Be a GiGi’s Playhouse WALK STAR!!!

There is a reason why so many non-profit organizations have walk fundraisers – because just about everyone can participate. And with the right kind of walking path (like ours at DMACC in Ankeny), participants of all abilities can join. And, unless you are gunning for a personal best in the 5K, there’s no time limit to finish the event. Stroll as leisurely as you’d like, set your wheelchair to “turtle mode”, or try something different like walking backwards. (We’ve seen it done on treadmills at the gym, so it must be a thing.)

Regardless of your intended pace, we hope all participants will “push themselves” in one very special way… to make the event as big a fundraiser as possible by stepping out of your comfort zone and being a GiGi’s Walk Star fundraiser! It isn’t as difficult as you might think.

The GiGi’s 5K Dash for Down Syndrome Donut Run, One-Mile Inspirational Walk and Kid’s Dash is a peer-to-peer event. That means, outside of event sponsorships, most of the money raised comes from participants asking friends, neighbors and co-workers for donations. Or asking the same friends, neighbors and co-workers to be on their team and fundraise themselves!

The average individual donation is $10 and, if you set a goal to ask ten people for $10, you’d probably raise more than $100. You might not get a donation from every person, but your average donation is likely to be $25 or more! Plus, the GiGi’s Registration Page makes it easy to ask for donations using an integrated email platform and even asking for donations using social media.

To make it interesting, GiGi’s is hoping that some of our individual fundraisers will achieve Walk Star status by raising a total of $1000!

Last year, we had six participants hit this milestone and we hope to double that this year with some special incentives. Every individual that raises $1000 or more will get:
• A special mention on our post-event social media
• A $25 gift certificate to Heart Space Massage Therapy in Windsor Heights
• A Premium Donutland Donut
• $5 Dairy Queen Gift card
• $10 Hy-Vee Gift Card
• …and more!

We know that this 5K Dash for Down Syndrome will be a fantastic event that unites our tremendous community. And, with your help, it’ll be a record-breaking fundraiser, too!