Team Leader Packet Participating as a walker or runner in the PCOS Awareness Fun Run/Walk is the easiest way to support the mission of the PCOS Foundation! Lots of Fun: - Team building exercise - Host fun contests, ie: funniest outfit - Friends, clients and employees can socialize - Largest Team wins a prize Support a Great Cause: - Get involved in a local charity - Help women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome- as many as 10% of women! - Raise money (not required) - Spread awareness about PCOS Good for Employees: - Great exercise for everyone: walk or run - Feel good about running/walking for charity - Promotes an organization s health awareness initiatives Use this information to create a team of walkers and runners. It includes: Page 2: Information about Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome to give to participants Page 3: Instructions on how to sign up as a team and team captain responsibilities Page 4: An example memo, email or flyer to give to friends, employees, customers and coworkers Page 5: Team fundraising form to collect donations Page 6: Registration form 1
Dear Friends: Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine problem in women, affecting 1 in 10. PCOS places women at a 10-fold risk of heart attacks and stroke and a 3-fold risk of endometrial cancer. It also significantly increases the risk of diabetes. About 70% of women with PCOS suffer from infertility, while the majority also struggle with obesity, facial and body hair and miscarriages. The main factor of this syndrome is increased male hormones and insulin resistance, which progressively worsen with time. It is estimated that less than 50% of women with PCOS are actually diagnosed, which leaves millions of women who don t realize PCOS is the cause of their suffering. The PCOS Foundation is set out to spread awareness through educational programs to the public and the medical community. The Foundation also hosts support groups that provide education in order to decrease the life long struggle with symptoms and minimize future disease risk factors. At this time, there is no known cure for Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. However, basic medical management and education will give many women the chance to lead healthier, happier lives to enjoy with their family and friends. Walking or running at the PCOS Awareness Fun Run/Walk will help achieve this goal. We thank you for your support, and look forward to seeing you at our event. Sincerely, Common symptoms & signs include: Heavy and prolonged menstrual cycles when cycles do occur Facial hair, excessive body hair or male-pattern baldness seen in up to 70% of women Elevated levels of male hormones on laboratory tests Infertility, seen in 55-75% Enlarged ovaries with multiple small cysts Chronic pelvic pain Obesity or weight gain, present in 70% Insulin resistance and Diabetes, seen in 80% and increased with obesity Elevation of cholesterol & triglycerides, present in 70% High Blood Pressure Darkening of skin in certain areas of the body (acanthosis nigricans) Thickening of the lining of the uterus leading to precancerous lesions (Endometrial hyperplasia) Higher risk of diabetes, heart attacks and stroke if not properly managed Lisa Benjamini President and Founder of PCOS Foundation 2
First Year Success 400 walkers and runners attended the 2010 event and approximately 600 are expected to attend in 2011. The 2010 PCOS Awareness Fun Run/Walk was the first large charity walk in Houston for PCOS. Money raised from the event was used to further the mission of the PCOS Foundation, which is to spread knowledge and understanding of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) through awareness, education and outreach. The PCOS Foundation s programs are created concerning three key concepts: awareness, education and outreach. 2011 Goal The PCOS Foundation s goal for the 2011 PCOS Awareness 5K Fun Run/Walk is to raise $75,000 to help fund our programs and continue our mission of spreading PCOS awareness and education. 3
Team Captain Registration The Team Captain will need to collect registrations and/or set up the team online. If you need help setting up your team online, please contact Jilian Ryan at 713-487-PCOS (7267) or jilian@pcosfoundation.org. 1. The team captain, who will also be participating in the run/walk, will need to setup the Team with these instructions: a. Go to http://www.active.com/running/houston-tx/pcos-awareness-5k-2011 b. A captain will come into registration and click the Register Now Button. c. Select the Team Captain (Create Your Team and Register) option d. Select the Team Captain Category of their choice (5k or walk) to create their team name and Register at the same time. e. Once the captain has created the team name and registered, they must notify each member of their team to come into Active and register as a part of their team. 2. After the Team is set up, send an email or memo to possible participants to let them know how to register. An example is attached on page 4 of this packet. 3. Walk/run participants can also register using the paper form: http://www.pcosfoundation.org/walk-registration- Form.pdf (also attached at the end of this packet) and turn the form and payment in to the team captain. The team captain will then turn in paper forms and payments by: a. Scheduling a time for a PCOS Foundation volunteer to pick up the forms at 713-487-7267 b. Mail c. In person The PCOS Foundation s address is: PCOS Foundation 10901 Katy Freeway, Houston TX 77079 4
Join our Team! has committed to participate in the PCOS Awareness Fun Run/Walk. We will join efforts with other teams, walkers and runners on Sunday, September 25, 2011 at the Downtown Aquarium Houston. The PCOS Awareness Fun Run/Walk event is for people of all athletic ability. Show your support to the millions of women suffering from Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome! The fun run/walk kicks off at the Downtown Aquarium and loops around the Buffalo Bayou. The PCOS Awareness Fun Run/Walk allows running or walking; admission for walkers is $20 and $35 for runners. Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome affects up to 10% of women. The PCOS Awareness Fun Run/Walk will raise money to provide education, support, and promote further awareness of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. The Run/Walk benefits the PCOS Foundation, a non-profit organization. Our team leader for the PCOS Awareness Walk & 5K Run is. Please contact this person with any questions about PCOS Awareness Walk if you need to register. Friends and family members are invited to join our team too. Download a registration form at http://pcosfoundation.org/walk%20registration%20form.pdf or ask your team leader for a form. Online registration is also available at: http://www.active.com/running/houston-tx/pcos-awareness-5k-2011 TO REGISTER UNDER THE TEAM: o On the main registration page, click the Register Now button. o Select the Team Member (Required to Join an Existing Team) option o Select the Team Member Category of their choice (5k or walk) to join the team o Select COMPANY NAME team from the drop down menu, complete and pay for registration. is proud to support the awareness of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome and the efforts of the PCOS Foundation. The event will be fun and support a great cause, so sign up today! Thank you, ****Event information*********************************************************************************** Date: Sunday, September 25, 2011. Runners begin at 8:00am sharp with walkers to follow. Registration starts at 6:30 am until 7:45 am. Free limited parking will be available at the Aquarium until 10:00am. The Downtown Aquarium is located at 410 Bagby Houston, TX 77002. The course will be a 5K track around the Buffalo Bayou. 5
Team Fundraising Your team has the option to help the PCOS Foundation further its mission of awareness and education by fundraising. Teams can collect donations in two ways: 1. Online through your team s page on active.com: http://www.active.com/donate/2011pcos5k 2. Using the paper form on the next page. This can be copied and given to each team member Fundraising Incentives Team leaders who fundraise are eligible to receive gifts from the PCOS Foundation: $100+ Level PCOS Awareness Bracelet $250+ Level Pedometer $500+ Level USB Storage Drive $1000+ Level MP3 Player 6
Team Fundraising Form Thank you for supporting our team! We are participating in the 2011 PCOS Awareness 5K. Your donation will help raise money to spread education and awareness of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS). Please fill out all information so that you may be recognized for your donation. Team Name: First Name Last Name Email Amount 7
Downtown Aquarium: All information must be completed. Mail form and your payment to: PCOS Foundation 10901 Katy Freeway, Houston, TX 77079 Participant Information Name: Street Address: City: State: Zip: Phone: E-mail: T-shirt Size: Gender: Age: Employment Industry: How you heard about the PCOS Awareness Walk: I would like to: Start a team Join an existing team Volunteer Sponsor / Name of the team you will join or start My PCOS knowledge: I have PCOS I am a supporter I don t know what PCOS is I,, do hereby release and hold harmless from liability and injury the City of Houston and any and all organizers and sponsors of this event. Signature Date Admission: $20.00 for Walkers $35.00 for Runners Please make all checks payable to: PCOS Foundation Cash Check Money Order Name of Cardholder: Credit Card Number: Security Code: Visa Mastercard Discover American Express Expiration Date: Signature: Donation Amount: $10 $25 $50 $75 $100 Other: Please make all checks payable to: PCOS Foundation Cash Check Money Order Visa Mastercard Discover American Express Name of Cardholder: Credit Card Number: Expiration Date: Signature: Event Information The PCOS Awareness Walk & 5K Run will take place rain or shine! Participant check-in is 6:30-7:45 am at the Downtown Aquarium. Limited free parking is available at the Aquarium until 10:00 am. Vehicles leaving the Aquarium parking lot after 10:00 am will be charged for parking. The PCOS Awareness Walk and 5K Run benefits the PCOS Foundation, which provides education and support to women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS). 8