Running and Walking for a Cause – Celebrating Heart Month

Supporting organizations committed to health-based initiatives is one of the main pillars of the Businessolver Foundation.

A perfect example is our partnership with the American Heart Association. Each year, the Businessolver Foundation supports AHA in communities where we have offices through attending galas, biking with CycleNation, supporting STEM Goes Red, celebrating American Heart Month, or perhaps our favorite activity, Heart Walks.

Participating in a walk/run for a charity is an easy way to engage your company’s employees while supporting a worthwhile cause. Through my experiences, I have learned some do’s and don’ts when coordinating a walk/run with your office team. Here are some things to think about.

Do:

• Promote the event. Be sure to use your company’s employee communication outlet to promote the event and talk it up during team meetings, gatherings around the lunch table or other social conversations. It is also important to personally ask people to participate, especially leaders. A face-to-face ask goes a long way and demonstrates your personal commitment to the cause.
• Make fundraising part of the fun. Again, I emphasize the personal ask. Encourage your co-workers to donate what they can. But don’t be vague! Specifically explain why a donation is important and what their donation will go towards. Many organizations offer fundraising pages specifically for teams. Use these pages and promote your team’s efforts on social media. You might even get some donations from people outside your company!
• Include friends and your family. On the day of the walk/run, bring your friends and family. Building a community of giving is one of the best aspects of these events. Generally, there will be different courses for people with varying athletic abilities so anyone can participate!

Don’t:

• Focus only on the fundraising. While you certainly want to raise funds for the organization you are supporting, remember it’s also about bringing your team and co-workers together to celebrate a non-profit. Encourage people to give what they can and also to participate in the event itself.
• Miss out on the pre- and post-event activities. Most walks/runs include family-friendly events before and after the event. Be sure to get to the location early to find parking and take advantage of the many informative and fun booths. This is a great opportunity to find out more about the organization and it also gives you time to mingle with other participants.
• Forget to make connections at the event. You might be surprised at who you run into at your local walk/run! At Businessolver, we ask our clients if they are participating or would like to join us so we can network and socialize together while walking/running. These events are a fun new way to meet people and learn about what is going on in your community and stay involved.

As you think about your next walk or run, I hope you will join Businessolver in recognizing American Heart Month this February. Talk to your healthcare provider to learn about your blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar and BMI (body mass index) numbers. These numbers are critical to heart health and could save your life. I encourage you to join the Businessolver team in making a commitment to heart health and we will see you at the next Heart Walk!

Find out more about Businessolver’s dedication to heart health.