Saving lives one baby step at a time

We still need many more volunteers to host walks.  Please don't be intimidated about doing this!  Many walks are small, private events that require nothing more than a short stroll and perhaps a picnic.  Its easy and fun.  You'd be surprised how much it does to increase awareness.  Be sure to take a look at some of the past walks at http://SophiesWalk.org/walk/locations.htm 

A big thank you to those who have contacted us about your upcoming walks.  We really appreciate your devotion to this very important cause!  Please contact us right away about the details of your particular event so that we can get this information up on the website.  In particular we need to know the date and time of your event.  Sophie's Walk is occurring on either Saturday the 30th of September or Sunday the 1st of October this year.  If you know the starting location, please tell us that too and any other events (raffle, entertainment, etc) that you may be including at your walk.

This is a very good time to encourage others to register for your walk.  Walkers can register online at http://SophiesWalk.org/walk/registration.htm  Captains and their families that are walking with them need to register too!  If your local walkers don't have internet access you can register them yourself online.  Feel free to send the sample email we sent out a few days ago to everyone in your contact lists. 

Within the month we will also have Sophie's Walk brochures for those of you who wish to mail some out.  Let us know if you need some and how many.  Tip:  If you have the time, it really helps to phone people that you've contacted with the brochure and/or sample email.  Even if they can't walk with you, you may get networking referrals, additional walker referrals, or donations.

Press materials will be sent out closer to the walk for those of you wishing to contact the press.  Contact us for training materials if you will be doing any interviews.

Stories about local vasa previa babies are handed out at the walk.  Please send us your story right away so that we can format it on Sophie's Walk letterhead for you to have on hand.  While Sophie's Walk is dedicated to Sophie, each walk honors a local baby.  It is very important to have your story on hand.

IVPF brochures about vasa previa and IVPF wristbands will be sent to all walk captains when we have a better idea of how many walkers you will have for your event.  These of course are for your walkers.  Advance registration is very important so that you have enough.  No one should leave your event empty handed! 

Local businesses are frequently happy to donate coupons, prizes, or gift certificates for charitable events.  This is the time to start asking.  Its easy if you ask the owners/managers of shops that you frequent often.  Just ask while you are there doing your routine business and errands.  If you are a real go-getter, they might even donate larger items suitable for an auction or raffle.  Locations that have done this have reported that it was a lot of fun for their walkers. 

Kind regards,

Cindy Paris and Victoria Goldstein Macadar
Sophie's Walk Coordinators
SophiesWalk@...

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