Greetings
fellow runners:
I need your help evaluating
a potential race. Some of you may recognize me as a local Raleigh
runner.
My name is Glenn Dennis. I also go by my pseudonym Jason Savage,
president
of Freedom
Memorials and director
of the Zoe Foundation.
I have been racing for more
than thirty years now. I never gave a lot of thought to directing
a race because of my schedule. I know it is a very demanding job,
and I appreciate those who undertake the responsibilities.
Since 2004, Freedom Memorials
has been working to design and fund a national memorial honoring
our military men and
women
who
have paid the ultimate price fighting for freedom in the Afghanistan
and Iraq wars. You can read about the memorial and review renditions
and endorsements on our Freedom
Memorials website.
I am evaluating the potential
for a race that would incorporate aspects that some race
directors overlook
today.
Entry into this event would include a fundraising
component similar to the one used by Team In Training.
The reasoning behind this addition is the memorial funding. Runs
like the Komen Race for the Cure can raise large sums
for their designated causes. However, these races took many years
to
reach the magnitude
they are today. Most have an impressive array
of local and national sponsors.
Raising funds for a national
memorial to our fallen in these wars on terror presents a much
different picture. One that literally shocked me into the realization
that funding this memorial would have to be accomplished in a different
manner. We want this memorial in place while the parents and loved
ones of the fallen are still alive to see it. So the fundraising
needs to proceed at a more accelerated pace. Let me offer a short
synopsis.
The Media
We have spent years trying to
get local and national media to do a story about this memorial.
Before Christmas in 2010, I did a media blitz that included press
releases, personal calls and visits to media outlets - local and
national. These included radio, TV, and newspaper. None of them
showed any interest except one, a local publication in Mt. Pleasant,
SC. They ran a very lengthy and well written story. The lesson
here is we cannot look forward to any traditional press. They do
not seem to have an interest in a national memorial honoring our
fallen from these wars.
I have spoken to numerous widows
and family members of fallen soldiers who told me the media was
eager to report the death of their loved one, but they were no
where to be found when it came to doing a story on their life.
Corporate Support
At the beginning of the year
I instituted the Sponsor A Tribute program,
a low dollar campaign focused on gaining corporate support. The
program was simple. We were asking for a $3,500 donation to sponsor
a local fallen hero's tribute on the memorial. After months of
calling and form submissions, we received ZERO support.
Some corporations did not respond at all, taking the 'plausible
deniability' option. Others said that sponsoring a tribute did
not fit into their marketing campaigns.
Some told me they did not have enough money, even though they had
hundreds of millions or billions in cash on hand. I checked their
latest corporate filings. Here's a partial list of those contacted:
Wal-Mart, Target, A-C Electric, Food Lion, Spirit AeroSystems,
WRAL Channel 5, Progress Energy Carolinas, Red Hat, AIT Inc., WTVD
Channel
11, SAS Institute, Lowe’s
Home Improvement Warehouse, Don Jenkins Carolina Ford, McDonalds
- Local, Tractor Supply, Mt. Olive Pickle Company. One of these
firms told me the sponsorship level was so low they could take
it out of petty cash. The representative I spoke with said she
would get back to me after meeting with the decision makers. I
never heard from her again even after leaving repeated voice and
e-mail messages. Seeking corporate support would probably
be a futile effort.
We are not the only ones receiving
these responses from corporations or media indifference. Other
groups that are attempting to build local memorials or hold fundraisers
to
remember
the fallen
are getting the same treatment.
The General Public
I have literally done thousands
of interviews with the average man/woman. I have
participated in street fairs to assay public support. I even conducted
a survey via the Internet. In virtually all cases, the reactions
to the memorial were positive. Those interviewed could not believe
the media indifference or lack of corporate support. Our donation
jar at the street fairs received dollars all day. I believe the
public does care and would support the memorial if they knew anything
about it. That is the hypothesis I bring to the research on the
VIP 5K. I need your invaluable input and recommendations.
The
VIP 5K Race
Concept
I am going to lay out an idea
for the VIP 5K. Graphics are included as visual aids. In many
cases, you can click on the graphic for an enlargement.
The thought here is to organize
a run that
could raise a specific amount of money for the memorial. The first
successful
run would be used as a prototype for identical events to be held
around the country like the Race for the Cure or the Stroh's Run
For Liberty held back in the mid 80's. The Stroh's Run had 120
venues across the US. I made some calculations using projected
figures associated with this hypothetical event (based on maximum
participation).
If
we could
work with local
race directors in cities around the country to hold 150 identical
runs
for
two consecutive years, we
would have
enough
funding
for
the
memorial. If we get less than maximum participation, it will take
a few more years or more runs per year. Either way, funding for
the memorial could be achieved.
The VIP in
this race focuses on the runners. How would you like to be a part
of a fundraising effort to build a national memorial? Each participant
is a Very
Important Person who is helping
to make the Freedom Reigns Memorial a
reality. In that respect, I designed this race to have a combination
of
features that set it apart from any other
running event. The success of this event will not be
predominately dependent on sponsors. We all know what can happen
if a few, major or minor, decide to pull out at the last minute.
I
have
attended
races where that has happened. One race had very little food after
the finish. The sponsor didn't come through. Another race ran out
of bottled water at the water stops. Again, the sponsor dropped
the ball. I would like this to be the most memorable running event
a runner,
casual
or
competitive,
may ever enter.
Race
Distance: 5K USATF (TAC) Certified Course.
Gun start. Open to runners, walkers, and wheelchair participants. No strollers.
No dogs. No turns near the
start or finish.
No narrow starting chute. No turn
arounds. Water or gatorade handed
to runners
immediately
at
the end
of the finish chute. Iced towels available. In case of hot,
humid conditions, a water spray will be set up near the finish.
This will be a runner's race. The focus of the race itself
is on the runners, like it was a few decades past.
Target
Date: The
week before or the week after Memorial Day or another date that
may better fit a race director's schedule.
Website: We
will have a dedicated website for this race where all
information and downloads can be obtained.
Pre-Race: Vendor
booths. Band providing background music
- 65 decibels maximum. Water/gatorade available. No race
day registration or packet pick up. Packet pick up and location
scheduled before race day.
Bathroom
Facilities: There will be an ample number
of portalets. This is a problem in many races. The number will
be based on portable toilet usage at the New York City Marathon
- one toilet per twenty-five participants. That is a much higher
number than is recommended by the Portable Sanitation Association
International. But races present a more unique usage variable.
Race
Photos: Provided by event photography professionals.
Participants: The
event would be limited to 750 participants.
There will be no waiver of fees or special consideration for
elite
runners. Waiving entry fees, paying appearance money and travel
expenses for elite runners is done in many large races. It guarantees
a excellent field of top runners and adds prestige to the race.
However, for this race, and the series, if it should happen,
I wanted everyone
to remain equal, which, in this case, includes their responsibility
to help raise funds for the memorial honoring our fallen heroes.
Seeding: There
will be a seeding option that will be strictly enforced.
A published time from a 5K race held within the previous six months
(before the race date) must to be submitted. The race and time
will be verified. Seeded sections: 16 minutes
or better, 17 minutes, 18
minutes,
19 minutes,
20
minutes,
and
21 minutes+. Walkers would follow the last group of runners. Wheelchair
participants would start ahead of the runners.
Mile
Markers: There will be
conspicuous, accurately placed mile markers at mile 1,2,
and 3. Mile time callers will be placed, but runners
should depend on their watches to verify an accurate split.
Timing: Chip
Awards: Are
you tired of reading something like this? "In the 5K, awards
will be presented to the first male overall, to the first female
overall
and to the top finisher in each of the following age divisions:
(both sexes) 12-under, 13-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, and 60-over."
I borrowed the quote from a local race advertisement. What awards?
In many races these days it means gift certificates. And look at
those
age
groups. That was particularly bad. Ridiculous really. No top three?
One deep in the age groups!
Gift certificates to me
means the race director did not want to take the time to come
up with
a memorable
award
unique
to the race. Gift certificates make good items for the post-race
random drawing. Back in the day, twenty plus years ago, we never
saw any gift certificates. Race directors prided themselves on
the awards they presented. Today, for the most part, that element
has been relegated to the scrap pile.
How can you remember your race effort with a gift certificate?
There will be three sets
of top prizes. A participant has three opportunities
to win an overall prize. There will be no duplication
of awards.
Top Fundraiser
The top fundraiser
will receive an Apple® -
iPad® 2
with Wi-Fi - 16GB – Black. They will also receive a
special commemorative plaque. |
Commemorative
Challenge Coin
Every finisher will receive a 2", custom made commemorative
challenge coin in a velvet display box. The coin can also
be displayed
as a recess mount with the commemorative certificate.
|
Age
Groups / Divisions
We will go five deep in five year age groups (male/female).
10 & Under,
11-14, 15-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54,
55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79, 80 & Over. In addition
we will have a Masters division (top 3: 40-49), a Grand Masters
division (top 3: 50-59), and a Senior Grand Masters division
(top 3: 60 and over) Wheelchair division - Top 3. Clydesdale
division - Top 2 (Male: 200 lbs. and over, Female: 155 lbs.
and over)
 Each
Masters, Grand Masters, Senior Grand Masters, Wheelchair,
and Clydesdale division winner would receive a Vivitar -
10.1-Megapixel Digital Camera.
|
Framed
Commemorative Certificate - Top 3 Overall
(Challenge coin recess
mounted in the certificate)
Commemorative
Certificates
 |
Each
age group/division winner would receive a framed designer commemorative
certificate with a recess mounted challenge coin. |
 |
All
runners would be able to download and print a personal designer
commemorative certificate. The runner's race result can be
filled out on screen. The challenge coin graphic can be cut
out by
a picture framer and the challenge coin recess mounted before
framing. Click here to
see the PDF. |
 |
We
would have a custom commemorative certificate available for
any runner who would like to have his/her race photo included
with
their
race
result. |
Winner
and Competitor Recognition
  Memorial
Hall, which will be located adjacent to the memorial, will
feature a special display in honor of the runners who participated
in the 5K events and helped raise the funds to build the
memorial. Race winners (top three) from events in each state
will be featured on the display. Accessible near the display
will be a computer database that will archive all participants
from every 5K event.
|
T-shirts:
100% cotton. Six-ounce knit fabric. Double-needle
tailored throughout to retain its shape washing after washing.
Fully taped at the neck and shoulder seams. A printed label
replaces the itchy neck tag. Full color graphic. No sponsor
logos. Choice
of colors.
(Available shirt colors)
Post-Race
Event: A catered breakfast or brunch along
with a full complement of beverages. A hotel or other indoor
facility would be preferred. If the event is staged
at a park or other outdoor facility, a tent large enough to
accommodate all participants and volunteers will
be available
in case of inclement weather. A band will provide background music
- 65 decibels maximum. Vendor booths will be permitted.
Event
Entry: This
would be similar to the methodology used by Team In Training
and other major fundraising events. I have added a premium
for those who make a minimum donation supporting
the memorial. The dog tag is a clear static cling designed
for display on
the inside
of a home, store, or vehicle window. The cling is 6" x
2.75",
will not damage
the surface and is easily removable. At right is an authorization
letter that will be made available to each entrant. A pledge
sheet will accompany the letter.