Calling all volunteers! Fundraising opportunity!
We’re looking for some groups and individuals to help with the 2010 Madison Marathon on Memorial Day weekend (May 28-30). There are tons of opportunities; from handing out t-shirts at the marathon expo to working on the course at a water station.
Here’s the best part – for every hour you volunteer, Madison Festivals will donate $8 back to your charity or school group! So bring the whole family, the whole troop, or the entire office and come out to support our runners and work for a cause near and dear to you!
Sign up TODAY to receive information (shifts will be open in March!) by registering at volunteermadison.com. If you would like to register your charity group to receive a donation, please complete the charity registration form and return to Jody at jody@madisonfestivals.com / Fax to 608-276-9780 / mail to: Madison Marathon 2981 Cahill Main, Suite 2 Madison, WI 53711. |
WATER STATION FUNDRAISING OPPORTUNITY IN 2010!
Get involved in a Madison tradition. Earn extra money for your charity. Keep your name in front of your Madison audience.
Here’s the scoop on what it takes to manage a water station… get your charity form PDF.
What is a water station?
Water stations are “pit stops” for our quarter, half and full marathon participants. Most of these runners will be in motion for 2-4 hours, so they need to refuel about every mile. Water stations obviously serve water, but many also serve Gatorade, energy gel (individual packets of protein gel) and some serve fruit (bananas).
How much can a non-profit group raise for working a station?
Each non-profit group that manages a station will earn $350 for their organization. There are opportunities to earn up to $1,000 more! See “Contest” information below!
Who provides the refreshments and equipment at the stations?
The Madison Marathon will provide all the materials you will need to serve the runners. When you arrive, your station should be equipped with tables, Gatorade (mixed up in a cooler), water (gallon jugs), cups, energy gel, and fruit. We are working on a system to get these supplies out to stations efficiently – more details to come!
What do the volunteers need to do at their station?
When you first arrive, set up your tables and begin pouring water (and Gatorade) into cups so that you have a few tables of cups filled and ready for when the runners start coming by (we’ll give you info on when to expect them). Line your empty cup boxes with the trash bags provided and set them up so runners have a place to aim after they drink their water. When runners start arriving, volunteers should hold cups out to them so they do not have to stop running (some will, but many run on through). After your last runner passes (they will be followed by a bike escort), pick up any trash and bag it and pack up left over product so it’s ready for pick up. The Madison Marathon will take care of having these items picked up.
How long should I expect to be at a station?
This depends on where in the course your station is located. Stations in the first half of the course will likely get a large group of runners coming through at once, so these stations need a large group of people for about 2-3 hours. Stations on the last half of the course can expect that runners will be spread out, so it may work best to have two shifts of smaller groups for a total of 4-6 hours. The course is open for 6 hours.
What time do the stations open?
The race begins at 7:00am, so we ask that most groups (at least the first half) be in place by 6:00am to prepare their station.
How many volunteers are needed at each station?
We recommend about 20 volunteers at each station. (Later stations may want to split this into two shifts of 10)
Is there any training/prep meetings?
Yes, we typically host a water station captain meeting a week or so before the race so you’ll have the chance to get your last-minute questions answered and receive your instructions.
On a FUN note!
This is a great opportunity for your group to work together and have fun! One of the most important things water station volunteers can do is cheer runners on as they pass. Keep ‘em going with some music, cowbells, cheering, pom-poms, anything you can think of! One of the main things that determine whether a runner has a positive experience is the volunteers. When you’re at mile 23 of a 26.2-mile marathon, you instantly fall in love with anyone kind enough to shout some encouraging words as you pass.
New CONTEST in 2010:
This year, we would like each water station group to take ownership of their station. Bring your music, pom-poms, decorations, and all-around craziness. Choose a theme or just make it a party. The sky’s the limit! More than any other reason, we want the 8,500 runners who have chosen to do our race to feel welcome. We want them to be energized and motivated to finish the job!
We will ask our runners to vote for the best water station at the end of the race. The winning station will be awarded $500!
That is in addition to the $350 every non-profit group will receive just for working the station!
Your station might be paired with a local company. In fact if you have a corporate sponsor that would be interested in sponsoring your station, we have added some promotion to the sponsorship to make it attractive to local companies. If your water station wins the BEST OF 2010, your corporate sponsor will also be awarded a $500 prize. This money will be given to the charity of their choice. This could be YOUR charity. That would mean an additional $1,000 awarded to your organization, on top of the $350 for running the station.
This is a win-win for everyone! Charities have the opportunity to raise additional funds for their groups through water station work and the chance to win an additional $500 for having the most enthusiastic station on the course, and Madison Festivals – a 501(c)3 organization - will benefit through support of local groups like yours.
How do we sign up?
Start by filling out this charity form PDF and submitting it to jody@madisonfestivals.com/Fax to 608-276-9780/Mail to: Madison Festivals 2981 Cahill Main, Suite 2 Madison, WI 53711.
Got more questions??
I will be your main source for all things Madison Marathon, so shoot me an email or give a call
Jody Stolldorf jody@madisonfestivals.com or 608-310-7291. |
