Step Up for a Cause

Support research to end these diseases—and get fit too! Advice on how to find great charity walks and runs.

Step Up for a Cause

Are you motivated to walk for charity? 

Then what are you waiting for? Take your first step. Choose an event!

There are many different racewalks to choose from this fall, and many different causes to support! Here are just a few:

Race for the Cure
Susan G. Komen for the Cure® sponsors more than 120 fitness walks and runs worldwide throughout the year raise money for breast cancer research.

The 27-year-old program is one of the largest series of racewalks in the world, with over one million participants over the last four years.

JDRF Walk for the Cure
Join one of 200 walks around the world every year to help raise money for diabetes research.

Throughout the racewalk’s history, more than 750,000 walkers have raised over $90 million for a disease that affects millions of Americans.

Jimmy Fund Walk to Conquer Cancer
For this Boston-based event, which takes place on September 13, you can choose to do a simple 5k or walk the entire route of the Boston Marathon (26.2 miles)!

Either way, you’ll join 8,000 people in raising money for cancer research at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston.

Even if you’re far from Boston on race day, you can do a virtual walk and still raise money for the cause!

Free to Breathe Lung Cancer 5k
With over 14 walks in 14 cities this fall, and more in the spring and summer, you’re sure to find one near you.

And even if you can’t, you can walk in a national event on November 7 to raise money for lung cancer research from anywhere!

March for Babies
The March of Dimes has been sponsoring this walk since 1970.

In 39 years, they’ve raised over $1.8 billion dollars to help fund community outreach that helps moms-to-be have healthy pregnancies and healthy babies. There are walks nationwide all year round.

Visit the March of Dimes website to find a walk near you!

Blow the Whistle on Asthma Walk
Want to help eradicate the leading cause of chronic illness in American children? Take a walk with the American Lung Association, for one of their Asthma Walks. There are races in every state, year-round.

Walk MS
Choose from one of 600 walks around the country to help fight multiple sclerosis.

The National Multiple Sclerosis Society also sponsors challenge walks around the country, where walkers can opt for completing a course of as long as 50 miles over the course of 2 or 3 days.

Relay for Life
Join the American Cancer Society’s biggest fundraising walk, with over 3.5 million participants around the country. Form a team and take turns walking around a track or designated path for 24 hours. At night, your path will be lit by candles for cancer victims and survivors.

To sign up and start raising money, visit the various racewalk websites. Each site has detailed instructions to take you through the entire process.

If you want to do more throughout the year, regularly check out The Walking Site. It’s an updated online list of charity walks around the country, plus answers to frequently asked questions and training suggestions.

You can also visit Active.com for information on racewalks, runs and other types of athletic charity events.

Read about the surprising benefits of participating in a charity racewalk and fundraising tips.

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