Give Kids the World and the Marathon Weekend

[maroo]

This is very preliminary!! The Disboards (Podcast section) are just gauging interest at this point...

But, I do think that the more people that sign up or show an interest will increase the chances that this could actually happen!

During the Marathon Weekend (5K, half marathon, full marathon, and Goofy) they have "charity groups" that raise money as part of the event.

The Disboards have been raising money for Give Kids the World (the resort for Wish Kids - an amazing place!!!!) by selling shirts and someone came up with the idea to set up a charity group to walk/run during the Marathon weekend to raise money for Give Kids the World.

Link to GIVE KIDS THE WORLD: www.gktw.org

Here is the thread:

Give Kids the World Marathon Weekend Interest Thread

Do you know someone that would want to walk/run ANY of the races above FOR GKTW? It would involve raising money for GKTW as part of your race fees, but it is possible we would get some sort of group discount?


Anyway...I am hoping to generate some excitement about this! I really, really want this to work out!

If you know someone interested, please click on the thread below (also listed above)...this is not a commitment...just an interest survey.

Give Kids the World Marathon Weekend Interest Thread

 

[SamSam]

maroo, Thanks for posting the info on this thread.

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

Thanks for posting that Maroo. You beat me to it.

If people want some more information, here's a report I did on Give Kids the World.
http://www.wdwinfo.com/podcast/gktw.mp3

 

[Worfiedoodles]

So, this is a competing group for the WISH Racing Team? Because that's what it sounds like to me...was the intention to get people to switch their "allegiance" for lack of a better word, away from the WISH Racing Team to this other entity? I'm not trying to be the devil's advocate, I'm just trying to understand where this proposed "team", would fit with the WISH Team that already exists.

Thanks!
Maria

 

[jbucci]

Would it work to combine this with team WISH and have a button, temp tatoo, hat or something denoting GKTW for the WISH members who were doing the fundraising? I love the cause but don't want to fragment our team.

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

This would be a way for people to join a charity group if they were interested. I am a huge advocate/supporter of the WISH group, and would not be running today if it weren't for them. The main goal of this group would be to raise money for Give Kids the World. I know not everyone on the WISH team would be willing or interested to raise money for this charity, and I would never want to force that upon people.

 

[Worfiedoodles]

I know there are people who do TnT with WISH, so I don't think that's a problem. I worry that this team would be identified as the DisBoards team, and then where does that leave the WISH Racing Team?

Like JenB, I also worry about fragmentation. The WISH Team went through alot of growing pains last year and seems to have settled into a structure that works -- I guess I am just a big Eeyore, but I would be very disappointed to see the WISH team cease to exist or be diminished in any way. I like her idea of having GKTW supporters wearing a button, hat, etc., so they could still be identified as WISH racing team members by their shirts...

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

I personally don't view this as a "DISBoards" team. If anything, I view it as a DIS Unplugged (podcast) team. I think the coverage of the marathon on the DIS Unplugged podcast a couple weeks ago really inspired a lot of listeners of the DIS Unplugged podcast. I think reading the blog that was written really captured the spirit of the WISH team.

http://www.disunplugged.com/2009/01/10/walt-disney-world-half-marathon/

Believe me, I know the growing pains that the WISH team went through last year, and I was part of them as well. Again, I view this as another option for people on the WISH team, but it would never replace the WISH Racing Team. If anything, I look at it as a way to expose listeners of the DIS Unplugged to what we are doing over here on the WISH boards.

 

[maroo]

So, this is a competing group for the WISH Racing Team? Because that's what it sounds like to me...was the intention to get people to switch their "allegiance" for lack of a better word, away from the WISH Racing Team to this other entity? I'm not trying to be the devil's advocate, I'm just trying to understand where this proposed "team", would fit with the WISH Team that already exists.

Thanks!
Maria

no way!!!

We are definitely aligned!! WISH...that is the whole point, for me! I am totally on board with the DISBoards WISH theme...in fact, I plan to have my team button on proudly!!!!

It would, however, "compete" with something like...Team in Training. It would be hard to do both of those at the same time.

But, definitely will be walking for the WISH team!!!! No matter who the charity ends up being! At least those of us on this board will!!!

I forgot to subscribe to this thread, sorry to be just now addressing your concern!

 

[Worfiedoodles]

Thanks, Maroo and Mousewalker Dave. I feel much better after reading your replies.

Maria

 

[maroo]

I guess I really should not (can not, really) speak for Dave and the team, honestly. I am just a random person - relatively new to the boards...but I will be walking the race for BOTH the WISH team and GKTW!

I do think we should get creative to make sure we can be easily identified as BOTH...Even TiT folks...how do they usually handle that?

One of my hopes with this is that the word would get out about Give Kids the World and the financial and volunteer need that they have, especially in this economy. Just to raise awareness.

Same for the WISH team...to raise awareness of the idea/purpose of W.I.S.H.

But I do think we can get creative so that we are clearly identified as BOTH!

Maybe Will could help us with that? He is the master of design!

 

[SamSam]

I see this as part of the WISH team. It's a way (those that want)can be part of the WISH team and at the same time contribute to a wonderful cause...Give Kids The World. For those on the WISH team that want to be part of a charity group for Give Kids the World, they can but it certainly won't take away from the WISH team.

 

[maroo]

I would anticipate us to actually recruit MORE people to get on the W.I.S.H. team. I have been "recruting" for possible walkers/runners on other boards and even people that are not DISboard people at all. If those people choose to walk for GKTW, I would expect them to join the WISH team. Even though they have no idea it even exists right now.

My best friend, for example, is walking with me in the ToT 13K...she is a Make-a-Wish parent...and is joining the WISH team for the event. If we did raise money for GKTW, I would anticipate that someone would travel with me to come race and we would have another WISH team member, too. That is three WISH team members that we didn't have before! (Including me - I am a newbie!)

I have just been thinking about this and want to make sure everyone knows that we are all on the same team here!

 

[timmac]

I have just been thinking about this and want to make sure everyone knows that we are all on the same team here!

I think that is really the most important point, and why the post was made in this forum in the first place. Many of us (podcast listeners) had been talking about teaming up for GKTW, and if anything, this was to avoid having multiple teams all representing the disboards.

 

[CarolA]

I have donated and supported GKTW.

I will not be doing fundraising as part of my Disney Marathon training. And for a variety of reasons probably wouldn't "play" with the podcast team.

However, I wish those of you that do it every success!

My one question would be is this like TNT where you are paying for the "Trip" out of the fundraising?

 

[Sandy321]

Carol, that's a great point.

Naively, I believe that to "join" this awesome 'cause' - I believe any and all money I would raise/donate would go straight to GKTW

- but when you compare to other fundraising entitities Team in Training or the 3 Day Walk for the cure - where you must raise a certain amount (and that covers your expenses using the tents etc) - you have to know how much goes to the cause, and how much goes for the experience...

- there are always those... organizational "costs" - and some fundraising (not implying, just a red bell went off) raise funds and only give a teeny tiny portion to the group they have designated...

so I try to stay informed... but there are so many things I dont think of! Then it becomes a simple idea, with a simple need (is money ever "simple"?) and someone that has first hand knowledge of the needs being met by GKTW...