THIS IS NOT YOUR TYPICAL MOTHER’S DAY BREAST CANCER WALK
…FOR A CAUSE, INC.
Contact: Rob Webber
Phone: 773-960-4365
Email: rwebber@rfac.org
Date: 05/08/2009
Website: www.rfac.org
This Mother’s Day, in what has become the unofficial start to the breast cancer walking season, tens of thousands of women (and a few men) will take to the streets to raise awareness and much needed funds to support local and national breast cancer organizations. These one day local walks range from 3-10K, but if you are looking for something a little more challenging consider packing up those walking shoes and joining the Ireland Breast Cancer Walk this August 9 – 15, 2009. Participants from across the US will gather in a small town above Galway, and set out on a week long 60-mile walk. If walking is not for you, you can elect to ride a bicycle for the week covering more than 300-miles. Donations from the event will benefit Breast Cancer Network of Strength, For A Cause, and an additional beneficiary as designated by the participant.
For A Cause, Inc., has been organizing “Vacations For A Cause” since 2001. “Our first event was the Italy AIDS Ride, on the success of that we added the Italy Breast Cancer Walk and we have now combined the two events where participants choose if they want to Walk or Ride for the week,” said Founder Rob Webber. “We organize the event much like a tour operator would, but our focus is on the return to our beneficiaries, because of this we can charge half of what the for-profit companies charge for the same vacation.” Our events are geared to the participant. They choose whether they want to walk or ride. They choose their primary beneficiary — either the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation or Breast Cancer Network of Strength. Participants can also choose an additional beneficiary, one that is close to their heart, making the trip even more personal. In past years participants have chosen organizations such as the National Kidney Foundation, the National Autism Foundation, the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, and many others.
This year’s event, Ireland Walk or Ride, takes place August 9 – 15, 2009. The standard registration fee for the event is $1,650.00 PP DO and covers all expenses while on the event: meals, lodging (in a 16th century castle), snacks, sport drinks, guides, bikes and support vehicles. But if someone is shy about asking family, friends and co-workers for donations they can pay a little higher registration fee, in this case $2,650.00 and not have to do any fundraising. Participants choosing this option will receive all the same amenities as with the standard registration with the addition of a $1,000.00 tax deduction waiting for them when they return home.
If you do not want to walk or ride, but still want to support the cause, you can register as a crewmember. Crewmembers travel with the walkers and riders in support vehicles, ensuring everyone is on the correct routes, setting up pit stops, organizing lunches, and making sure everyone is safe.
Riders and walkers who register using the standard registration fee are asked to raise a minimum of $1,000.00 in donations; on past events participants raised an average of $2,500.00 per person. There is one other registration option for $500.00, this includes all expenses as above and has a minimum fundraising requirement of $2,500.00. With this option a portion of the donations are used to cover event expenses and with current low airfares it’s possible to spend a week in Ireland for under $1,000.00 depending on where you are traveling from.
The location for the Ireland Walk or Ride is a small town just north of Galway, along the West Coast. We stay in a 16th Century Irish Castle that has been updated with modern conveniences including private bathrooms and an indoor heated swimming pool, but still retains is original grandeur like formal gardens and a chapel. There will be no sleeping in tents, no port-o-jons, and no lugging your gear; participants will stay in this amazing castle all week and make circular trips out into the countryside. Daily distances will range between 10 - 15 miles for walkers and 50 - 75 miles for riders. Each day will start with a Hearty Irish Breakfast; followed by lunch in small Irish Pubs. Dinner will be prepared by the castle staff with the freshest of local ingredients. The day’s end will be spent sitting next to a peat fire, sipping cordials, and sharing experiences from the road. “This is the only vacation where a group of strangers leave as life long friends,” noted past participant Julie Rucinski “I think it’s the common thread that we all share from the very start, wanting to make a difference in the lives of Children with AIDS or those Affected by Breast Cancer; it just brings you together from the very start.” Julie has been “Riding For A Cause” since 2003 and this will be Julie’s fifth Ride with us. Julie’s Mom is a breast cancer survivor.
For more information on the Ireland Walk or Ride please visit our website at WWW.RFAC.ORG.
…For A Cause, Inc., is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Our mission is to energize and inspire people to make a difference in the lives of those affected by HIV/AIDS and breast cancer, and to assure that no one faces these battles alone.
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