26 (.2) Reasons to Run for the American Cancer Society DetermiNation Program
1. This year, 11 million people will hear the words “You have cancer.” And your dollars and race can help the American Cancer Society help them fight back.
2. The DetermiNation team provides access to *free* team training designed to fit your lifestyle. We partner with both the Chicago Area Runners Association and Chicago Endurance Sports, as well as offer a virtual training component for out-of-towners.
3. There may be a personal reason for you wanting to run for a charity – for example if you, a family member, or friend has been affected by cancer. Running for the American Cancer Society may help you feel like you’re doing your bit for the cause that is closest to your heart. It’s often the case that people are motivated by the memory of a loved one – and you might even be able to encourage one of your friends to run for the same charity.
4. They have seriously over the top race-weekend VIP amenities, which include access to an American Cancer Society tent (which has last minute supplies, TONS of free food, masseuses, ice pools, birthday cake, music, etc.). It is amazing and it’s a GREAT meeting spot for your friends and family after the race.
5. The tent also has private gear check changing areas and facilities. Trust me, the WORST thing to have to face after running 26.2 miles is standing in a line of 44,999 people to get your bag.
6. You get access to seriously helpful training tips and resources. We have a ton of veteran runners who can offer unique insight into the Chicago
7. You get a mentor! In addition to the support from the ACS staff and volunteers like me, you get mentor support from coaches and fellow team members who will help you every step of the way. They send emails to check in, answer questions, and help get you motivated for the big day.
8. The ACS offers online tools to make achieving your fundraising goals easy and fun. The online fundraising website is amazing. They have example emails, tools to track who has or has not opened the email, who has visited the website, etc. It’s kind of like a Facebook page: super easy to set up, a picture and brief space to tell your story, scrolling message board, etc.
9. The American Cancer Society DetermiNation program has one of the highest percentages of dollar donated rates out there. For every $1 that is donated, 93 cents goes directly to cancer research and cancer support programs. This is HUGE. Last year, in Illinois
10. You get an exclusive American Cancer Society DetermiNation racing shirt. You will probably start to notice other runners out on the training runs, on the lake path, at local 5Ks, and out and about sporting their DNation blue. Getting your blue DetermiNation gear means you are part of something that is bigger than yourself.
11. The only thing cooler than saying you are one of the 10% of people in the world who have taken on a marathon and run 26.2 miles is getting to say that you did it for a great cause.
12. You can be on a team. Have a friend who wants to run for DNation or who has been considering running in an endurance race? You can join as an individual or a team. If you are on a team, the fundraising averages out so if you raise $1200 and they raise $850, both of your minimums will have been covered. How cool is that?!
13. Random people see you’re running for the ACS (if you wear your DetermiNation shirt of course) and shout “Go ACS or Go DNation!” It’s like an emotional energy gel every time you hear it because it reminds you that you are doing this for a GREAT cause. Plus, having a “team” of 800 on the course feels pretty cool. I can’t tell you how many times seeing the other DNation athletes around me kept me going.
14. You get invitations to social events in and around your community leading up to the race. We offer weekly fun runs throughout the running season, post-race parties, and we do a walk-through of the course and marathon area and coffee before the race on Saturday morning.
15. You have the opportunity to wear ribbons in support of the people in your life affected by cancer. As a DetermiNation team member, you have access to as many ribbons as you need. For me, this is one of the most emotional moments of race day. When I pin the ribbons on in memory or those I have lost and in honor of those fighting a disease, I know that if they can fight cancer, go through chemo and radiation treatments, and still have the strength to keep on going….I can keep running when I’m a little tired.
16. There are cheer teams to inspire you along the course. This is part of where the DNation family really shines. In addition to the DNation coaches who will be out there to cheer you on throughout the course and in special cheer stations; some coaches will jump in to run with you if you want. We also have HUGE groups of people out on the course to get you that extra oomph! There are plenty of DetermiNation cheer signs available at the expo so your family can make as many as they want!
17. When the idea of going out for a long run or the training in the cold and wet gets old, you might be tempted to give it a miss or even consider pulling out of your race. However, if you know that the DetermiNation team is relying on you, you have extra motivation to make you continue with your training – which may even give you that extra motivation to complete the distance on the big day.
18. This is a silly draw, but for marathon and race enthusiasts, you know what a big deal it is…. Carey Pinkowski, Bank of America Chicago Marathon Executive Race Director, always speaks at our Pre-Marathon dinner banquet. It’s a pretty huge honor that he takes the time to stop by, share tips, and fire the DNation team up the weekend of the biggest event of his year.
19. Speaking of the Pre-marathon dinner…ours is seriously amazing. It’s a great opportunity to mingle with other members of DNation, calm your pre-race jitters, and learn more about other DNation team members’ stories. It’s inspiring and a GREAT way to connect with other runners.
20. Support and ideas for fundraising. Whether or not you have fundraising experience, don't stress - we have helpful resources, tips, and suggestions that will help you meet (and hopefully exceed!) your goals. In fact, last summer we developed a list of 100 ways our DNation alumni have fundraised. We have heard of some pretty creative things and we will happily share these ideas with you to help you reach your goal.
21. Some companies and organizations offer corporate matching. This means, if your company offers it, your dollars for the American Cancer Society can be instantly doubled. The ACS has a list of corporate matching sponsors. You can check to see if your company is already on the list, or talk to a staff member about getting them set up if they are willing to sponsor you.
22. We have awesome incentive prizes for people who have fundraised over the minimum (and trust me, most people do). They range from hats to jackets to radios. Totally depends on how much you raise.
23. However much money you raise, just running for the ACS can be a massive help because it raises awareness of the great work they’re doing. 1.5 million people will see you wearing the ACS singlet on race day, and all the friends, family and colleagues who sponsor you will learn more about the cause.
24. Your fellow DNation runners will be here for you every step of the way! We have an active Facebook page and Twitter account, are always getting together for spontaneous runs and social events, and we are always happy to meet other runners dedicated to a good cause.
25. The American Cancer Society DetermiNation team makes a commitment to you: They’re there to help you achieve things you never imagined you could accomplish. They make a promise to be in your corner throughout your training and your race - just as they are in everyone's corner facing cancer.
26. It's not just about the race. By joining the DetermiNation team, you're also making an important commitment to the fight against cancer. Your participation will help people stay well, help people get well, help find cures, and help fight back.
26.2.WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU ON OUR TEAM!
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