The 2013 Challenge Walk is Over…Now What?

by Marian Rezel

Celebrate and share pictures

• Send your supporters a thank you card. Include how much $$ the walk raised or how much $$ you or your team raised. Include a photo from the event. Supporters really appreciate this and are more likely to support you next year. 

Members of Marian's team at the
Challenge Walk MS 2013 finish line.

Plan for next year

• On our way home from Door County to Milwaukee in Car #1, two of my daughters brainstormed ideas for a rest-stop for next year. Meanwhile in Car #2, my other daughter and I talked about what went best and what we could improve on for next year.   
• Plan fund-raising ideas for next year. I am back at my sewing machine, filling orders for hand-made purses and aprons. I’m hoping to actually get ahead this year and open an Etsy shop on-line. We are also finishing the final hand knit hat orders for Tadpoles in Delafield, Wis. The lovely shop owners have been supporting our mission for the past three years; stop in if you are in the Delafield area.
  
• We are also planning a major fund-raising event in the Milwaukee area, more to come on that as soon as it develops. 

Keep connected

• Read the blog, go ahead and post a comment or two, too (or is it tu-tu?). We love hearing back from you.
  
• Create a Facebook group for your team. It’s an easy way to share thoughts and ideas and plan fundraising.
  
• Participate in another MS event. My girls and I participate in Walk MS each spring and sponsored a rest stop at the Bike MS: Best Dam Bike Ride last summer (awesome, going to do that again).  Don’t forget the MS Snowmobile Tour January 23-25, 2014.  

INSPIRE HOPE......check!

by Jackie Piper

I have to say I really loved our Sunday T-shirt for this year's Door County Challenge Walk MS. When I unfolded it in the cabin on Thursday night, I thought, “Cool, I like that message.”  And then, as the weekend progressed, I thought, no, this isn't just a cool T-shirt. This is the perfect message to express what Challenge Walk is all about. The dictionary defines hope as “a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen.” Here is how I define hope, brought to you by Challenge Walk 2013:

I HOPE YOU CHEER FOR ME:  What an amazing job the volunteers who man the rest stops do. On Saturday, at a particularly painful point in the walk, a chocolate candy necklace and row of silly cheerleaders made all the difference.

Jackie at the 49-mile marker on
Day 3 of Challenge Walk MS 2013

I HOPE I HAVE FUN:  What's more fun than an entire team in orange evening gowns and menswear? I really can't explain how much fun we all have doing this ridiculously long walk, but we all do.

I HOPE I MAKE A DIFFERENCE:  OK. Here's my theory: Someday there will be a research project funded by a grant with money from the Challenge Walk that will find a cure for MS. That money will be raised by individuals who collected money in dozens of different ways. Maybe someone's $10 donation will be the difference between a $500,000 grant and one for $499,990. That walker who made the effort to ask for that donation will have made the biggest difference in the world. It's just my theory, but every time we raise one dollar for MS, we make a difference.

I HOPE I FEEL LOVED:  The group hug on Sunday afternoon – what a visible way to show the people who are dealing with this disease every day that we care. 

I HOPE I CAN HOPE:  On Sunday at about mile 48 I encountered a couple who were walking alone together and we struck up a conversation. It turns out that she has MS and has been on the same medication as my son-in-law since 2001 without a relapse in all that time. Wow! I felt at that moment, “So this is why I came”...to listen to a story that inspires hope for Dylan who was diagnosed just four years ago.  

And so we take a little breather now before we roll up our shirt sleeves and get to work on the business of fighting MS at Challenge Walk 2014. 

I HOPE I see you all there.

Staying Motivated

by Jill Jones

For our “Survivors” team, staying motivated is one of our strengths. We have many people on our team that are energetic and motivated people to begin with. Our team captain, Heidi, sends us many emails and has a Facebook page just for our team to communicate. She keeps that energy flowing and keeps us all organized. 

We have team apparel that we can choose to buy that Heidi organizes for us. Each day we decide what to wear and then we all look similar, which can be a lot of fun. Many of us like to wear crazy socks and we bring all of the orange we can and have fun getting ready each day. 

Throughout the walk our team has a lot of fun supporting each other. You might hear us start cheers or singing along the way. We like to hum songs and then have our teammates guess what song it is. At each mile marker, our team takes a picture with whoever happens to be by the person with the camera. 

Challenge Walk MS, for everyone who takes the time to fundraise and participate, is motivation enough: WE ALL WANT TO FIND A CURE FOR MS! 

What I’m Packing for Challenge Walk

by Jill Jones

As you probably know, Challenge Walk MS is rain or shine, so to be prepared for the weather is a must. Also, since it starts earlier in the day, it can be chilly to start and get warmer as the day progresses. Each day last year I wore layers that I could put on or take off as the weather changed. 

When it rained last year, I had a poncho type raincoat that worked really well. This year, I am looking to purchase more of a rain suit that is a little lighter in weight. I feel this may be easier to walk in. When it rained last year and it was a little chilly, my team wore cotton gloves with plastic gloves over them to keep them dry. That really worked for me. Also, a hooded sweatshirt and jacket was a must for me to keep my ears covered.   

[Click here for more packing list ideas.]

What are your Challenge Walk MS "dress for success" tips?

My Shoes

by Jill Jones

Shoes are an important part of the Challenge Walk because they will determine how you feel each day of the walk. Before last year’s walk, I decided to go to a place where they would analyze my walk and determine the best shoes for me.  I knew that the shoes I would then purchase would cost more than just buying them elsewhere, but I thought it would be worth it. After the walk, I would agree that it was well worth the extra price. 

A funny story about my shoes is the day I bought them I was meeting with my brother and sister for supper that night. I had just come from the shoe store and proudly brought my box of shoes into the house to show them off. When I looked down at my sister’s feet, she was wearing the exact same shoes that I had just purchased. She had also done a foot strike analysis at a different store and ended up with the exact same pair of shoes. How funny is that? 

I would also invest in the moisture wicking socks or dri fit socks that you can purchase. They keep your feet dry and especially on a rainy day, your feet will thank you for it. 

This year I am going to wear those same shoes for the second year. I use them strictly for the Challenge Walk and training, so I am hoping that my feet will stay “happy” with me and I will not have to visit the excellent medical staff that we have at the Challenge Walk.  

What story do you have about your shoes?

Conference Call #3 Recap

The final Challenge Walk MS conference call was held September 11 at 6 p.m. Highlights are as follows:

Numbers Update:  Currently 132 walkers, 16 Super Crew and 49 crew members have registered. Alpine is ready for us, and the route is ready too!

Fundraising Deadline Reminder: The fundraising deadline is Monday, September 23. If you turned in a Promise to Pay form, the $1,500 is due by then. If you’re unable to attend Challenge Walk MS for some reason, please remember that the registration fees and all donations are non-refundable and non-transferable.

Celebration Club: Secure $2,500 or more in pledges and become a member of the Celebration Club. Bronze members ($2,500-$4,999) receive a wearable item, Silver members ($5,000-$9,999) receive a wearable and a commemorative item, Gold members ($10,000 or more) receive a wearable, commemorative item and free registration for 2014.

Meet ‘N’ Greet: Relax with your team members, catch up with friends from past walks and get to know new participants at the Alpine Lodge bar on Thursday night. Light snacks, cash bar and a wine pull (pick a surprise bottle of wine in exchange for a donation) will be part of the evening.

First-time participants are invited to gather at the event check-in area (in the west lobby) at 7 p.m. Thursday for a separate quick and casual meet-and-greet of other rookie participants. It will be a great way to break the ice!

Group Photo: Each year a group photo is taken of all the participants together. In past years it was taken after the victory mile walk on Sunday. This year we’re going to take it Friday morning at the Clark Park start line location when everyone is fresh, energized and excited to get on the route. Be sure to bring your smiles that morning!

Meals for Family Members and Support Teams: Single meals can be purchased at the dining room entrance: $10 breakfast (Sat/Sun), $ 8 lunch  (Fri/Sat), $18 dinner (Fri/Sat). NOTE: Sunday lunch is only for event participants only; please ask friends to meet you at finish line at Murphy Park. For all weekend meals, volunteers can purchase a wristband for $56, family members for $72.

You Might Be a Challenge Walker If...

by Jackie Piper

You Might Be a Challenge Walker If…

(with a nod to Jeff Foxworthy)

1. You have had 10 blisters. On one foot.
2. You have walked 50 miles. And gained weight.
3. You have a funny taste in your mouth from licking envelopes and stamps for thank you notes.
4. You have wanted to kiss the folks at the mile 39 rest stop on Day 2.
5. You have kissed the SAG driver who brought you hot cocoa on a cold day.
6. You have worn surgical booties on your shoes in a vain attempt to keep them dry.
7. You have walked slower to keep a teammate company.
8. You have taken blurry pictures of Door County scenery because you didn’t want to stop walking.
9. You have walked mile 11, steeply uphill, eating a double scoop pumpkin caramel ice cream cone.
10. You have been shameless in who you would ask and what you would sell to raise money to fight MS.
11. You have made new friends through the shared pain and joy of a 50-mile Challenge Walk!