Host a Believe Walk
Are you located in a hot spot on our map?
Our goal over the next 3 years is to have a Dup15q Believe Walk Event in each hot spot location. These locations were selected based on the populated areas of our families.
You can bring awareness and advocacy for dup15q in your local community. You have the ability to unite fellow dup15q families, extended support, friends, and supporters to raise awareness and funds that will advance the Dup15q Alliance Mission.
It’s a chance for families to connect with others, share stories, ask questions, and celebrate our families. In many states that already host a walk there are activities for families, games, and refreshments. It truly is a family fun day!
Where Do I Begin?
​If you are interested in organizing a Dup15q Alliance Believe Walk Fundraising Event, but the idea makes you a little nervous, we have made an easy step-by-step guide to get you started.Â
Please contact us at outreach@dup15q.org at any time with questions and suggestions. We are here to help!
Step 1
Pledge to Host a Believe Walk
Hosting a Believe Walk Fundraising Event not only raises funds and awareness for dup15q syndrome but also brings together dup15q families in your area. Many are meeting others for the first time.Â
Pledge to host a walk and we will be in contact to get you started!
Step 2
Find a Location
We recommend site locations that are family-friendly. Some walks are a 1-mile fun walk and others are a 5k. Some sites have one set path, others have a few options, and others walk around a track.
Area Parks/ Playgrounds/ School Track or stadium
Note: Many sites book months in advance.
Step 3
Find Friends and Family to help!
There are many ways that people can help you organize beforehand as well as on the day of the event.Â
Reach out to friends, family, or local organizations for volunteers. Even fellow dup15q families in your area may be willing to help organize the event.Â
 See our sample volunteer responsibilities.
Step 4
Additonal Festivites?
Some Believe Walk sites have added the following to the Walk event fun!
Basket Raffles/ DJ/Music
Facepainting/ Bubble Machines/ Balloon artist
Note: Additional permits may be required for raffles
See our sample donation request
Step 5
The Final Details
Once the logistics of the walk have been decided and the location secured, Dup15q Alliance will set up your ticket and donation website.Â
You will receive weekly updates on how ticket sales are going and who has registered!
Dup15q Alliance team will place the order for Believe Walk shirts and have them shipped right to you.
Step 6
Get the Word Out
Once your ticket page is set up, you are off to the races. The Dup15q Alliance will email out save the dates and ticket registrations to our area contacts.Â
Think about how to get the word out about your event to your local community.
See our sample press release.
What does the Dup15q Alliance provide?
- Monthly Fundraiser Support Calls
- Branded graphics
- Sharing your event on Dup15q Alliance social media channels
- Payment for site rental fees within the pre-approved Believe Walk Budget
- Certificate of Insurance for Site Location
- Assistance with permits, emergency planning, gaming regulations, etc
- Management of ticket sales and online donations
- Believe Walk shirts for each participant/volunteer registered 4 weeks prior to the eventÂ
- Sponsor Signage, Dup15q Factoid yard signs, Believe Walk Sign, and any additional needed signs that can be included within the pre-approved Believe Walk Budget
- Reimbursement for expenses within the pre-approved Believe Walk Budget, or if necessary you may request additional funding (prior to commitment/purchase). Reach out to Walk@dup15q.org for guidance.
Getting reimbursed for expenses
Reimbursement for expenses that fall within the pre-approved Believe Walk Budget can be requested by submitting an Expense Reimbursement Form, including photos of receipts for all expenses listed, to Operations@dup15q.org. Payment can be sent by direct deposit or mailed check within 10 business days of receipt of request.
Tools
Our team will work with you to customize these sample documents for your event.
Sample In-Kind Donation Request
Sample Sponsorship Opportunities
I advise those considering hosting to simply go for it! Do not feel this task is overwhelming. Start small and think of how cool it would be to live in a community where Dup15q is mentioned in crowd and someone jumps up to say they know exactly about the syndrome!Â
Start early and don’t be afraid to reach out to businesses in your community. You will be surprised to learn that a lot of business, big and small, are ready to support. The tax break is especially appealing to them!Â
The Dup15q Alliance Believe Walk was amazing! Â We had the biggest crowd ever walking the track– a sea of blue shirts in every direction. We love hosting it at a track as it becomes such a social event; every lap, you can talk with someone different! We
felt so much love and support for Dup15q families around the world, especially for the 13 families represented at our walk. Hopefully, we were able to educate everyone a little about dup15q syndrome, but at the very least, we are pretty sure
everyone had an enjoyable morning!
Organizing the first Believe Walk Atlanta was a great honor! It was an opportunity to inform the Atlanta community about this rare syndrome that affects loved ones so dear to us. Throughout the planning process, I was greeted with so much love and
support from great organizations. The Believe Walk provided an opportunity to raise funds, awareness for an awesome organization and to allow the Atlanta Dup families to gather for an awesome cause, who were very supportive throughout. Indeed, it was a memorable experience.
It was a beautiful day – blue skies, sunshine, and trade winds – we had a great turnout – about 150 participants (mostly Families) and over 30 volunteers came together and walked to bring awareness to Dup15q Syndrome. We had fun activities for the
kids (face painting, balloon artists, glitter tattoos, body painting, a bounce, and slide combo jump house, and shave ice!) and amazing raffle prizes, adults and kids walked or ran hitting their own personal goals and we all enjoyed the day, the people
and most importantly we shared about Dup15q and the Alliance.