I have been receiving a lot of questions from people about this RUN FOR TINGO website so I thought I would clear things up with a quick post.
FAQ #1: How can I run? Do you need more runners?
Yes! We hope to have 30+ runners on race-day. We currently have 18. The team is made up of working engineers, other working professionals from the area, member of Engineers Without Borders, students from the University of Pittsburgh, and students from Carnegie Mellon University. Everyone is welcome.
Simply click on the link to the right under the heading JOIN THE CAUSE! that reads "sign up for the race here" (or just click here). This will take you to the Pittsburgh Marathon website - from there just sign up for whichever race you would like to run, and pay the fee for the signup. We are all registering as individuals for this race - and we did not sign up on time to be a "Charity" on the race website. Then email me and let me know which race you are running. (rtg6@pitt.edu)
FAQ #2: When is the race?
Sunday, May 15th, 2011.
FAQ#3: How much does it cost to sign up for the race?
Full Marathon (26.2 miles):
$100 through April 30
$120 Race Weekend - if available
Half Marathon (13.1 miles):
$90 through April 30
$110 Race Weekend - if available
Marathon Relay (5 person team run of Marathon distance):
$56 per team member through April 30 ($280 per 5-person team)
If you don't sign up by April 30th you probably cannot run. Last year the Marathon Relay was full before the end of March.
Kids Marathon (1 mile fun-run):
$15 through April 30
$20 Race Weekend - if available
FAQ#4: Is the signup fee tax-deductible?
Nope. That would be nice though. Anybody know how we can hook that up?
FAQ #5: Do I have to fund-raise or pay a minimum amount of money to join the team?
No. We are hoping that each runner can fund-raise at least $100 by the time of the race (May 15th), but if you do not, you will still be welcome to run. The signup fee you pay on the race website is not considered part of the $100 you have raised. This $100 will cover the price of your Run for Tingo t-shirt (coming soon) and help to defray construction/project management costs of our water pumping project in Ecuador. $100 is the minimum, but it should be very easy to generate much more.
Example:
- Secure a pledge from 10 people who will donate $2 for every mile you run. For the Half-Marathon (13 miles) this will generate $260.
- Ask the local burrito shop if they would like to sponsor our efforts, with a pledge of $50, in return for their business symbol being listed on this Run for Tingo website as well as on the back of the Run for Tingo t-shirt.
- Ask the local sustainability/development/water related non-profit organization if they would be willing to sponsor our efforts, with a pledge of $100, in return for the same features. Ideas might be - Sustainable Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Refugee Center, Clean Water Action...
FAQ #6: Is my donation tax-deductible? How do I pay?
Yes. All donations are tax-deductible and may be made through the link to the right under the heading DONATE TO THE SWEAT FUND! Donations may be made through this secure online link, by check or money order, and also through a PayPal account. Follow the instructions on the right of the screen.
FAQ #7: I like the idea, but don't know if I can run a whole Marathon!
That is fine! There is a Half-Marathon and we also have a couple of Marathon Relay teams waiting for more partners. The five members of the relay team each run between 4.8 and 6.2 miles. That is doable by almost anyone, and if you can't do it right now, running once a week should get you there by race-time!
As the FAQs keep coming in I will put the answers up.
