March of Dimes Walk America

[sheila]

This year, the March of Dimes (http://www.marchofdimes.com/) is focusing on Premature Births. Since its suchj a nice fit with a parenting website, I was thinking it might be nice to do something with them...

I was thinking that it might be nice to get a OUAL team together for the March of Dimes Walk America (http://www.walkamerica.org/). Banding together would be a nice way to raise money for a good cause, get some exersice and get the word about OUAL out to a pretty targeted audience.

Would you consider walking for/with OUAL? (we could be the OUALkers :lol: )

The walks are short, usually between 3-5 miles and there are enough of them that it should be relatively easy to find something close to home.... for those in the US. For those in Canada, I think there is a similar program, but I would have to look into it more. There is some fundraising to be done, but I don't think there are any minimums... or if there are, they are pretty low (they said the average per walker last year was $120)

Now... question #2
If you are interested in walking, we could do it one of two ways:
1) Find a local walk... whatever is most convenient for you
2) Try to centralize the walks. The walk might be less convenient for you, but you would get a chance to meet some other OUAL people at the walk.

So... that is the poll. :biggrin:

[TtownAnne]

:lol2:

(we could be the OUALkers :lol: )
I think I'm interested! (will depend on if there is anything near me, out here in the boonies....)

[Shanna]

I have a walk team :) I'm more than happy to combine with an OUAL team, though :nod:

[Brooke]

I will! I'll travel a little distance to walk with others near me.
Anne - maybe there is something that's good for both of us?

Sheila - How can we find out where the walks are?

[redhairedgirl]

Sheila, I'm up for it - and I would even come to Atlanta to walk with you. ;)

[sheila]

Sheila - How can we find out where the walks are?
Here is the page on their site that lets you search (http://www.walkamerica.org/wd_regp01.asp?si=&w=&walk=alone&team=&u=&prefill=&g=&change=)

[Shel]

Okay, I voted Sheila there is something wrong with you, just because that's a hysterical option. :lol:

We usually walk the Indianapolis walk anyhow (minus last year since I was puking) so I would be happy to coordinate an Indiana/Midwest team :) The Indy walk is a very pretty area and always lots of fun.

[kim]

i'm interested! there are quite a few oualers in my area too....they have a bunch of walks in MA...the boston one is 6 miles :owow: so i ain't doing that one.... who's up for the 3 mile in worcester? :lol:

i'll assume they allow you to push the kids? i couldn't find anything on the site. seems obvious though.

[Jenn]

I'm interested! I'd love to meet up with some other OUALers and walk.

[Alyssa]

i'm interested! there are quite a few oualers in my area too....they have a bunch of walks in MA...the boston one is 6 miles :owow: so i ain't doing that one.... who's up for the 3 mile in worcester? :lol:

i'll assume they allow you to push the kids? i couldn't find anything on the site. seems obvious though.There are other walks closer to me, but I'd be willing to go to Worcester if a bunch of us decided to do it together. :nod:

[Alyssa]

And it's a good thing Sheila didn't make the poll public or she could see how many of us think she's :crazy: !! (Oops, did I just out myself as one of the 4 votes in that category. :) )

[AahRee]

I'd do it, and I'd be happy to travel a bit if it's possible for me at the time (finances and schedules permitting), but there are a few OUALers here that I could walk with, if they're up for it.

[sunnyflower]

I'll do the Worcester, MA one. I did one in Plymouth a number of years ago and it was great. Yup, you can certainly push the kids too-I plan on it! Depending on when it is maybe I can get my SILs to do it too.


~Kerrie

[Shannan]

I'm interested and I don't mind travelling to Atlanta to do the walk.

[Denise]

I'd love to do it again! I did it last year as well. :) There are quite a few in Jersey so I would love to get together with NJians!!! :) Since Nicholas was a preemie, this would be a great way to give back. :)

[Mandi]

I'd love to do it, but unfortunately it's a 6.2 mile walk 2 days before my due date. :lol:

I wonder if some of us that can't walk could just contribute to those of you that do? Isn't it a money per mile sort of thing?

[Barb]

I would love to do this and I hope the other Tulsa OUAL-er (Lexie) agrees and we can do it together! :)

[Shanna]

Dang it, I was hoping Lexie would come walk with me :lol:

[MamaGoofy]

I usually do the one here in Tampa. Two of your options fit what I wanted. If there are any Florida gals who would like to come to Tampa to do the walk it's really a beautiful walk down Bayshore Blvd. I usually do it every year with my company. I have no problem donating on behalf of each. I love March of Dimes and have been to many of the kick offs for the walks and they are great. I even had the opportunity to visit a NICU (I feel for those parents who actually have their babies in there). It was so hard seeing this little 1 pound babies with all those tubes in them :bawl: I couldn't imagine having to go thru that!! This was all before I found out I was pregnant with David... sorry for the ramble!!

Question: Are we going to make some type of shirts with OUAL on them so people know who we are walking for?

[sheila]

Question: Are we going to make some type of shirts with OUAL on them so people know who we are walking for?
I'd like to.

There is a kickoff meeting here in a couple weeks, and I have some questions for them. So, hopefully, I will have a better idea after that. (I'd like to see if there is a logo we can use and/or any other guidelines)

[MamaGoofy]

Great. I will see about the kickoff meetings here and see what info I can get!

[Shanna]

You know that each individual walker can set up a fundraising web page as well :nod: So, those of you who can't walk can always go that route :)

[sheila]

You know that each individual walker can set up a fundraising web page as well :nod: So, those of you who can't walk can always go that route :) We're going to get a OUAL team page, too. :aok: I'm trying to guage interest to have a better idea of what I can try to talk them into doing.

[MamaGoofy]

I have registered: here is my web page:
http://www.walkamerica.org/personal_page.asp?w=258731&si=0D2C9014-BEA0-4D4C-B38D-2ABA52835EF3

[Alyssa]

But what if I see someone I know on the walk - I don't want them to know about this place! :devil:

[kim]

alyssa you know damn well it's too cold in may to wear t-shirts here :lol:

[Michelear]

I don't think anyone lives anywhere close to me. I'd have to do it alone. :(

[Shanna]

I'd probably have to do it alone too :nod:

[Amy]

Shel, are you gonna coordinate the Indy walk? Sign me up!!! I walked in the 2003 with Emily...it was her first charity walk, she was 3 months old. 2004 it was the weekend I had Molly, so I've been excited about this one for a while! It's May 1, so I'm definitely in.

I like the idea about the t-shirts too....

[MamaGoofy]

But what if I see someone I know on the walk - I don't want them to know about this place! :devil:Tell them it's a secret club and you aren't aloud to discuss it for fear of being flogged!! :lol:

I don't remember who it was but someone questioned if you could bring children. The answer is yes you can!! I bring David and we get all type of stuff during the walk. He loves it!!

[Cortney]

I definitely want to walk (I walked last year with Morgan!) and I would travel to meet up with other walkers!!! Possibly even to Atlanta (as it seems there is a good group there)

[Shel]

I definitely want to walk (I walked last year with Morgan!) and I would travel to meet up with other walkers!!! Possibly even to Atlanta (as it seems there is a good group there)
Come here!!!

[sunnyflower]

alyssa you know damn well it's too cold in may to wear t-shirts here :lol:
Actually it's April!! The year I did it we had team shirts that were long sleeved. Granted the team I was on was a t-shirt company so that's why. I think we had to have the March of DImes logo on it as a requirement. I know I wore shorts because I have pics somewhere in the house.

~Kerrie

[MamaGoofy]

I have already raised $70 !!!! :woo: I am geared up for this..I am going to raise $500 this year!!!

[pam]

What an awesome idea! I open to do the walk here in San Diego or to meet up with others somewhere in So Cal.

[Karri]

I would definately do it!!! I wanted to do it last year, but was too late. Its a most excellent cause!!!!

Its a 6.3 mi one here at 8:30 in the morning. ICK!

[AahRee]

Hey, Sheila is OUAL listed as a group yet on the Walk America site? Or should we sign up as individuals?

[sheila]

Not yet. I was going to wait until next Thursday after the kickoff meeting, but I think that I will just do it today so others can start signing up as part of the team as well.

I'll have to wait until the office opens though, since they have to help me with the Team part of it.

[AahRee]

Yay! I'll just wait to sign up, then, until you give us the all-clear. :) Thanks for taking care of that!

[Snurple]

I am interested in walking too and would love to meet up with other people from Southern california.

Michele

[MamaGoofy]

I have already raised $95. As soon as you give me the info I will change my status from individual to OUAL.

[sheila]

Melissa, I was just coming back to tell people about that!

I am still waiting for a call back from my contact to see what she will be able to do for me about the team thing. But, if you want to register now, you can always register as an individual and when the team is set up, you can change your status to that team.

(originally, they planned to have all the OUAL people pretend that they were walking in the Atlanta walk. But I am going to try to convince her otherwise since it looks like we have quite a few people. If she can't, then I will figure out a different plan like maybe a few OUAL teams around the country)

[MamaGoofy]

Great! Thanks Sheila!!

[Shanna]

I've got my site set up as well :)

[sheila]

And hopefully, we'll have some custom tickers before next weekend, too. :aok:

[Shanna]

When I changed my registration this morning, I just put "Once Upon a Life" in the Business/Organization box in the profile form :dunno: I am still signed up as an individual walker, but used that in the business/org. box, that ok?

[MamaGoofy]

And hopefully, we'll have some custom tickers before next weekend, too. :aok:
:woo: Just what I need!!

[Stacey]

I don't know how many people live around here other than Ami. I'd like to do this though. :)

[Ami]

Hell yeah! I am in.

[Snurple]

Are we set up as a team yet?

[Joan]

There is a walk in Honolulu, anyone want to join me? Joan