Will You Join the WA Community Challenge?
What is the CommUNITY Challenge?
The CommUNITY Challenge is a virtual journey across Washington in which Special Olympics athletes, friends, family, and community members connect and compete in distance traveled and funds raised over a six-week period. Individuals and teams will walk, run, roll and move together as we make our way across the state with the goal of achieving 180,000 miles by the end of the challenge. The fundraising goal is $250,000, which should be very easy to get to as a state if we all participate!
“With the generosity of our community, we can react and pivot quickly to provide athletes with critical resources and support during this unprecedented time.”
– Washington Special Olympics
Special Olympics Washington designed the CommUNITY Challenge to help children, adults, and athletes with intellectual disabilities to navigate life as we are still in COVID-19 times. The CommUNITY Challenge was also made to keep athletes active, engaged, and healthy even while stuck at home. They do this by providing valuable resources, but they need funding to continue.
How the CommUNITY Challenge Works
Participants are vying for miles and there are tone of ways to get to the goal:
- Participate solo or join a team and race together with other athletes and community members!
- Collect ePostcards from pit stops around the race route.
- Complete fitness, health, and wellness challenges to earn bonus steps.
- Share photos of yourself going the ‘extra mile’ by adding to the CommUNITY Challenge scrapbook.
- Earn eMedals for reaching distance and fundraising milestones.
- Join others online to celebrate crossing the CommUNITY Challenge finish line together!
Going for walks, playing basketball or soccer, group workouts, and even dance parties (scheduled and impromtu!) count towards steps. Our goal is to get movin' & groovin', build stronger connections between community members and HAVE FUN!!
How to Participate in the CommUNITY Challenge
Starting May 22nd, you can register online. Track progress automatically by downloading and setting up the Charity Footprints app on a mobile phone, Apple Watch, FitBit, or other wearable device. If using a pedometer, you can track your steps here. Participants can also track progress and activities online or by using an offline packet.
As you rack up those miles, you can share your fundraising page with friends and family so they can support your efforts to keep athletes with intellectual disabilities active, engaged, and healthy until they can compete in person again.
Washington CommUNITY Challenge Events
There will be weekly events that you will find on the Washington Special Olympics events calendar (also seen below). There will also be prizes including socks, t-shirts, XBoxs, and a couple of roundtrip tickets on Alaska Air. If you’d like to also support the cause by purchasing merchandise, you can do that here.
Your participation will make all the difference to our community, state, and athletes!! We’re looking forward to walking, rolling, running, and moving with you all!
For more information, go to: https://www.charityfootprints.com/CommUNITYChallenge/
FAQs
Who can participate in CommUNITY Challenge?
Anyone! CommUNITY Challenge invites Special Olympics athletes, Unified Partners, family members, sports teams, companies, and community members to participate.
Do I have to be part of a team to participate in CommUNITY Challenge?
Not at all. While it is more fun to participate with a team – even if teams can’t be together in person – you can sign up on your own.
Is there a fee to participate?
Yes – there is a $30 registration fee to participate. There is also an option to fundraise to raise money for Special Olympics Washington.
Are the registration fee and donations tax deductible?
Special Olympics Washington is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization and your donation is tax-deductible within the guidelines of U.S. law. To claim a donation as a deduction on your U.S. taxes, please keep your email donation receipt as your official record. They will send it to you once your donation is successfully processed.
What if I have cash or checks to turn in as donations?
Do not mail cash. Turn the cash into a cashier’s check and mail the checks to the Washington Special Olympics. Their mailing address is: Special Olympics Washington; 2815 Second Avenue, Suite 370; Seattle, WA 98121. Write your name and “CommUNITY Challenge” on the memo line so they can credit it to your online fundraising page!
What awards are up for grabs?
Top Individual Fundraiser, Individual with Furthest Distance, Individual with the Most Footprints, and Team with the Most Footprints.
What other ways can I earn bonus steps?
The Special Olympics Washington will provide weekly challenges as well as resource fair workshops and other activities during the challenge where participants can earn additional bonus steps that will move you further on the interactive map.
What are Pit Stops?
Participants will make their way virtually around the state of Washington and stop in different cities and receive special messages from local celebrities, community members and athletes!
Athlete Hotline phone number: 206-681-9362