Join Team Azalea Charities and
Run for Wounded Warriors in the
Marine Corps Historic Half (MCHH)
May 16, 2010

You will get a lot more satisfaction from your 2010 half marathon experience knowing you’re helping U.S. combat wounded soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as veterans from previous wars.  

So how does this work??

 Azalea Charities Inc. is an MCM Charity Partner and has obtained 25 entries into this year’s 2010 historic half marathon.  Since the run is expected to sell all its running bibs available to the general public, the only way to get into the Historic Half after the race closes out will be through MCM Charity Partners like Azalea Charities, Inc.  This year Team Azalea Charities is continuing its relationship with the British charities and active duty units, but is also seeking athletes and charities from Canada and Australia to get involved with our team as we recognize the commitment made by these nations to serve Side By Side with U.S. wounded service personnel deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. 

Fundraising goals

Charities participating in the MCM Partner Program typically require a minimum fundraising goal for each of its participants.  Your minimum fundraising commitment to Azalea Charities, Aid for Wounded Warriors is only $150.00 and must be raised by June 1, 2010.  We realize that some contributions may not arrive until after you complete the run.  This commitment is well below the minimum required by many other charities, and higher than a few others, because we are looking to fill our team with individuals who are passionate about raising awareness and funds for our cause and willing to set a higher individual goal to reach our $150,000 Team Azalea Charities fundraising goal for 2010.  As an added incentive, Team Azalea Charities’ half marathon runners also competing in the Marine Corps Marathon in October will only have the one $500 commitment for both races, which will need to be met by the November 15, 2010 MCM deadline.  Team Azalea Charities will also offer all runners a full refund on the MCM race entry fees ($65 for the MCHH and $90 for the marathon) if you raise $1,000 or more by October 15, 2010. 

Review the fundraising tips available to you as a Team Azalea Charities runner.  You’ll have some excellent web-based tools at your disposal, to include an individual fundraising web page automatically set up for you by Active Network that you’ll be able to easily customize, together with a secure on-line credit card donation capability hosted on your web page. 

Though many charities require runners to reach their minimum fundraising target by the April  deadline for registering our 25 half-marathon runners for MCHH, Azalea Charities will only require you to customize your fundraising page and initiate your fundraising by April 1, 2010 (as evidenced by at least $100 check in donations received by the charity).  If you have not started your fundraising campaign by April 1, you risk that you will not be registered officially into the event. 

How do I register?

Register for the MCHH at our webpage powered by Active Network where you’ll need your credit card for the $65 non-refundable race entry fee (plus minimal Active.network fee).    

Benefits of Running with Team Azalea Charities

As a member of Team Azalea Charities, you will receive the following:

• First and foremost, the personal satisfaction of supporting the needs of our sick and wounded soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines in rehabilitation upon returning from Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as a guaranteed slot in the 2010 half marathon
  
  
• Your own personal fundraising website set up automatically by ActiveGiving, painless to customize and manage your fundraising campaign (personal message, photo, goal, and ability to track fundraisers)
  
  
• Ability to fundraise for a worthy cause and solicit checks by mail or credit card donations online without handling any cash transactions
  
  
• Sample fundraising memo/email content that you can personalize
  
  
• Charity-generated receipts & thank you memos (for checks received by mail) & automated Active Network-generated email receipts / thank you notes (for online donations) sent to your contributors
  
  
• Charity-generated donation confirmation email (for checks received by mail) & Active Network-generated confirmation emails (for online contributions) sent to you so you know who has contributed to your fundraising campaign
   
• A t-shirt and race day running singlet (made of a wicking fabric)  with Team Azalea Charities, Run for Wounded Warriors logo (available no later than on race weekend)
  
  
• Opportunity to meet Azalea Charity board members, volunteers, fellow runners & supporters at the Team Azalea Charities carbo-loading, family style pasta lunch, free to you and for an optional contribution from family & supporters, on Saturday, May 15th at 1 p.m. at Georgio’s Family Restaurant, Montclair Shopping Center, 4394 Kevin Walker Drive, Dumfries, Virginia 22026
  
  
• Directions, signs & noise makers to charity volunteers and each runner’s supporters & family to form our Team Azalea Charities cheering squad along the course
  
  
• Guaranteed spot in our 2011 Team Azalea Charities events for every runner meeting or exceeding their 2010 minimum fundraising goal

Still interested?? 

Please register for the historic half marathon at our Team Azalea Charities MCHH Registration webpage. You’ll receive a confirmation email from Active Network, prompting you to customize your fundraising page linked from our Team Azalea Charities Fundraising webpage  to begin your 2010 campaign early.

For further information, contact us or visit the
Marine Corps Historic Half website.