Upcoming Walkathon to Support Meals on Wheels and Other LifePath Programs
Wow, what a difference a year makes! It seems like just yesterday we were talking about the 2024 Fall Walkathon. When you read this article we will only be 10 weeks away from our upcoming Walkathon on Saturday, October 18, at the Franklin County Fairgrounds starting at 10 a.m. Registration and check-in will start at 9:30 a.m. Time to dust off your walking shoes and put your best foot forward for a great cause!
Once again, funds raised through this event will go to support our critically important Meals on Wheels program, as well as other crucial programs that people very much count on to support their everyday needs. Enjoy all that the fall season has to offer—being outdoors is a great way to get your fill of the foliage, pumpkins, and hot apple cider, while enjoying the crisp fall air.
When you read this article we will only be 10 weeks away from our upcoming Walkathon on Saturday, October 18, at the Franklin County Fairgrounds starting at 10 a.m.
This annual fundraiser for LifePath provides a great opportunity to get together with family, friends, and colleagues. This family-friendly event will have games, activities, and information tables from both LifePath and other community partners and sponsors. In addition, there will also be music, entertainment, food, and refreshments to enjoy.
So you say you can’t make it on that day? No problem! We have a solution for that, too. New this year, we are encouraging people to hold their own mini-walkathons with family and friends right in your own neighborhoods. You pick the date, time, location, etc. Have fun with it! Get creative! Go ahead and use our pledge forms for your convenience. We would love to see pictures of your event too, so we can share them on our website.
For the past 50 years, LifePath has been that collaborative partner helping to assist and guide older adults and individuals with disabilities, as well as their caregivers. By connecting people to valuable resources and support, we help to provide stability by listening, then sharing proactive options that allow people to make informed decisions that can positively affect the futures of their loved ones.
LifePath currently helps to support over 10,000 individuals on a yearly basis through the delivery of services encompassing a large variety of programs throughout Franklin County, the North Quabbin region, and parts of Berkshire, Hampshire, and Hampden Counties. These vital programs help to address the variety of unique challenges faced by each of our families.
Our Meals on Wheels program is the primary focal point of this fundraiser. As federal support for such programs seems to be decreasing drastically, your support is needed now more than ever to keep our programs going. The Meals on Wheels program plays a key role in not only making sure that people have a warm meal each day, but also provides an important opportunity to do a welfare check. A chance to check in with people, make sure they are okay, and see how their day is going: This positive exchange helps to build a caring and supportive relationship that people rely on, and helps individuals to feel more confident and secure in their independence at home.
Our yearly Walkathon is our major community fundraiser that helps to keep our programs moving forward, so that LifePath can continue to have a life-changing impact on those we serve each and every day. Programs that are made possible because of the financial support that we receive through donors, walkers, and sponsors like you, that help to raise important funds in support of our efforts.
There are a number of different ways that YOU can support LifePath through the Walkathon:
1) You can become a sponsor for the event. There are numerous sponsorship opportunities available to choose from and the brochure is available on our Walkathon webpage.
2) You can create your own walking team and each team member can collect donations from those they know in support of LifePath. There’s two ways to get started:
Option #1: Keep it simple and download a paper version of the donation form directly from our website at the link above. There you can print out a copy for yourself and share the form with those you know. Money raised can be turned in on the day of the event if you are walking on Saturday, October 18.
Option #2: Create an online fundraising walking team. Using the link above and click on the “Create Fundraising Team Button.” Once you sign up and complete your setup, send an email to jofarrell@lifepathma.org to let us know that you signed up. We can then send you your personalized fundraising page link that you can share with those you know. This way, people can make donations directly online using your link and their gifts will automatically be credited to your team’s running total.
3) New This Year! Hold Your Own Mini Walkathon with Friends, Family, and Neighbors. You pick the date, time, location, and length. Have fun with it! Get creative! Go ahead and use our pledge forms for your convenience. They can be downloaded from our website using the link above. We would love to see pictures of your event too, so we can share them on our website. Please email us at giving@lifepathma.org so we can add your event to the list.
4) If you or someone you know can’t make it to the event, but would still like to support LifePath, please visit our website to make a secure, online donation. Or, if you prefer, simply mail in your donation to: LifePath, 101 Munson Street, Suite 201, Greenfield, MA 01301.
We look forward to your participation in our upcoming Walkathon fundraiser on Saturday, October 18, and appreciate your generous support of our efforts. Together, we can make great things happen, one step at a time. For questions about the Walkathon or your own Mini Walkathon, please contact John O’Farrell by email at giving@lifepathma.org. Thank you for keeping our programs going.