Forrest Gump infamously said, “I just felt like running”. We know why we run. It strengthens our hearts, helps to control our weight, builds personal fortitude, and thanks to that endorphin release, just plain feels good. Participating in a runDisney event offers a pirate’s booty of additional perks: unique Park access, character interaction and signature Disney entertainment, to name a few. But a growing segment of the running populace has joined the sport for someone else’s well-being.
Racing for charity is nothing short of a sports phenomenon in this country, with approximately 1 billion dollars raised via road races in the year 2009 alone. Add in the benefits of raising awareness for these nonprofits, and it should come as no surprise that a record 200 charities were approved to participate in this year’s ING NYC Marathon. Not that running with a charity team is completely altruistic; for runDisney races, added team bonuses can include signature racing gear, personalized training coaches, a built-in cheering squad along the course, discounted Disney Resort Hotel rates with theme park tickets and much more. As with most running events, if you are late to the party, you will still be guaranteed a race entry- even if the event is sold out. (This was a topic of contention at this year’s Boston Marathon, where many elite runners with proper qualifying paces lost their spots to novice charity runners…) The monetary commitment for joining a Disney Official Charity Group ranges from $300 to about $4,000, with the travel packages and offered goodies varying just as widely.
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| Running the 2011 Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon for The Wooty Foundation Fund |
Each runDisney event has a beneficiary; a charity that will be highlighted both for raising awareness and fundraising purposes. (For instance, the Anaheim Community Foundation was the Disney appointed charitable beneficiary of the Inaugural Tinker Bell Half Marathon.) Disneyland hosted many other charity organizations for this January race, including The Leukemia & Lymphoma’s Team in Training, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Autism Speaks, the Lazarex Cancer Foundation, Special Olympics Southern California and my choice, Team Up! Autism Speaks.
With my commitment of $1,000, I received race entry, virtual training, a Team shirt and hat, a pre-race team dinner, and a special rate at the Paradise Pier Hotel ($179 per night). More importantly, I was partnering with a like-minded community that understands and sponsors the long journey of every autistic family.
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| Speaking at the Team Up! Dinner |
Have you been closed out of the upcoming 2012 Disneyland Half Marathon? Now’s your chance to run with your favorite charity! The official charity groups for that race are:
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| Special Olympics World Games 2011- Team USA |
Imagine parlaying the personal good that comes with a runDisney race into something truly meaningful for the greater good. Running for a cause, no matter the motivation, is a win for the charity, an empowering win for the runner, and ensures a successful event for any race promoter. More importantly, and endorphin kick aside, we can say with this win-win-win it “just felt so good”.
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I love running for charity – but I can’t imagine raising that much money! That’s an impressive goal for sure!
I had no idea that Disney did this. How fabulous!