It's Amazing What Incentives Will Do!

For the past couple of years, I've taken part in the nationwide "Take Steps for Crohn's and Colitis" fundraising walk. However, instead of going to Memphis or Nashville, I decided to organize a local walk to help bring attention to "inflammatory bowel disease" (IBD) in my rural community. In 2008 and 2009, we walked on the fitness trail on the campus of the University of Tennessee at Martin with great success. We were able to spread a lot of awareness in Northwest Tennessee thanks, in part, to friends, family and amazing contacts at various local media outlets.

This year, I haven't decided whether or not to continue my local walk just yet. The primary reason is that as Advocacy Chairperson of the TN Chapter, it is one of my responsibilities to attend the "big city" events and volunteer in helping with the walk. In addition, I will invite local legislators to our walks and encourage them to participate.

Usually I register my team, "The Rolling Crohn's", sometime around March or April. However, an email from the "Take Steps" folks last night helped light a fire under my butt (no pun) in registering a little early this year.

As an incentive to encourage people to register their teams early and, thus, begin their fundraising efforts, the CCFA "Take Steps" community came up with a strange, albeit, creative way to get things moving.

According to their email:

"Register for the Take Steps Walk before November 30th and you will be entered into your local walk site contest for free toilet paper for one month. One local walk site winner will go on to win the national grand prize of free toilet paper for a year!"

I swear, I'm not making this up! The amazing part is that I got up this morning and registered my team on October 31, 2009 for the Nashville walk scheduled for May 22, 2010. Hey, toilet paper is a sacred commodity around this house.

*Quick side bar - as it is Halloween, please resist the urge to "roll" someone's house tonight. It's not the mess that bothers me, it's the wasting of the precious TP that gets me. One caveat: If you choose to use cheap dollar store toilet paper, have at it*

Anyway, our team is ready to go! Right now, it's just Mandy, Xavier and me, but feel free to donate to or join The Rolling Crohns. You don't have to attend the walk in Nashville to be a part of our team. You can join our team, spread awareness and raise funds for a great cause! We'd love to have you as part of our team.

Our team goal is $1500, but I'd really love to exceed that this year. So, in lieu of Christmas or birthday gifts for me, I ask you to consider donating to our team. A cure for Crohn's and colitis means a lot to me...that would be the best gift I could ever receive.

Here are a couple of videos from our 2008 and 2009 walks.

I know budgets are stretched thin in every household, so any dollar amount is greatly appreciated!

To join our team or donate, click here.

Thanks to all who have walked with us in the past or donated generously! Your support means a lot to me.

Cheers,

Brent