After watching my Facebook page fill with status updates and photos of my fellow Staten Islanders as well as friends in NYC helping those affected by Hurricane Sandy last week, I knew that I needed to find a way to help. Logistically, it’s difficult for me to physically help – having an (almost) 2 year old and 7 week old (who doesn’t yet take the bottle) force me to stay home most of the time.
This past weekend, I had the idea of starting a virtual race. I emailed a bunch of running gear companies that I have had contact with in the past (and some I haven’t) as well as several friends who pulled some strings for me and several friends who have their own businesses. The response has been overwhelming. As of this morning, there are 40 prizes that can be won – worth over $2,500.
All updates will be posted to this page.
**NEW** For whoever donates (and/or collects on their own to donate here) the most amount of money, Runner’s World will award you with a Fantasy Day. Details are below!
**NEW**Race Bib now available for download
Please see the FAQ section at the bottom for any questions you may have!
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How to participate: (Note: You MUST complete steps 1-4 to be eligible for a prize!)
1. Make a donation (click here)
- You MUST make a donation to be entered into the giveaway!!
- Minimum donation: $20 (this is your entry fee) – see giveaway details (below) for more information
- 100% of money goes towards the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Hurricane Sandy Relief Fund. This foundation is focusing it’s efforts on the NYC, Long Island, and NJ coastline – the areas most severely hit by Hurricane Sandy
- You do NOT have to create your own fundraising page. Just click “Donate” on the upper right portion of the donation page.
2. Sign up for the Virtual Race (click here)
- Date: Saturday, December 8th (if you can’t run it on this day, you can run it before this date)
- Location: Wherever you want (your neighborhood, track, trail, treadmill)
- Distance: 5k or 10k (or both!)
- You can run, walk, bike the distance
3. Download your Race Bib (click here)
- A huge thank you to Races2Remember for designing the Race Bib for this race
4. Complete the 5k and/or 10k
- Please take a picture of you w/ your bib the day of the race and tweet it to me (@nycrunningmama) or email it (nycrunningmama@gmail.com). I am going to do a results/summary post and will include you in it!
5. Enter your race results (click here)
6. Cross your fingers that you are one of the winners!
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Giveaway Details
- The minimum donation of $20 enters you into the giveaway
- For every $20 you donate, you will gain an additional entry into the giveaway (Ex: if you donate $60 or $75, you will have three total entries)
- For every $100 you donate, you will gain five additional entries for a total of TEN total entries
- Each winner will get to choose their prize (based on the order their name is selected and the prizes remaining).
- Your name can be chosen multiple times (and so you can win multiple prizes) if you choose to donate more than $20
- Grand Prize will be awarded to whoever donates / collects most money!!
Prizes Available
- GRAND PRIZE – Runner’s World: Fantasy Day which includes tour of Runner’s World headquarters, run with Runner’s World crew, visit to the test closet (for a pair of shoes to take home), lunch in the cafe, and more (valued at ??) – 1 Grand Prize Winner (based on amount donated)
- Runner’s World: One year subscription to Runner’s World Magazine ($60) – 1 winner
One year subscription
- Brooks: Apparel + pair of shoes of your choosing ($240 / $730) - 3 winners (2 sets of women’s size small clothes, 1 set of men’s size large clothes)
Brooks - Apparel and shoes
Package 1 (Women’s): Infiniti Capri (grey/size S), Printed Mesh Cap (white and orange/one size fits all), D’Lite Mesh Tank (pink/size S) + pair of shoes
Package 2 (Women’s): Infiniti Capri (black and pink/size S), Printed Mesh Cap (white and orange/one size fits all), D’Lite Mesh Tank (pink/size S)
Package 3 (Men’s): Rogue Runner III Short (black and green/size L), Versatile Singlet (blue/size L), Hvac Infiniti Mesh Cap (blue/one size fits all) - Saucony: Pair of shoes of your choosing ($150) – 1 winner
Saucony Guide 6
- Mizuno: Pair of shoes of your choosing ($150) – 1 winner
Mizuno Wave Rider 15
- Altra Zero Drop Footwear: Pair of shoes of your choosing ($105) – 1 winner
Altra Intuition 1.5
- Erica Sara Designs: Custom Engraved Necklace ($200) – 1 winner
Erica Sara Designs Custom Engraved Necklace
- Swiftwick: Two pairs of socks + pair of arm sleeves ($49 each / $490) - 10 winners
Swiftwick socks + arm sleeves
- Sparkly Soul Headbands: Two headbands (1 thin and 1 wide) – choice of colors ($32 each / $64) – 2 winners
Thin Sparkly Soul Headbands
- Women’s Running: One year subscription to Women’s Running Magazine ($50 value) – 1 winner
Women's Running Magazine
- Blissful Eats: Six – 2 oz. servings of organic granola – choice of 2 flavors ($15) – 1 winner
Six 2 oz servings of organic granola
- Believe I Am: Training Journal + Strong T-shirt ($55) – 1 winner
Believe I Am Strong T-Shirt + Training Journal
- Team Sparkle: Sparkle Skirt + race legs + visor ($62) – 1 winner
Team Sparkle Skirt + Race Legs + Visor
- PowerBar: Pack of gels + Box of Nut Naturals Trail Mix Bars ($60 each / $120) – 2 winners
Gels + Energy Bars
- Foot Locker: $50 gift certificate ($50 each / $100) – 2 winners
$50 Gift Certificate
- Healthy Bites: Assortment box ($10) – 1 winner
Assortment Box
- Pro Compression: Pair of Compression Socks ($50) – 1 winner
sompression socks
- Oiselle: Pair of Roga Shorts ($44) – 1 winner
Oiselle Roga Short
- Mile Stones: One set of race bib tile coaster ($22 ) – 1 winner
- AfterShokz Headphones: One set of headphones ($50) – 1 winner
If you have ANY questions about any the race, giveaway, or prizes OR would like to donate an item to the Race for Recovery 5k / 10k, please email me at nycrunningmama@gmail.com
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FAQ
- How will you know who donates money? The donation page is through crowdrise. It allows me to track all donations – so I will know who has donated (and how much has been donated by each person). I can also verify the amounts that are submitted on the race entry form.
- Are the giveaway winners based on fastest times? No – for two reasons. First, this isn’t a race to see who is fastest – it’s about raising money, so anyone who donates should be (and is) eligible to win a prize. Secondly, there is no way to verify the times that are submitted, so it would be unfair to award prizes that way
- Where does the money I donate go? I never see the money that is donated. The crowdrise site allows me to identify a charity and all money donated via my website goes directly to that charity.
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- Twitter -> @NYCRunningMama
- Pinterest -> NYCRunningMama
- Instagram -> @NYCRunningMama or http://web.stagram.com/n/nycrunningmama/
- Facebook -> NYC Running Mama
Companies who donated items:
- Runner’s World: Twitter Facebook
- Races2Remember: Twitter Facebook
- Brooks: Twitter Facebook
- Saucony: Twitter Facebook
- Mizuno: Twitter Facebook
- Altra Zero Drop: Twitter Facebook
- Erica Sara Designs: Twitter Facebook
- Swiftwick: Twitter Facebook
- Sparkly Soul: Twitter Facebook
- Women’s Running: Twitter Facebook
- Blissful Eats: Twitter Facebook
- Believe I Am: Twitter Facebook
- Team Sparkle: Twitter Facebook
- PowerBar: Twitter Facebook
- Foot Locker: Twitter Facebook
- Healthy Bites: Twitter Facebook
- Pro Compression: Twitter Facebook
- Oiselle: Twitter Facebook
- Mile Stones: Twitter Facebook
So doing this from California!! Thank you!! I was just thinking it would be cool to do something of this sort. Thanks for putting it together!!
So glad I came across your virtual! I emailed you my photo
Good stuff Michele!
We are in the Chicagoland area and our kids and their friends have made ornaments that they are selling for Hurricane Sandy relief.
What charity are the proceeds going to? Fellow runners will be asking (as they did about the ornaments). We went through World Vision Hurricane Sandy Relief.
Thanks again!
Michele-
I love this!! We are in the Chicago area and a group of our kids have made ornaments and are currently selling them and sending profits to Hurricane Sandy Relief as well. What charity are you donating the proceeds to? We went through World Vision Hurricane Sandy Relief. I would like to look over the charity so I can give that info to my fellow runners that I know will ask.
Thanks again!!
Hey Jenny!
Thanks so much for your support !!! I love the idea of the ornaments – that’s so thoughtful of the kids in your area!!!
The virtual race is supporting the Tunnel To Towers Foundation Hurricane Sandy Relief Fund. The charity is supporting NYC, Long Island, and the NJ coast line – basically the areas that got hit the hardest from the hurricane. Here is the link to their website – all the information is on there! http://www.tunneltotowers.org/ Please let me know if you have any other questions =)
Love this Michele – just awesome! I’m off to register now!
Michelle @ Running with Attitude recently posted..Random runs, chiro visits and other randomness
This is awesome, Michele! Good job organizing this wonderful event for a great cause!
Just signed up! What an awesome idea!
Sarah (Shh..Fit Happens) recently posted..Green Eggs and Jam!
Just wondering if Canadians can participate!
You truly are an inspiration! I printed the race bib and wore it as I ran the Philadelphia Half Marathon yesterday! People seemed interested, so I hope it sends more runners this way to support this fantastic cause! Thank you for creating the event Michele!
I love this. Do you maybe have a graphic or logo I can use on my email signature to help promote it?
This is amazing Michele! I’m actually signed up for a 5K that day (perfect timing!) and am happy to run that for hurricane relief. I’ll be signing up! Thank you for coordinating this!
This is so awesome!
Regina recently posted..Wordless Wednesday
Have I mentioned lately how awesome you are? I love this and such incredible prizes you’ve pulled together. Now that I know that I can run at least 3 miles, I am seriously considering signing up. And of course will help you promote this!
Christine @ Love, Life, Surf recently posted..Memories Captured: The Run
Thanks so much for doing this (from another native Staten Islander). Hosting a giveaway on my blog too also for the Stephen Siller Foundation, they are an amazing organization!
Megan@ Run Like a Grl recently posted..Fundraiser Update & Poland Spring 5 mile Recap
What a wonderful idea to bring runners together and support those struck by Sandy! Way to go NYCRunningMama, you are an inspiration!
Great idea! Just donated!
Jocelyn recently posted..Believe I Am – Check In #1
What an awesome idea!!! I’m totally in!
Ashley recently posted..Rylan 8 Month Summary
I just wanted to thank you for writing about your Posterior Pelvic Pain. I’m 24 weeks and just developed this and completely understand what you were feeling/going through and its helping me right now to know that you survived and were able to run again and have a healthy pregnancy/delivery. People see me limping around and I get comments like “yeah I had back pain throughout my pregnancy too” and “yeah, welcome to pregnancy” but I don’t think they realize this is the kind of “can’t barely get out of bed, wakes you up in the middle of the night, horrible, excruiciating pain!” So thanks again!
This is my second virtual race for the cause and I am so glad!!! Great idea and wonderful support!
I’m in!!!
I saw this after I registered for another virtual relief race, although I’m considering doing yours as well… love that runners can come together in this way to give support!
Laura @ Mommy Run Fast recently posted..To marathon, or not to marathon?
Hello, Is it possible to send me a link to the donate page? I’ve signed up but am not able to figure out how to donate. Thank you!
Hi Gracie!! Sure! Here is the link: http://www.crowdrise.com/RunForRecovery/fundraiser/michelegonzalez =)
Thanks so much for participating =)
nycrunningmama recently posted..Race for Recovery 5k/10k
I just signed up, but am confused about the donation page – do we donate to your page, or do we create our own? Thanks for organizing, Michele!
Hey Erin! You can do either! You can donate directly to my page or create a page within mine so that all the donations get accounted for on the main page (my page)…Any donations you receive would count as donations from those who donated – as well as yourself!! =) Does that make sense?
Yay this’ll be my second race for recovery virtual run, can’t wait!
Kat recently posted..All the shingle ladies!
i can’t wait to run this! and donate! and all of the above! THANK YOU!
lindsay recently posted..Things to Come & New Finds
Is it open to people outside the US (such as Canada)?
Hi! I am in Europe… is it open for people on the other side of the ocean as well? Thanks!
Let me check with the sponsors. I will be sending out some of the prizes and have no issues with sending it outside US…but several are coming directly from sponsors. Will let you know ASAP! =)
Carla, I’m so sorry I totally forgot to respond to you.
Let me check with the sponsors. I will be sending out some of the prizes and have no issues with sending it outside US…but several are coming directly from sponsors. Will let you know ASAP! =)
nycrunningmama recently posted..Race for Recovery 5k/10k
Count me in! If I can’t run by Dec 8th then I’ll be walking!
Sarah @RunFarGirl recently posted..Paleo Pumpkin Bread
Love it! That’s one week post marathon for me, but I’m sure I can muster a slow 5k for this. Tweeted and put up something on my FB page. And I’ll be registering!
You rock!
misszippy1 recently posted..Final long run
You can count me in! Anything I can do to help the victims . I will share, tweet and talk it up as much and often as I can. Hope you’re doing well with the baby. xoxo
Lisa @ RunWiki recently posted..Picky Bars Mini Gluten Free Peanut Butter Pie
I have a half marathon that day but will still participate to support the hurricane relief funds. Thank you for sharing this and helping to put it all together.
When does registration close?
Tina @ Best Body Fitness recently posted..Scenes from the Week
You are amazing! What a fantastic list of prizes you’ve managed to pull together and all for a great cause. Hope you’re managing ok what with the Nor’Easter this week adding insult to injury…
Alison @ racingtales recently posted..2013
I love this!! I’m signed up! I know I’ll be able to run at least the 5k and time permitting I might just go all out and do the 10k. I posted it to twitter and facebook to spread the word. Thanks for putting this together!
Carissa Dukes recently posted.."HAMHOCK" and other things you don’t use to describe a pregnant woman
What an amazing idea Michele! You are a busy mommy and I love how you take time & energy to help your community during this time! I will retweet & give some blog love in a few days!
Jen B recently posted..Cold Weather Commando
Wow — what a fantastic idea, I’m for sure going to sign up and I’ll post on my blog too!
Hyedi recently posted..Racing this weekend…
Love the idea of a virtual race to raise money for Sandy relief! Those are some awesome prizes too!
Tia @ Arkansas Runner Mom recently posted..Delaware and Lehigh Heritage Marathon- Race Report!
That an awesome idea and thank you for putting this virtual race together. I registered and I am excited to run for a great cause!
What a great idea! I registered! The best way for us runners to support.
Katie @momslrb recently posted..Rendezvous with a Malibu