WALK FOR A CAUSE
The Washington, DC area is rife with opportunities to walk on behalf of any number of important causes. Starting in March and ending in November, here are at least 16 ways to walk for the benefit of not only yourself, but others as well.
Note: complete information about upcoming walks is often not available until a few months prior. If the links below do not provide current information, please check either this or the sponsoring organization's websites at a later date.
See also WALKArlington Special Walks and Events for updated information.
- AIDS Walk Washington
- America's Walk for Diabetes
- Arlington's Crop Walk
- Avon Walk for Breast Cancer
- "Blow the Whistle on Asthma" Walkathon
- Center for Health, Environment and Justice Walkathon
- Help the Homeless Walkathon
- March of Dimes WalkAmerica
- MS Challenge Walk
- NAMI Walk for the Mind of America (DC)
- Relay for Life of Arlington
- ROA-US Freedom Walk Festival
- Scope It Out 5K Run/Walk
- Walk F.A.R. for N.A.A.R.
- Walk for the Animals
- Walk for Hope
- Walk for PKD
- Walk to Cure Diabetes
- Walk to D'Feet ALS
- Walk With Us to Cure Lupus
AIDS WALK WASHINGTON
When: October
Who benefits: Whitman-Walker Clinic
The skinny: 5K walk; no registration fees; walkers encouraged to raise donations for participation.
For more information: click here
AMERICA'S WALK FOR DIABETES
When: late October
Who benefits: money for diabetes research, information and advocacy that will lead to the prevention and cure of diabetes.
The skinny: The 2005 Walk will take place on Saturday, October 22nd at 10:30 AM at Freedom Plaza (14th Street and Pennsylvania Ave NW). There are two- and four-mile routes that go through the National Mall.
For more information: click here or call 888-DIABETES.
ARLINGTON'S CROP WALK (Hunger relief)
When: third Saturday in October
Sponsor: Arlington Interfaith Council
The skinny: 10K walk; the only Arlington-based fundraising walk (that we know of); 25% of funds collected go to Arlington Food Assistance Center, with balance committed to hunger relief at home and abroad.
For more information: click here
AVON WALK FOR BREAST CANCER
When: late April / early May (two days)
The skinny: 39.3 miles (marathon and a half) over two days; can also walk less; $1800 in pledges required, but assistance in getting pledges available; overnight stays in tent villages.
For more information: click here
"BLOW THE WHISTLE ON ASTHMA" WALKATHON
When: October
Who benefits: American Lung Association of DC
The skinny: 5K walk supports local programs; team participation.
For more information: click here
CENTER FOR HEALTH, EDUCATION AND JUSTICE WALKATHON (CHEJ)
When: April
Sponsor: CHEJ
The skinny: 5K walk; $15 (under age 18) or $25 (adult) registration fee. .
For more information: click here
HELP THE HOMELESS WALKATHON
When: November; also "mini-walks" from September through November
Sponsor: Fannie Mae Foundation
The skinny: 5K walk; $15 (youth up to age 25) or $25 (adult) registration fee. Mini-walks of at least 30 minutes can be organized by schools, community-based organizations, and faith-based organizations.
For more information: click here
MARCH OF DIMES WALKAMERICA (Preventing birth defects)
When: April/May
The skinny: numerous walks in D.C. metropolitan area; the mission of the March of Dimes is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects and infant mortality.
For more information: click here
MS CHALLENGE WALK
When: September/October
The skinny: 50 miles over 3 days. This endurance challenge hosted by the National Capital Chapter of the National MS Society raises funds to fight multiple sclerosis (MS), increase public awareness of the disease, and promotes health and fitness.
For more information: click here
NAMI WALK FOR THE MIND OF AMERICA (DC)
When: October, and other times throughout the region.
The skinny: 5K fundraising walk hosted by NAMI - a nonprofit, grassroots, self-help support and advocacy organizatoin of consumers, families and friends of people with severe mental illness. NAMI sponsors a number of walks around the country, including this event which begins and ends on the National Mall.
For more information: click here
RELAY FOR LIFE OF ARLINGTON
When: June
Who benefits: American Cancer Society
The skinny: One of numerous relays in the area and across the country. A fun-filled overnight activity that mobilizes communities to celebrate survivorship, remember those who lost their lives to cancer, and raise money for the fight against cancer.
For more information: click here
ROA-US FREEDOM WALK FESTIVAL
When: October
Sponsor: Reserve Officer's Association and American Volkssport Association, among others
The skinny: While not a fundraiser, this walk serves three purposes: to promote fitness, friendship, and fun with others of all ages from around the U.S. and the world by walking together for up to three days. It is a family-oriented, non-competitive sport-walking event where you choose the trail lengths (range: 5K - 44K) and day(s) you want to participate.
For more information: click here
SCOPE IT OUT 5K RUN/WALK
When: March
Who benefits: Colon Cancer Alliance and Charles A. Kraenzle Colon Cancer Foundation
The skinny: A fundraising, awareness-raising race.
For more information: click here
UNIFEM/USA SPRING WALKS (Eliminating violence against women)
When: any time during the spring
Who benefits: UNIFEM/USA
The skinny: You set the date and length of walk; proceeds contributed to trust fund administered by the United Nations.
For more information: click here
WALK F.A.R. FOR N.A.A.R.
When: May in National Capitol Area; also other times, other places.
Who benefits: National Alliance for Autism Research
The skinny: Stroller-accessible two-mile walk. No registration fee or minimum donation. Walkers who raise $100+ receive a t-shirt at the Walk.
For more information: click here
WALK FOR THE ANIMALS
When: May; usually coincides with Arlington's Neighborhood Day.
Who benefits: Animal Welfare League of Arlington
The skinny: Three-mile loop walk throuhg Bluemont Park in Arlington. Dogs are invited to accompany their owners but, for their safety, cats and other pets should be left at home. Many pre- and post- Walk events. Registration fee: $20.
For more information: click here
WALK FOR HOPE (To cure breast cancer)
When: October
Who benefits: City of Hope (comprehensive cancer center near Los Angeles, CA)
The skinny: 5K fun run, 5K fitness walk and 2K leisure walk; registration fees $25 children, $45 adults.
For more information: click here
WALK FOR PKD (Polycistic Kidney Disease)
When: September
Who benefits: PKD Foundation
The skinny: annual walk to support research to fight this life-threatening disease that affects more than 12 million people worldwide.
For more information: click here
WALK TO CURE DIABETES
When: June
Who benefits: The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
The skinny: 3K and 5K walks in Loudon County.
For more information: click here
WALK TO D'FEET ALS (Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig's disease)
When: October
Who benefits: The ALS Association, DC/MD/VA Chapter
The skinny: teams of three or more set own fundraising goals (avg.: $100/person); prizes awarded for different levels of funds raised. ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord.
For more information: click here
WALK WITH US TO CURE LUPUS
When: October / November
Who benefits: Alliance for Lupus Research
The skinny: a 5K walk; lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease that can affect many parts of the body. Prizes awarded for different fundraising levels.
For more information: click here
