Is your family affected by Multiple System Atrophy? If you have MSA or know somebody with MSA, do you want to raise awareness? Are you interested in joining the team and helping to fund research towards better diagnostic tools and treatments, not to mention, a cure?
Here is your chance to help and to provide real hope to the MSA Community!
Join the MSA Coalition and help us to virtually walk around the world on Google Maps. That’s right! If you have a FitBit, Garmin or AppleWatch, or even just a smart phone, you can track your daily steps and participate in our walk around the world. Whether you walk a mile a day or less, or if you are training for a marathon, your steps will all be added to our team as we walk 52,000 miles around the world.
We will have a map tracking our global progress as we start in Charlotte, NC (Home of the MSA Coalition) and then visit all the towns and cities around the world where MSA charities, research institutions, and clinics are located. By March 31, 2019 we want to be back in Charlotte.
Our goal is to raise $1 million dollars along the way.
To raise $1 million dollars, we need lots of new fundraising teams! If your father or mother has MSA, if your brother or sister has MSA, if your spouse or significant other has MSA, if your son or daughter has MSA, if your friend or colleague has MSA, join the team and get walking!
And of course, our most important team members are those of you with MSA! We want you on the team, too. If your early stage and can walk, great! If walking is an issue, join your family and friends from a wheelchair. It's a great way to have family and friend time as they walk and earn steps for our worthy cause.
Together, we can cover 52,000 miles with ease and raise awareness and hope along the way!
Track workouts anywhere & anytime and complete goal.
ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION
THE MULTIPLE SYSTEM ATROPHY COALITION INC.
The Multiple System Atrophy ("MSA") Coalition is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization with a 30-year history of devotion to improving the quality of life and building hope for people affected by MSA through a four-pillar mission:
• Providing patients and caregivers with trusted and compassionate emotional support
• Educating patients, care-partners and healthcare professionals with credible, critically important and relevant information
• Funding patient-centric collaborative research aimed at alleviating symptoms, slowing disease progression and discovering a cure
• Building a sense of community by connecting and unifying people affected by MSA.
The MSA Coalition is an all-volunteer run organization, so the vast majority of each donation goes to work for the cause. The MSA Coalition strives to place as much as 75% of each donation raised directly into our world-class MSA Research Grant Program. The additional 25% will be used to support patient and medical professional education initiatives, awareness efforts, emotional support services (such as our patient/caregiver hotline), and some operational expenses. The MSA Coalition promises to be good stewards of the money you raise on our behalf. We are transparent with our promise! Just go to GuideStar and look us up. You will find all of our complete and audited financial records. We are extremely proud of the work we have accomplished, especially over the past 5 years including the funding of 36 research grants totaling nearly $1.7 in funding. We need your help to do more!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is Charity Footprints?
Charity Footprints is a social enterprise that connects fitness and charitable giving. We empower people just like you, to get fit & give back.
Our Virtual Races allow non-profits to challenge their patrons to run, walk or ride and raise funds just as they would in a fundraising walkathon. The best part - charities save over 45% in event and logistical costs. So, the dollars that you pay to register or fundraise, go farther.
What is the campaign registration fee?
Campaign registration fee is the amount that you'll need to pay to enroll in this virtual race. This fee (less transaction charges) will go to the non-profit running this campaign as a donation.
The registration fee along with the funds raised through your individual fundraising page will enable the non-profit to fund various programs and pursue their organization's mission.
How can I create my fundraising page?
Well, you wouldn't have to create a separate fundraising page. Once you register for this campaign, we'll give you the link to your fundraising page.
If you workout indoors (treadmill, elliptical, stationary bike etc.), you can upload your workouts here.
How do I join a team on this campaign?
While registering for the campaign, select the team you'd like to join or create a new team and invite others to #GetFitGiveBack with you. If you want to join a team (or create your team) after registration, login to the campaign site and you would find a link to edit "My Team" in the menu under your profile in the header.
I am an international donor (non-US), what are my donation charges and tax-deductibility?
All donations are made in US dollars, so the donations may be levied an exchange rate fee via your bank. Donors will want to connect with their bank to determine exactly what that fee may be. Additionally, international donors will need to reach out to a tax professional to discuss if and how tax deductibility will apply to their donation.
Who can sponsor my fundraising efforts?
The short answer is - everyone. The fundraising research shows that the number one reason for people not donating is that they weren't asked to.
That said, there are things you can do to attract people to sponsor you. Adding a picture to your fundraising page, telling potential donors why this cause is so personal to you, sharing your fundraising page on social media, email, and chat groups.
Last, if your employer has a gift matching program, check with the human resources department to support your favorite cause as well.
Who can I contact if I need help?
You can contact us any time if you need help. We love hearing from our users so please don't hesitate to write to us about issues, suggestions, or to just say hi. You can also contact the non-profit administrator directly if you would like.
How do I change or switch my team?
If you want to join a team (or create your team) after registration, login to the campaign site and you would find a link to edit "My Team" in the menu under your profile in the header.
CAMPAIGN CHAT
Please register for the campaign to see the chat activity. If you're already registered, login here.