Buddywalk help please

[andrewsmom]

Ok I really need some help here. We are supposed to be doing our very first Buddywalk this Sunday. Since this is our first one, we have NO IDEA what to expect.
I printed out a pledge sheet from their website, (mdsc) and e-mailed some questions I had for them. There has been no response to my e-mail so I tried calling the number they had listed on their website. I have tried to get through for a week now and keep getting voice mail which I have left my name and # on and still have gotten NO RESPONSE. Ummm yeah..... the walk is THIS SUNDAY!!

So I thought maybe some of you could help me out with some questions I have. Please keep in mind this is our first walk so if the questions are a little "off" please forgive me. I'm not sure if all the walks are the same all over or if different places do it differently. Ok here goes......

1. Do I need to have a certain amount of money
pledged?
2. Do we need to buy t-shirts when we get there? (I
really want one to put in Andrews baby box.)
3. My sister is going to join us for the walk... is that ok,
or does she also need to sign up?
4. Is there a certain time we need to finish the walk by?

We would really appreciate any info. anyone can give us. We feel kind of lost. Thanks!
-Trisha

[hannahph]

I think it really depends on the group who does the walk. We have done several buddy walks with our local support group and we did not even do the pledge money. The way we have handled our buddy walks is to just have a short walk (maybe a half mile) to a picnic area and then have a big party. We have done bouncy houses, puppet show, magic act etc. and have lots of free snacks and drinks. We always spend lots of time getting local buisnesses to donate supplies and money. We usually end up with a ton of stuff and whatever money is left we give to our local DS resource center(which was started by our support group) We always have T shirts to purchase at the walk but we don't make them mandatory. I know the NDSS has some guidelines but I don't believe they will be followed to the letter. I really think it varies greatly from walk to walk. I would just go and not be concerned with the pledge money. I think it's more about the spirit of supporting people with DS. Have a ball, you will love it and also bring a box of tissues. I cried through my first one because it meant so much to me.

[Jessie]

Trisha,

I agree, each walk is a little different as far as what activities they have planned, etc. Each group can determine how they handle pledges and t-shirts. For example, our group has decided this year that if someone pledges (acquired through donations) $200 they get a free t-shirt. Otherwise, they have the option to just buy the t-shirt for $3 or $4. T-shirts should really not be very much as they are extremely cheap from NDSS. For our group it would be totally optional for someone to wear the t-shirt and offer donations. We are all about bringing awareness to our group and our mission to education the general public about people with Ds. We also will be having a free picnic afterwards.

Part of all monies raised from Buddy Walks goes back to the NDSS with most of it staying in your local group to support local activities. So, it is to your advantage, most likely, to raise some donations if you can.

I would suggest to just go, have fun and enjoy meeting other people. Don't worry about how much pledge money you may or may not have, etc. Also, I think most groups agree that - the more the merrier - so by all means have your sister go with you!

Let us know how it goes.

Jessie

[meghans_mom]

we just did a walk (for cancer) but i'll tell you how it was handled. we did need to have a base-line pledge amount to walk. not all walks do though.
if we made the base line amount, we got a free t-shirt. there were no other t shirts for sale.
my kids got a t-shirt each, even though they were not registered.
everyone who walked needed to register and give the base amount of $.
we were funneled thru a tent and had to sign up...you couldn't get in otherwise.
because we needed to sign a waiver saying we wouldn't sue or anything if we got injured on the premises...(it was at a large public garden).
i would think they'd let you sister walk even if she didn't raise the $, they might want her to sign a waiver though - if there's even something like that involved.
this walk was 1, 3 or 5 miles... t any walk/run i've attended they give you plenty of time to finish - some people show up late, etc and start later....so i wouldn't worry about that.
hope you have lots of fun, let us know how it went!! laurie

[andrewsmom]

Well here it is Saturday morning and I got a call from the woman organizing the walk. I was at the store but she left a message she would be calling me back later on. pheww... I was really getting nervous about all this.

Thank you so much for all your help with the t-shirts, and how your walks are done. It really did calm me down a bit. I will post on monday and let you know how the walk was. Thanks!!
Trisha

[Many]

Have fun at the Buddy Walk. We are planning to go for the first time as will. Let us know how it went.

[Debbie]

We will have our Buddy Walk on the first of October. I am looking foward to it.

[donnita]

So Trisha...how was it?