Get your sneakers ready and walk for a purpose with Tzu Chi US. We’re safely gathering for a 5K to raise awareness and funds that support our missions of medicine and education. Whether you walk, run, or bike, we’re determined to get compassion going!
SATURDAY, APRIL 16 2022
9am – 2pm PST
Tzu Chi USA National Headquarters
1100 S. Valley Center Ave. San Dimas, CA 91773
(rain or shine)
OR
Participate from your favorite local park on the same day or anytime by the end of April 17.
WHY WALK?
Our walk raises awareness of and fundraises for two critical missions: medicine and education.
In the area of medicine, your generosity will expand free and equitable holistic healthcare access across uninsured and underinsured populations. This will be done by bolstering free medical outreaches; mobile health services (especially in remote areas); high-quality dental care; and full-service vision care.
As for education, your contributions will strengthen the ongoing development of our character education curricula, operations at our schools in California, a new Teacher’s Development and Training Center, a new Environmental Protection Education Center, as well as the Tzu Chi Continuing Education Center for Humanistic Culture.
Above all, the Tzu Chi Walkathon is a chance for all of us to connect, have fun, and rally our compassion for a great cause.
HOW IT WORKS
*Unable to make it? No problem. Head over to the next tab for instructions.
WALK WITH US
Check-in begins at 9:00 am. Here, you’ll receive a physical ticket, can purchase food vouchers, and receive a complimentary t-shirt in your size. You’ll also have access to a map that shows you our two routes and where the nearest restrooms are located on campus. Parking is available and free. The event site is accessible (with ramps and more).
The opening ceremony will then kick off at 10:00 am and the walk begins! As they follow one of two 5K routes, participants are welcome to go at their own pace. You may walk, run, bicycle, skateboard, roller skate – it’s up to you! However, should you bring your own equipment, please be sure to observe basic safety rules as a courtesy to your fellow Walkathon participants.
While we encourage you to bring your favorite eco-friendly water bottle, all participants will have access to complimentary water along the route. Should you find yourself struggling to go further/reach the finish line for whatever reason, feel free to take a break, turn back at any time, or ask for help.
When you reach the finish line, enjoy our vegetarian food market and exhibition booths, where food items may be purchased with vouchers (skip lines on the day of the event and get your vouchers online via RallyUp). Performances will begin at 12:40 pm, including our Tzu Chi Walkathon raffle – where you can win special prizes. See more about the raffle below.
Finally, to make the most of your experience, we recommend the following:
- To increase your stamina (and 5K confidence), we suggest a 15-minute daily walk in advance of the event. Feeling bolder? Make it 30 minutes when you’re ready.
- Come dressed in light, comfy layers, socks, your best walking/running shoes, and, of course, plenty of sunscreen. Adding sunglasses and/or a hat is not only stylish, but practical, too.
- Minimize what you carry. We recommend clothing with secure pockets to carry your essentials. If you must bring a bag, we recommend avoiding anything large or bulky.
- In case of rain, please bring a raincoat, poncho, and/or umbrella. However, in case of severe weather conditions, please check back here for more info.
Please be aware of the following COVID-19 safety protocols:
- Masks are required (subject to change based on local regulations)
- Temperatures of all attendees will be taken at entrance.
- Social distancing will be encouraged.
- Those experiencing possible symptoms of COVID-19 or feeling ill should stay at home.
Have more questions? Explore our frequently asked questions below.
We’re excited to have you join us! Click to begin registration. You may register as an individual*, as a team, or join an existing team. There is a $10 general registration fee, which includes a complimentary t-shirt that will be distributed on the day of the event.
Please note: all fundraising ends on 4/17 at 11:59pm PT.
*For younger participants, there is an option to walk a shorter path of 600 steps. To do so, during the registration process in our RallyUp registration page, please choose the 2022 Tzu Chi Walkathon (in Steps) option in the ‘Select an activity’ dropdown menu.
Upon check-in at the Compassion in Action: 2022 Tzu Chi Walkathon, all participants will receive a physical ticket. This may be used for our Walkathon raffle, where you’ll have the chance to win special prizes like an Apple Watch, an iPad, and more!
To qualify, collect these stamps on your selected route:
on-campus route – complete 3 laps to collect 12 stamps
off-campus route – complete 1 lap to collect 3 stamps
OR, raise $1,000 or more as an individual or as a team for automatic qualification.
When you complete your walk, winners will be announced in the main area between 12:40 pm and 2:00 pm. During this time, we invite you to relax with energizing plant-based foods and good company.
Recently, a member of the Tzu Chi family named Caryn Hsu was diagnosed with leukemia. In solidarity, we’re proud to partner with BeTheMatch. They will be exhibiting at the 2022 Tzu Chi Walkathon in San Dimas, CA on April 16. You may register in person or register online now.
WALK IN YOUR CITY
We’re pleased to have you join in from afar! Click to begin registration.** You may register as an individual, as a team, or join an existing team. There is a $10 general registration fee, which includes a complimentary t-shirt that will be mailed to you.
Please note: all fundraising ends on 4/17 at 11:59pm PT.
**On RallyUp, you’ll see some registration preferences.We recommend off-site participants select ‘I want to create a login to track my registration history.’ This creates a login for you to come in and out of the RallyUp platform with ease.
After you register and begin fundraising on RallyUp, we suggest you start planning where you’ll walk.
- Choose a walking route in a location that makes sense for you/your teammates. Get adventurous by walking in a park you haven’t been to yet!
- Select a date and time. We encourage you to walk on April 16, but feel free to host your walk anytime until the end of April 17.
- Set your desired walking goal (can be shorter or longer than 5K).
- Invite friends, family, and others to join and form their own teams. Not only will their company keep you accountable for the walk, it will be more fun, too!
Plus, connect with the Tzu Chi Walkathon community in one of three ways.
- Share updates directly onto RallyUp. Log in to RallyUp and visit ‘My Account.’ From there, post an update that shares your journey. This can be through photos, videos, training updates, and more that will be seen by your fellow participants across the country.
- Log all your walking activity, including training, using RallyUp. Click here to learn how you may enter your mileage/steps. This helps other participants see how active the community is, but also a great way to monitor your own progress over time.
- Use your own social media networks to share photos, videos, or updates, too. Be sure to use the hashtag, #TzuChiWalkathon and tag @TzuChiUSA.
Finally, to maximize your home-city walking experience, we recommend the following:
- Check the weather. Depending on where you live, it may make sense to shift the time and day to better accommodate safer walking/running conditions.
- To increase your stamina (and 5K confidence), we suggest a 15-minute daily walk in advance of the event. Feeling bolder? Make it 30 minutes when you’re ready.
- Dress according to your local weather. No matter where you are, this probably includes moisture-wicking layers, socks, your best walking/running shoes, and, of course, plenty of sunscreen. Adding sunglasses and/or a hat is not only stylish, but practical, too.
- Bring plenty of water to keep hydrated, and nutritious snacks for energy.
- In case of emergency, keep a first-aid kit handy.
Have more questions? Explore our frequently asked questions below.
Any individual or team that has raised $1,000 or more by 11:59 pm PT on 4/17, will automatically enter the Walkathon raffle for a chance to win special prizes like an Apple Watch, an iPad, and more!
Winners will be notified and will receive their prizes by mail.
SUPPORT
All participants and teams have their own fundraiser pages. You may donate to any of your choosing!
VOLUNTEER
Want to help as a Walkathon volunteer? There’s lots to do, whether it’s setting up tables, helping people check-in, giving out water, or cheering people on.
SPONSOR
Interested in becoming a Walkathon sponsor? Help us keep costs low and support our fundraising goals all at once. Explore our sponsorship packages and perks now.
OUR SPONSORS & DONORS
SPONSORS
Platinum
The Stephen & Lydia
Charitable Foundation
Silver
Superior
Communications
Bronze
Everlin
Enterprise Inc
Joanna Tan
Consultancy
Kuolin San Gabriel LLC
Sun’s Global
Trading Inc
FAQ
RallyUp is a platform that makes online fundraising easier – and more personal – than ever. We will also use the information you enter as your registration. From here, you’ll be able to set up a fundraising page for the 2022 Tzu Chi Walkathon in your name. Once you’re set up, you can customize it to include photos and videos that share why you’re participating with your family and friends.
While RallyUp is a free platform, you will be charged a minimal online payment processing fee at checkout. However, to support the platform, you may choose to provide a “tip.”
In addition to platform costs, you will see an option to “tip” RallyUp. RallyUp does not charge Tzu Chi USA for using its platform, which allows all of your raised funds to go directly to us. At the same time, we do encourage you to consider a small tip to RallyUp that will support its ability to keep this platform free and easy to use for charities like ours.
The $10 registration fee helps us cover the physical and administrative costs of running the event (including a t-shirt in your size) both in San Dimas, CA and virtually. This helps us operate the event smoothly and conveniently for all participants.
To get food from any of our vegetarian food vendors, you must use food vouchers to purchase. While they will be made available for purchase during the event, we recommend avoiding long lines by purchasing them via RallyUp ahead of time. Please note that food vouchers are non-refundable and are not considered as donations.
To maximize social distancing capacity, but also to provide walkers with a variety in scenery, we have made two separate routes available (on-campus and off-campus). Both measure 5K, but the off-campus route features more inclines for those looking for a greater challenge. Should you seek a gentler path – or need more immediate proximity to restrooms – we definitely recommend the on-campus route.
Sure! We welcome sentient beings in all their shapes and forms. If you are walking in your own city, just check to make sure the place you’ll walk allows pets and follow their rules accordingly.
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