Frequently Asked Questions:
1 ) How do I register for a Hydrocephalus Association (HA) WALK?
Go to HA’s web page (www.hydroassoc.org.)
Click on WALKs, click on “Schedule of WALK events,” click on your local
WALK. When the WALK site web page opens click on “Register Here” and
follow the prompts.
2 ) Is there a registration fee?
There is no registration fee. However, HA
encourages all walkers to raise money from family, friends and
colleagues. Walkers raising $50 or more will receive the WALK T-Shirt.
(That’s asking 5 people you know for $10 each!) The money raised with
the WALK will be used to fund HA’s program services, support, education
and research. (The average walker raises $100 – and we know our walkers
are well above average!)
3 ) May I register the day of the event?
Yes, you may register the day of the
event, however we prefer that participants register before the WALK to
enable our volunteers to anticipate and prepare for the correct number
of walkers. (See answer to Question 4 below – “Why should I register?”)
4 ) Why should I register to participate?
There are several reasons why we ask walkers to register electronically prior to the day of the event. They are:
- When a walker registers their own personal WALK web page is automatically generated. You also receive a hyperlink to your WALK web page that you can send to family and friends asking them to sponsor your participation in the WALK. They can do that easily online, on your web page, using a credit card.
- Approximately 7-10 days before the event, HA sends all registered walkers important information about the WALK (what time to arrive, directions to the event, where to park, where to go when you arrive, what to bring to the WALK, what NOT to bring to the WALK, etc.) We can’t send the information if a walker isn’t registered.
- The volunteer Logistics Committee works very hard to ensure that everything is in place for a fun and safe day for all. This includes securing donations of food, beverages, supplies, etc. The Logistics Committee needs an approximation of how many people will be participating to ensure that they have enough food, T-Shirts, beverages, etc. for everyone. When walkers don’t register – or don’t register until the last week – the Logistics Committee then has to scramble trying to “fill in” – often resulting in HA having to purchase something that could have been donated with more time. Please don’t think “I’m only one walker – one more won’t make a difference.” Unfortunately, hundreds of people think that! Please help the Logistics Committee by registering all of the walkers on your team as early as possible!
5 ) I registered last year do I have to register again this year?
You do have to register again; however,
the information on the registration form will auto fill for you. At
www.hydroassoc.org click on WALKs, choose Schedule of WALK events. Find
and choose your local site. When the local WALK web page appears, click
“Register Here.” Choose “I agree” after reviewing the waiver. When the
registration form appears you will see an option at the top of the form:
“If you have participated in any Friends Asking Friends event in the
past, click here to auto fill this form.” Click the hyperlink and you
will be promoted to enter your previous Username and Password. (Please
use your previous login name and password to avoid duplicates in the
system.) If you do not remember your Username and/or Password click the
hyperlink and it will be emailed to you.
6 ) I will be walking with small children do I need to register them as well?
Yes, all walkers, young or old, should
register to WALK for insurance purposes, to provide approximate
attendance numbers and for proper record keeping. Please register each
member of your team separately.
7 ) I am having a hard time registering online, what should I do?
Please contact HA staff at the following number (888) 598-3789 Ext. 12
8 ) May I run the route?
Any participant wishing to casually run
the route is welcome to do so. Unless specifically advertised as such HA
WALKs are not official, sanctioned or timed running events.
9 ) Are bicycles, roller blades or scooters allowed?
Bicycles and scooters (Razors, etc.) are NOT permitted at HA WALKs.
Roller blades are permitted at the discretion of the local
Chairperson. Roller bladers must wear all appropriate protective gear.
Roller bladers under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a parent or
guardian at all times!10 ) Can I bring my dog to the WALK?
Dogs are permitted at some WALK sites but
not all. Please contact the local WALK Chair – contact information
under Event Information of local WALK web page – to obtain the
rules/regulations regarding dogs for your site. (Where dogs are
permitted, all dogs must be leashed at all times and the owner must
clean up after the dog.)
11 ) What will I receive for raising money (incentive prizes)?
Walkers raising $50 or more receive this
year’s WALK T-shirt. Walkers raising $200 or more are eligible for HA
WALK incentive prizes which range from a long sleeved T-shirt to a
portable DVD player. (Some incentive prizes are available for children
this year, too.) For information on this year’s incentive prizes and the
amount walkers are required to raise to qualify please click HERE.
12 ) When will I receive my incentive prize?
Walkers have four weeks post-event to
finish collecting money to be counted toward incentive prizes. Please
allow 3-4 weeks after the deadline (8-10 weeks post-event) for your
incentive prizecertificate to arrive. Your certificate will be sent to
you via email or US Postal Service. Instructions for redeeming your
certificate will be included. After you have redeemed your prize
certificate your incentive prize will be shipped directly to you.
13 ) What if I cannot make it to the WALK?
If for some reason you cannot attend the
WALK on the day of the event please send any money you have collected to
the Hydrocephalus Association, 4340 East West Highway, Suite 905,
Bethesda, MD 20814. (Please convert all cash to a check or money order –
please do not mail cash!) Please enclose a note with the walker’s name,
the walker’s telephone number, the team name (if applicable) and which
WALK this money should be attributed to. To be eligible for incentive
prizes all money collected must be received by HA by four weeks
post-event. You will receive any incentive prizes for which you have
qualified.
If you know from the beginning you will
not be able to attend the event (work commitments, travel plans, etc.)
we suggest you register for your local WALK as a “Virtual Walker.” To do
so:
- Go to www.hydroassoc.org
- Click on WALKs; click on Schedule of WALK events
- Choose your local WALK site; when the site’s web page appears click on “Register Here”
- After reviewing the Waiver, click “I agree”
- Choose “Join as an individual”
- Follow the prompts and fill in all information requested
- When you get to the “Fees” portion of the online registration form there are two options “Participant” or “Virtual Walker” – choose “Virtual Walker”
- (see question #9 below for additional information on serving as a Virtual Walker)
14 ) What if it rains on the day of the event?
We walk rain or shine, so plan
accordingly and bring rain gear and umbrellas. There are a million
reasons to walk……the rain will not stop us!
15 ) How long is the WALK route?
The length of the route varies for each WALK site. (Most routes are 5-kilometers or less – which equals 3.1 miles or approximately a one-hour walk for an average adult.) Walkers are not required to complete the full route. Walkers are encouraged to walk only as far as feel comfortable. HA WALK sites are accessible for wheelchairs, strollers, wagons, etc. Please contact your local WALK Chair for additional information.16 ) What if there is no HA WALK in my area?
We invite you to register for HA’s “Virtual WALK” (see below for more information on Virtual WALK and/or participating as a “Virtual Walker.”)- Go to www.hydroassoc.org
- Click on WALK
- Choose “Schedule of WALK events”
- A list of all HA WALKs will appear; go to the bottom of the list
- Choose “Virtual WALK”
- See complete instructions for participating as a virtual walker below.
17 ) What is HA’s Virtual WALK or a “Virtual Walker” — how does it work?
A virtual walker is just like any other
HA walker. Virtual Walkers register to participate, raise money
(electronically and/or face-to-face) and qualify for incentive prizes,
including the WALK T-shirt. However, instead of walking at a HA WALK
site the virtual walker walks in his/her own neighborhood on a day and
time of their choosing at a distance that best suits the walker. (See
complete Virtual Walker Instructions below.)
18 ) What is the best way to raise funds?
Contact the HA office (randi@hydroassoc.org) to receive fundraising tips!
19 ) Can I continue to raise funds after the WALK is over?
Yes, you may continue to collect
donations after the WALK is over (electronically or with cash/checks.)
Please send any post-WALK donations directly to the HA office in San
Francisco. (Hydrocephalus Association, 4340 East West Highway, Suite
905, Bethesda, MD 20814) Please convert any cash to a check or money
order – please do NOT mail cash! To ensure your contributions are
credited to the correct walker (many people have common names!) please
enclose a note with the walker’s name, the walker’s phone number (in the
event we have any questions), the team name (if applicable) and which
WALK site the walker participated in. These donations will be added to
your personal fundraising total as well as the local WALK’s total.
Donations that are not appropriately labeled will be added to HA’s
general WALK total and will not be eligible for incentive prizes. All
donations must be received by the HA national office within four weeks
post-WALK to be eligible for incentive prizes.
20 ) Who should checks be made payable to?
Checks should be made payable to
Hydrocephalus Association. If you are participating in a local WALK
please bring all checks and/or cash to the WALK with you and turn them
in at Walker Registration/Check-In. If you receive checks after the
WALK, please mail all checks to the HA national office (address below.)
To ensure that all checks are credited to the right walker, please
enclose a note with the walker’s name, the walker’s phone number (in the
event we have questions), the Team name (if applicable) and the name of
the WALK site. Contributions not clearly labeled will be credited to
HA’s overall WALK revenue and will not be eligible for incentive prizes.
HA national office address: 4340 East West Highway, Suite 905,
Bethesda, MD 20814
21 ) Where does the money go?
Money raised at HA WALKs funds
hydrocephalus research as well as HA programs that provide support,
education and awareness. HA program services include one-on-one support
for newly diagnosed families, HA support groups in cities across the US
and more.
22 ) Are donations tax deductible?
Yes, the Hydrocephalus Association is a
501(c) 3 tax-exempt organization. Our tax ID number is 94-3000301. A
copy of HA’s IRS determination letter is available from the HA national
office.
23 ) Will there be food provided at the WALK?
Each WALK provides some refreshments,
however every WALK site is different. Water is always provided and, at a
minimum, granola bars, fruit and other snack items are available. Some
sites provide pizza, BBQ or a full picnic lunch. Please check with your
local WALK chair if you are concerned about the food that will or will
not be available. (If you have a medical condition that requires you eat
at a specific time we encourage you to bring your own food to ensure
your requirements are met.)
24 ) How do I get more involved in the WALK beyond becoming a participant and raising funds?
All HA WALKs are volunteer initiated and coordinated. WALK Chairs are continually seeking volunteers, whether serving on a committee to help organize the WALK or serving as an event-day volunteer. HA WALKs have volunteer opportunities to suit every skill set! Please contact your local WALK Chair through the contact information provided on each local WALK webpage under Event Information.
Any other questions or concerns that you might have please email randi@hydroassoc.org or call (888) 598-3789 Ext. 12
HA VIRTUAL WALKER and VIRTUAL WALK
SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS FOR PARTICIPATION
If you know you will not be able to attend your local WALK but still
would like to participate we recommend you register as a Virtual Walker.
Or if there is no HA WALK in your community we suggest you participate
as a Virtual Walker in HA’s VIRTUAL WALK.Virtual walkers are very much like “regular” walkers. They register to participate and they raise money to help HA in its mission of eliminating the challenges of hydrocephalus! Virtual walkers raising $50 or more will receive the HA WALK T-shirt (shipped to them at a later date) and walkers raising $200 or more will receive the incentive prize for which they qualify.
To participate as a Virtual Walker for a local WALK site or for HA’s VIRTUAL WALK:
REGISTER TO PARTICIPATE
- Go to www.hydroassoc.org
- Click on WALKs
- Choose Schedule of WALK events
- Choose your local WALK site (or, if you wish to participate in the “Virtual WALK” go to the bottom of the list and choose “Virtual WALK”)
- When the local (or Virtual WALK) web page appears, click “Register Here”
- Choose “I agree” after reviewing the Waiver
- Choose “Join as an individual” (Virtual walkers must choose “Join as an individual”)
- Fill out the requested information (if you’ve participated in a HA WALK before click the hyperlink at the top of the registration form to auto fill the information)
- When you scroll down to the section labeled “Fees” there are two options: “Participant” or “Virtual Walker” – choose “Virtual Walker”
RAISE MONEY FOR THE CAUSE
- After you registered your own personal WALK web page was automatically generated. You can send a hyperlink to your WALK web page to family and friends across the world, asking them to sponsor your participation in the WALK. Family, friends and colleagues can easily sponsor you by going to your WALK web page and using a credit card to make a donation. Other electronic fundraising tools provide email templates to send to family, friends and colleagues. Edit your personal WALK web page (adding personal photos, etc.) to tell your personal story about why you’re participating in the WALK. (It’s really easy to do!)
- You may also raise money the “old fashioned” way – asking people when you see them for a donation! Wearing a button that says “Ask Me” can help you start the conversation (“Ask Me” buttons are available by calling HA national at 888-598-3789 – Ext. 12.) Or make your own button with a photo of your loved one living with the challenges of hydrocephalus.
- Call HA national and ask us to send you a Family Teams Packet (888-598-3789 – Ext. 12) – which explains how to conduct a letter writing campaign to raise money. Family teams using letter writing campaigns average $1,100 each!For additional fundraising tips and “how-to”s contact Randi Corey (randi@hydroassoc.org)TAKE A WALK!
- After you have completed fundraising, choose a day, time and place to “walk” at whatever distance works best for you. (Hint: Most HA WALKs are 3.1 miles – approximately a one hour walk for an average adult.) All virtual walkers must complete the “walking” portion of their participation no later than November 2, 2012. Virtual walkers must complete all fundraising and all checks must be received by HA national by November 15, 2012.* (Any contributions received after that date will not be eligible for incentive prizes.)*Please convert any cash to a check or money order – please do not mail cash!
TELL US YOU’RE DONE! (FINAL TASKS)
After you have completed “walking” please notify HA that you have done so by:Send an email to Lisa Sun (lisa@hydroassoc.org) with the following information:
- Your name
- Your phone number
- That you have completed the “walking” portion (and date completed)
- That you have finished fundraising, including
- Were all donations made electronically?
- Were donations made via cash/check? If so, how much is being mailed to HA?
- Were donations made electronically and via cash/check? If so, how much is being mailed to HA?
- If you have raised more than $50 please list your T-Shirt size (Sizes are Unisex so they run larger)
Walkers raising $200 or more will receive their incentive prize certificate via email or US Postal Service. Instructions for redeeming your prize certificate will be enclosed. After you have redeemed your prize it will be shipped to you directly. (Please allow 2-3 weeks for processing.)
That’s it! You’re done! Pat yourself on the back for a job well done – going “above and beyond” to participate in HA’s 2012 WALK. Please accept our thanks for your support of the Hydrocephalus Association.
If you have any questions or need further assistance please contact HA at info@hydroassoc.org
THANK YOU!
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