WALK MS: 2015 PARTICIPANT & TEAM CAPTAIN KIT NEW JERSEY METRO CHAPTER WALK TO CREATE A WORLD FREE OF MS walknjm.nationalmssociety.org or 732-660-1005 (option 2) 1
WELCOME TO WALK MS AS A WALK MS PARTICIPANT OR TEAM CAPTAIN, YOU HAVE JOINED THE MOVEMENT ALONG WITH HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ACROSS THE COUNTRY WHO WANT TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT MS NOW. This kit will provide you with tips for fundraising and recruiting, help you stay motivated and get your team organized. Should you have questions as you prepare for Walk MS please do not hesitate to reach out to us: For general Walk MS inquiries: njmwalk@nmss.org or visit walknjm.nationalmssociety.org For information about Walk MS teams: Director of Teams and Corporate Development: Alexis Stone, alexis.stone@nmss.org Coordinator of Teams (Saturday sites): Liz Shaw, elizabeth.shaw@nmss.org Coordinator of Teams (Sunday sites): Allison Provinsal, allison.provinsal@nmss.org For information about sponsorships: Julie Falgiano, julianne.falgiano@nmss.org WHY WE PARTICIPATE IN WALK MS The most fun part of the event is being surrounded by my friends and family. Being able to see and feel their support. The walk is a celebration for me every year. I celebrate what I can do physically but also for the community as a whole. I look forward to spending time with friends and family on this day and seeing my other friends with MS. I just love being there and seeing all the love and support from everyone! It s a good feeling to see that people really do care, and that with their help, we will find a cure! 2
A WORLD FREE OF MS ABOUT MS Multiple sclerosis, an unpredictable, often disabling disease of the central nervous system, interrupts the flow of information within the brain, and between the brain and body. Symptoms range from numbness and tingling to blindness and paralysis. The progress, severity and specific symptoms of MS in any one person cannot yet be predicted, but advances in research and treatment are moving us closer to a world free of MS. Most people with MS are diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 50, with at least two to three times more women than men being diagnosed with the disease. MS affects more than 2.3 million people worldwide. ABOUT THE NATIONAL MS SOCIETY The Society mobilizes people and resources to drive research for a cure and to address the challenges of everyone affected by MS. To fulfill this mission, the Society funds cutting-edge research, drives change through advocacy, facilitates professional education, collaborates with MS organizations around the world, and provides programs and services designed to help people with MS and their families move their lives forward. In 2013 alone, through its home office and 50-state network of chapters, the Society devoted $145.2 million to programs and services that assisted more than one million people. To move us closer to a world free of MS, the Society also invested over $48 million to support more than 380 new and ongoing research projects around the world. The Society is dedicated to achieving a world free of MS. Join the Movement at www.nationalmssociety.org. 3
Walk MS 2014: Top Fundraisers Top Individual Fundraisers 1. Nicole Eizner: $60,790 2. Laura Cohen: $48,095 3. Michael Weiss: $19,367 4. Ted Bargstadt: $16,015 5. Myles Schwartz: $14,822 6. Hillary Kindman: $14,184 7. Robert Zirlin: $11,254 8. Barbara Sager: $10,876 9. Paul Quarmby: $10,790 10. Nicole Pica: $10,215 Top Fundraising Teams 1. Motley Crew, Nicole Eiszner: $65,565 2. Mitzvah Squad, Laura Cohen: $55,305 3. Team Weiss, Michael Weiss: $20,257 4. All Hands on Deck, Kristin Decker: $19,530 5. Team Greengrass, Carla Greengrass: $19,522 6. Team JD, Jan Paxton: $19,222 7. Luke SkyWALKER and the Wookies, Craig Chomiak: $19,113 8. Attitude Is Everything, Nicole Pica: $16,960 9. Ted s Team, Ted Bargstadt: $16,440 10. Sally s Kids, Myles Schwartz: $16,330 WHERE DOES THE MONEY GO? The New Jersey Metro Chapter works to improve the quality of life for people affected by MS living in Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, Union, and Warren counties and raise funds for critical MS research. Chapter Accomplishments & Highlights In 2014, the Chapter s scholarship program awarded more than $47,000 to 53 scholars. There are 33 self-help groups in our 14-county service area. NJ is home to five MS Centers that are considered Partners in MS Care by the National MS Society. The chapter offers more than 100 unique wellness classes designed to optimize the quality of life for those living with MS. In 2014, our Computer Outreach Program (COP) provided more than 40 computers/equipment to eligible clients in the northeastern service area of the United States. 4
GETTING STARTED! You ve made the decision to join the movement and Walk MS. Now you re probably wondering what to do next, right? Here are three simple steps to get you started! Step 1 Set a Goal: Setting a fundraising goal can help keep you focused & motivated. You want your goal to be achievable, but manageable. Once you have set a goal, spread the word! Make it official by updating your online participant center, sharing it on social media or including your goal in your emails. When you tell others what you hope to accomplish, they will be more inclined to donate. Step 2 Take Advantage of What you Have: Everyone who registers for Walk MS receives their own participant center, an online fundraising hub. How it works: From the Participant Center, you can edit your Personal Page, e-mail donors, manage your campaign and, for team captains, follow your team s progress. To get to your Participant Center, visit walknjm.nationalmssociety.org, login to your account with your username and password and click on Participant Center where you will be prompted to: 1. Update your Personal Page It s easy to change the layout, story and upload pictures to your Personal Page. Make it about you and your friends and family will make generous donations! You can even keep a blog on your Personal Page. 2. Manage your Team Email the entire team at once, track their progress, set your team goal so everyone can see and support it, download your team roster, encourage team members to use their online personal page and create incentives for them to fundraise online. 3. Send e-mails to friends and family asking for their support You can easily import contacts into your Address Book from other e-mail applications such as Microsoft Outlook, AOL or Yahoo! Or add them manually. In just a few clicks select and send an appeal for support or a thank-you. Use a prewritten e-mail or write your own. 4. Fundraise online Track your individual, ongoing fundraising progress. Update your fundraising goal. View reports on your team members contributions. Send follow-up messages and thank-you e-mails to your supporters. 5. Boundless Fundraising & Social Networking Fundraise with Facebook through the new boundless fundraising tool available on your personal page. Create a Facebook fanpage for your team. You can also post tweets on Twitter for your group and videos on YouTube. 6. WALK MS MOBILE APP Available in the App store and Google Play store. Manage and share your Walk MS experience on the go with our new Walk MS mobile application. Fundraise and connect with others through social media and email, update your web pages, check your progress, and much more - all from the palm of your hand. Step 3 Recruit, Fundraising and Have Fun! 5
JOIN THE MOVEMENT & TEAM UP WHY FORM A TEAM? Because joining the movement is more fun with others around! Plus, you can earn some really great prizes, including a tent for your team at the event. FORMING A TEAM IS EASY Designate a team captain, make up a fun team name, and when you register online for Walk MS, choose the option to create a new team. Already registered, but want to start a team? Contact the teams department and we would be happy to assist you! PRIZES Prizes are based on individual fundraising dollars turned in on or before May 30, 2015. Individuals who raise $125 or more will receive a Walk MS T-shirt on the day of the event. Other great prizes are to be announced. For the most current information about Walk MS prizes, please visit our website at walknjm.nationalmssociety.org WALKING WONDERS FUNDRAISER CLUB Walk MS Top Fundraising Club Walking Wonders is available for all participants! Membership is automatic once your fundraising meets or exceeds one of the amounts listed below. As a member of one of these elite fundraising clubs you will receive special recognition and prizes. MISSION POSSIBLE: $10,000+ SENSATIONAL STEPPERS: $5,000 - $9,999 MARVELOUS MARCHERS: $1,000 - $4,999 6