. Set fundraising goals for your team. 

• Plan something special for your team if you reach your goal, or make it a competition 

2. The Association’s new online registration makes getting started easy: 

• Click on the Walk for Thought logo and go to “Create a Team.” 

• Fill in the blanks. Here is where you will enter your team name and goal. 

• Next you can make a donation right away or go to the campaign manager. 

3. Send e-mails directly from your Web page asking people to join your team or make a 

donation. 

4. Maintain open communication with your team members by e-mail, phone, newsletter, etc. 

This will help keep everyone updated on the progress of the team as you work toward the 

fundraising goal. 

If you, or someone you care about, have been affected by brain injury, be sure to tell your 

employer (present or past) about the Walk for Thought and how much you need their support 

– this often motivates companies to give money when otherwise they would not. Many 

corporations financially support causes such as the Walk for Thought when one of their 

employees, spouse or significant other is involved. 

Your company may also have a program set up to match their employee’s charitable donations. 

This can be a great source of often overlooked funds. Usually, your employer provides a 

simple form for you and the Brain Injury Association of Minnesota to fill out. As soon as you 

complete the form with the information requested and return it to your employer, the money 

matching your own contribution will be on the way. 

Walk Day 101: October 4, 2008 

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Registration begins at 9 a.m. the day of the Walk. Check in at the registration tent 

when you arrive. 

Bring the envelopes and T-shirts you receive at check-in to your team’s meeting spot. 

This year your team will have a balloon, making your team more mobile. 

Hand out T-shirts to your team and collect their money in the envelopes provided 

Bring your envelope to the registration desk 

Walk 

Walk and have fun! The walk starts at 10 a.m.

Sample personal donation letter: 

Dear (Friend’s name), 






Brain injury is the leading cause of death and disability in children and young adults, yet remains a 

silent epidemic that is often overlooked. Every 23 seconds a brain injury occurs, and it is always 

both unexpected and life changing. Please make a donation to help those people who have been 

affected by brain injury. 

I am participating in the Brain Injury Association of Minnesota’s 7th Annual Walk for Thought on 

October 4. The Brain Injury Association of Minnesota is the only statewide nonprofit organization 

devoted solely to serving the needs of the 100,000 Minnesotans who live with a disability due to 

brain injury. 

We need your help. The money raised for this event will help spread awareness of the effects of 

brain injury and help provide support services for individuals who have experienced brain injury. 

It would mean so much to me to have your endorsement at the Walk, so I want to give you the 

opportunity to help me make a difference. 

The Walk for Thought is a celebration of life, hope, and healing for people who have survived a 

brain injury. Thank you so much for considering making a donation for a cause that is so important 

to me. 

Sincerely, 

(Your name) 

Tips for your letter: 

• Add your personal story 

• Remind the reader why this is important to you and them 

• Invite them to join your team too 

• Include a self addressed, stamped envelope

Fun Fundraising Tips: 






• Hold a bake sale in your neighborhood, work, school or church and put all the proceeds 

toward your Walk for Thought team. 

• Start a loose change jar in your home or office with all the money collected going to your 

team. Or, you could even go to a near by business and see if they will let you put a jar 

by their cash register. 

• Send e-mails or write letters to friends and family members asking for support as you 

and your team raise money for the Walk. 

• Raffle off a day of paid time off or lunch with an executive of your choice at work and 

make everyone aware that all proceeds are going toward the Walk for Thought. 

• Have a casual day at the office. Employees have to pay for a casual day sticker and the 

proceeds go to the Walk. 

• “TP the VP” fundraiser. Have a jar for each VP or manager in the office and whichever jar 

has the most money in it after a specified amount of time gets their office “decorated.” 

• Get your boss or manager to dress up for a day. Let the employees decide which costume 

they have to wear by having a money vote in the office. 

• Put together a talent show. Get a group of people who will perform different acts and 

then charge admission for people to watch. It can be as formal or informal as you want, 

depending on who participates. 

• A silent auction can be held in an office setting or at your home, with all proceeds going 

toward your team. You can also set out a jar for extra donations at the auction. 

• Hold a Guitar Hero contest. Charge an entry fee and get a group of friends together to 

compete against each other. 

• Organize an ice cream social or dinner party at your home or office and ask for donations 

from those who attend. 

Remember to let people know the impact of their donation. Think about hosting a thank you event 

for those who give you their support.

Team Registration Form 






Team Name: _______________________________________________________________________ 

Team Captain Name: ________________________________________________________________ 

Your Walk Location: St. Paul Duluth Rochester 

Raise at least $25 per team member and each person on your team will receive a free T-shirt. Return this form by 

September 19 to ensure that each member of your team receives a T-shirt on the day of the Walk. 

Walk Team Roster 

(Completed by Team Captain) 

Walker Name Walker Address T-shirt Size 

Mail, deliver, or fax this form to: 


Brain Injury Association of Minnesota 

34 13th Avenue NE, Suite. B001 

Minneapolis, MN 55413 

612-378-2789 (fax) 

Please use the following sizes when indicating 

desired T-shirt size: 

Adult S M L XL XXL 3XL 

Child S M L

Walk Sponsor Form 






Use this form to help you organize and keep track of your donations. After you walk, you can look back here to know 

who to thank for their support. 

Feel free to add more pages of your own or make photo copies if you fill up this one! 

Name/Company Address Donation 

Make checks out to: Brain Injury Association of Minnesota. Your cancelled check is your tax-deductible receipt






Directions to Canal Park: 

On October 4, register and check-in at the Canal Park Hampton Inn starting at 9 a.m. The Walk 

will begin at 10 a.m. at the Canal Park Hampton Inn and proceed on a three mile route on the Walk. 

From Interstate 35, take the Lake Avenue exit. Head south on Lake Avenue. Lake Avenue will turn 

into Canal Park Drive. The Hampton Inn is located on the Lake Superior side of the road. 

© 2008 

Brain Injury Association of Minnesota

Walk for Thought - Minnesota Brain Injury Alliance

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