Rape Relief's Annual Walkathon

Vancouver Rape Relief and Women's Shelter Walkathon is an annual fundraiser that is instrumental in raising a critical part of VRR's operating budget. Donations from this event help raise money for our transition house and rape crisis centre. The Walkathon is held in May of every year.

Walkathon Information Walkathon Herstory Ideas for Getting Pledges Pledge Form (2009) Walkathon Poster (PDF File)
The Annual Walk For Rape Relief is on YouTube! View photos of the 2006 and 2007 walks!

Walk Information

If you are not able to make it to the Walkathon, please mail your collected donations & pledge sheets to:

Vancouver Rape Relief and Women's Shelter
P.O. Box 21562, 1424 Commercial Drive
Vancouver, B.C. V5L 5G2

See You at the Walkathon!

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Walkathon Herstory

April 19, 2000

Regular participants in the Rape Relief Walkathon know that it marks the beginning of summer in Vancouver.  With an uncanny regularity, the day chosen for the Walk has been the first sunny, summer-like Sunday of the year.

The Walk started in 1979 to help finance the Rape Relief crisis lines and to begin raising money for the Women’s Shelter.  Public support was strong from the beginning.  While governments were busy cutting their funding of feminist groups, many women and a few men were becoming more outraged at the damage done by male violence towards women. The Walk was a chance to participate with others who wanted to make a real contribution to the liberation of women from this violence. This is still true today.

The money raised at the Walkathon is a sustaining part of Rape Relief’s annual budget, particularly over the past years of no government funding. Even now, the Walkathon is a fundamental part of our fundraising strategy as there continues to be no core funding to the organization. It is an example of women and men coming together to ensure that this vibrant and long-standing organization continues to exist as an integral part of the women’s movement.

The actual mechanics of the walk have changed little over the years.  Registration  takes place  at Ceperly Park. Participants start off around the park alone, by twos and in groups, on foot, on bikes and in wheelchairs, often identifying themselves with balloons or T-shirts promoting Rape Relief.   The 10km route travels counter clockwise around the Park back to the final checkpoint at Second Beach.

The picnic, the finale of the Walk, takes place at the Parks Board cook site above the playground.  The food, the atmosphere and the company are all excellent.  Old acquaintances mix and catch up on the year’s news and activity.  Information, conversation, entertainment, refreshments and a chance for a well deserved rest in the sun are all available.  Like no other event, the Picnic marks each year and celebrates the shared work of the House Funding Committee and the Rape Relief Collective. 

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Ideas for Getting Walkathon Pledges

We recognize that it is sometimes a difficult task to ask for money. With that in mind, here are some tried and true suggestions for succeeding at getting money pledged or donated.

1. Set a personal goal:

Having to ask others for money can create a lot of fear and anxiety.  A first step to overcoming the resulting procrastination is to set a clear personal goal.  Consider the amount of money you want to raise and the number people you want to recruit as walkers too.

2. Plan what you'll say if someone says no:

Some of the anxiety about asking for money arises out of a concern that you'll be rejected.  Think about this and decide how you'll respond and make sure you are clear about what you are raising money for.  It will make it easier to ask and you will not be put on the spot.  However, if someone asks you a question you cannot answer, you may want to refer him or her to one of the phone numbers on the pledge sheet.

3. Be clear and courteous:

Make sure that you are courteous, even when it is difficult.  If someone is giving you a hard time, thank the person for his or her time.  Again, you may want to refer him or her to one of the phone numbers on the pledge sheet.  It is also useful to have a clear figure in mind when you ask for a donation.  Set that figure high (but not outrageous) so the person realizes that you take Rape Relief and the work it does seriously.

4. Try not be led off topic:

By all means agree with them that these are hard economic times, but remind them that this fundraiser is a fundamental and critical part of VRR's operating budget.  Give them Rape Relief's number if they have further questions to that effect.

5. Do not forget to ask:

If you get into the habit of asking for a donation wherever you go, it will not be such a hurdle at the end.

6. Everyone is a potential donor:

We are all in daily contact with a lot of people.  Ask your family, co-workers, landlord, roommates, friends, co-students, teachers, your boss, corner grocer anybody and everybody.  If 10 people donate $10 each, that will pay for 2 weeks hydro for the house, rape crisis centre and organizing centre!!  People like to know what a difference their money will make.

7. Try clubs, societies or political groups:

Many of us belong to other groups, clubs, societies, etc.  Next time you're at a meeting, pull out your pledge form.  You may even want to approach groups you are not affiliated with, either to seek recruits for the Walkathon or to get more pledges.  Student councils, union locals, religious groups, etc. may be willing to support you.

Good luck!!
See you at the Walkathon!!