HARRISBURG MARATHON / RELAY 11/12/23
Questions? Reach out to Matt Riggins (mriggins@gpartners.org) or 717-877-2313
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RUNNING WATER FOR THE LIVING WATER began in 2016. Since then, runners and walkers on our team have brought clean water to thousands. After the 2022 season, the 200th well funded by the team was dedicated!
For the 8th year in a row, we will be participating in the 2023 Harrisburg Marathon and relay. As individuals, families, friends, and churches, we will join together to raise funds for clean water in South Asia and Uganda. Race day is the finale to our fundraising season and a symbolic "crossing of the finish line" as we celebrate what God has done. A few months after the race, runners/donors will receive a personalized video of the well they helped provide. You're invited to join us!
OUR WHY
In communities throughout the world, families just like yours struggle to find clean water or have to live on an insufficient or rationed supply of water. When you fundraise with us, you not only make an impact, but you also get to see the smiles you have brought to a specific village! These photos are from our team's 200th well celebration in February 2023.
Wells are typically dedicated 2-3 months after the race. If you raise enough for a whole well ($2500), we'll send you (or your team) a personalized video* of the dedication, plus pictures, GPS coordinates and details from the village your well was installed in.
- We work with partners on the ground in South Asia (and more recently, Uganda), to find villages and areas most in need of a clean water source.
- See examples at the bottom of this page.
- *If you raise funds for a partial well, you will still receive village details and a video, but the video will also thank the other runners whose funds were pooled together with yours.
HOW TO START YOUR FUNDRAISING PAGE
This year, we are switching from Flipcause to Kindful as our fundraising platform. We encourage and challenge you to set a team goal of raising $100 per mile. We also encourage the team captain to attempt to raise the most even if they are not running the longest leg. Friends and family members who are not running are welcome to fundraise as well. NEW for this year: Team members must be invited by a team captain to create their pages.
TROUBLESHOOTING TIPS:
- After you create a team, you must invite other team members to join it. (Team members cannot join without being invited).
- Be sure to send a link to your personal fundraising page to friends and family. (make sure your name is in the URL link in the search bar). If they give to your team or the overall cause, the money will still go to the overall goal but you will not get credit for the donation.
Fundraising Ideas
There are endless ways to raise support for a good cause, but we have a few ideas to get you started.
- Use your Skills: Do you have a skill set you could leverage to bring hope? Lawn care or yard work, music lessons, hair or makeup services, childcare and handmade products can all be offered for donations.
- Sponsorship: Do you know a business or resturaunt owner who may be interested in supporting your cause with a sponsorship package? See more details in the Sponsorship section of this page.
- Giving Up to Give Back: Is there something you could give up for a few weeks (Coffee run, ordering takeout, a subscription service, etc) to contribute to your cause?
- Special Occasions: On your birthday, anniversary, or Christmas, ask family and friends for donations instead of gifts
- Friendly Competition: Start an office, family or Vacation Bible School penny war to see which team can gather the most change.
- Dare for a Cause: Adventurous types may enjoy a "Dare" style campaign, such as promising to shave your beard, get a pie in the face or record yourself lip-syncing a song if supporters help you reach your donation goal.
Printable Fundraising Letters and Materials
CELEBRATING WITH US ON RACE DAY
You're invited to join us as we celebrate the finale of fundraising season at the Harrisburg Marathon. By running a relay leg of 5-8 miles or the full marathon, you can symbolically take on the miles that families no longer have to travel in search of a water source.
Registration and Coupon Codes
Mail in Form: SAVE on the Processing Fee: Click Here to Download Registration Form and Mail In. Please note that the discount code only works for online registration. The flat price for registering by mail is $240/team.
Race Day Schedule (Subject to Change)
Order T Shirts
- Order & Pay Online (link here)
- If ordering online, you are welcome to use Promo Code "payoffline" if you want to pay via check/cash
- Send funds via Venmo @gppd2003 (Global Partners)
- Please include in comments that it's for raceday shirt payment
- Bring a check/cash to the Friday night rally (or give to Matt)
- Write check out to "Global Partners" or "GPPD"
Fundraising / Troubleshooting
This year, we are switching from Flipcause to Kindful as our fundraising platform. We encourage and challenge you to set a team goal of raising $100 per mile. We also encourage the team captain to attempt to raise the most even if they are not running the longest leg. Friends and family members who are not running are welcome to fundraise as well.
TROUBLESHOOTING TIPS:
- After the team captain creates a team, they must invite other team members to join it. (Team members cannot join without being invited).
- Be sure to send a link to your personal fundraising page to friends and family. (make sure your name is in the URL link in the search bar). If they give to your team or the overall cause, the money will still go to the overall goal but you will not get credit for the donation.
Course and Event Details
Sunday, November 12
For 4-person Marathon relay teams, there are 2 routes, which combine to make 26.2 miles.
Printable Letters and Postcards
Interested in sending letters to prospective donors or business sponsors? Click here to view all printable documents.
Training Plans
We are not affiliated with any training coaches, but we are including links to a few resources that may be helpful to those just starting out in their running journey.
SPONSORSHIP
Personal or corporate sponsors can designate funds to a specific runner/team or the group goal. 95% of your donation will go directly to well installation! Sponsors can choose to be featured on the back of the team t shirt or remain anonymous. Feel free to reach out to mriggins@gpartners.org with any questions.
Sponsorship Levels - - - Diamond - - - Gold - - - Silver - - - Bronze
Businesses and individuals who financially support our efforts at any level will receive pictures and GPS coordinates of the well contributed to. Donating the following amounts designates you as a sponsor, whether you give to a specific runner or to the overall campaign goal.
BRONZE $250
Previous + Business or individual’s name will appear on t shirt worn by group members on race day (Unless you prefer to remain anonymous)
SILVER $500
Previous + Name OR logo on t shirt
GOLD $1000
Previous + a framed picture of well dedication ceremony
DIAMOND $2600
Previous + 2 complimentary race shirts, AND Sponsor/business name to appear on a banner at the well site. You will also receive a shareable link to a personalized video of YOUR well being dedicated with special thanks to you or your business name. The banner will be presented to sponsor as a gift after returning to the US.
Mail In Sponsorship Form
If you would rather sign up as a sponsor via mail, click here to download the Business Sponsor sign up form. (Click document title to download).
Since 2016, Running Water for the Living Water team members have provided OVER 200 WELLS! Click to experience a few of the well celebrations.