5K4Kids by Nike Teams
Team Guide
You are helping kids find safety, healing, and justice
You make the difference! When you participate in the 5K 4Kids by Nike, you are helping victims become children again. The Memphis Child Advocacy Center (CAC) serves children who are victims of sexual abuse and severe physical abuse through prevention, education, and intervention. To learn more about the CAC and how to keep kids safe, go to www.MemphisCAC.org.
When you start or join a team, you are taking your giving to the next level. Teams amp up the volume on enthusiasm, get more people involved, and allow folks the opportunity to raise more money for the kids served by the CAC.
Key information about the event
Whether you are a runner, a walker, or a cheerleader, the 5K 4Kids by Nike has something for everybody. It includes a Memphis Runners and Track Club sanctioned 5K race with awards, a one-mile Family Fun Walk, food, beverages, and live entertainment provided by Kevin and Bethany Paige.
The 5K. The 5K course, located in a quiet neighborhood setting, is measured and approved by the Memphis Runners and Track Club. To make sure the 5K course is safe for everyone, strollers, rollerblades and pets are not permitted.
5K Awards. Awards will be given to the male and female overall winners, male and female masters (40+) winners, male and female grand masters (50+), and the top three male and female finishers in each of the following age groups: 6-9; 10-14; 15-19; 20-24; 25-29; 30-34; 35-39; 40-44; 45-49; 50-54; 55-59; 60-64; 65-69, and 70 and above.
Team Award. There is also an award for the team that raises the most money for the CAC. For more information about the Team Award, see Team Perks section below.
The Family Fun Walk. Don’t want to run a 5K? The one-mile Family Fun Walk is for you. The paved path circles the community center grounds. It is stroller and wheelchair accessible, so everyone can be a part of the fun. The Walk takes off at the same time as the Race (6:30 PM).
Team Walk or Team Run? Teams aren’t required to choose between the walk and the run. A team can choose to have both walkers and runners in both the 5K and the Family Fun Walk.
Race Day Info
Onsite registration. Anyone who hasn’t registered in advance can register at the event starting at 5:00 PM. Please note that teams have the option for additional members to register on site, but any money received from teams after Sunday, April 18th cannot be included in totals considered for the Team Prize (most money raised).
Both the 5K run and the walk start at 6:30.
Entertainment. Kevin and Bethany Paige will rock the house – and some other special guests will be on hand to cheer you on. Special guests at the event include the Grizz, the Grizzlies Dance Team, Mrs.
Refreshments. After the run, you’ll enjoy some pizza along with our great entertainment. There will be beer for adults and Roadshow BMW/MINI bottled water -- as well as some other snacks. Massage and chiropractic care will also be available to soothe tired bodies.
Getting a team started
Team members may have all kinds of affiliations, such as school, family, employer, a group of friends, or membership in a church or synagogue. Whether your team consists of adults or kids, runners or walkers, or a diverse range of folks, the bottom line is that you are gathering together to help raise money for kids and have fun.
Here are the steps to get started:
1/ Decide to form a team. The first step is to decide to have a team. You don’t even have to identify all the members of your team will be to get started – just decide to do it! If you have at least two people, you can start your team -- and then work on recruiting more people. Teams can be big or small – there are no limits on team size.
2/ Pick a team name. It is best that it is short and easy to remember* but beyond that, feel free to be creative.
3/ Choose a team captain. Every team needs a Captain who is in charge of teammate communications and coordinating team activities (see Ways to Make Your Team Rock for team activity options). The Team Captain will have the support of a Team Coach (a CAC Volunteer) who can help provide cheerleading, ideas, and resources.
4/ Register for the 5K 4Kids. Every team member must register individually for the 5K 4Kids by Nike. To register, go to www.RacesOnline.com and use the calendar to find the 5K 4Kids by Nike on April 23. For more information on registration, go to the How to Register section ahead.
If you’ve already registered before you joined or started your team, don’t worry. Just contact Su at 901-888-4337 or shartline@MemphisCAC.org to ensure that you are registered as part of your team.
*When registering, make sure all members have the correct spelling of your team name – misspellings may cause duplicate teams (if you think this may have happened to your team, contact Su at 901-888-4337).
Ways to Recruit New Team Members
The best way to recruit new team members is word of mouth. Talk to your friends and family. Ask all your teammates to tell people they know about why they are running or walking for the kids at the CAC and invite their friends to join your team.
Use Facebook, Twitter, or other social media account to invite people to join your team. Make an announcement at work or school that you are looking for people to be part of your team. Let them know why you are running or walking for the CAC. Consider putting up flyers in your place of worship, school, or workplace.
How to Register
Online registration. To register online, click here.
If you don’t want to use your credit card online, you can still fill out the registration on www.racesonline.com and then send a check to the CAC. Just use the “Mail-in Registration” option.
Early Goody Bag Pick-up and Registration. You have the option to pick up your goody bag and tee shirt at Goody Bag Pick-up at Fleet Feet on April 22, the day before the event. Fleet Feet is located at 4530 Poplar Avenue #102, in the Laurelwood Shopping Center.
On-site registration. You can also register at the event for a slightly higher fee. Registration opens at 5:00 on race day. Goody bags and tee shirts cannot be guaranteed.
Perks for Teams
Teams are great for getting together to have fun, training together, and having mini-fundraisers. There is additional support for teams as well.
Team Coaches. Each team is assigned a team coach. The team coach will check in on you from time to time and offer encouragement and ideas. Team coaches are members of the
Advance goody bag pick-up. Your team captain has the option to arrange for advance goody bag pick-up for all pre-registered team members. Just call your team coach for information.
Pictures taken at event. We will have a professional photographer at the event to take photos of your team together on race day. More information to come about scheduling.
Special Recognition. Teams who raise more than $500 (not including registration fees) by Sunday, April 18, will be recognized at the event on special signage as well as on the CAC website.
Team Award. The team that raises the most money (not including registration fees) by Sunday, April 18, will win the Team Prize.
Ways to make your team really rock
Draw attention to yourselves! The more people know about your team, the more exciting and successful your team will be.
Utilize Social Media. Set up a facebook event or group page for your team. You can link it to the 5K 4Kids facebook page and the CAC website www.MemphisCAC.org. Once your team has a team page, be sure to add your team’s Facebook page as a link to your own Facebook page. If you need help starting a Facebook page, contact your team coach.
Email your friends. Send out an email to your personal contact list to let your friends know why you’re running or walking for the CAC. They may choose to make a donation to the CAC in honor of your team at www.MemphisCAC.org. As long as they make it in your team’s honor, the donation will go toward your team total. Even if they don’t make a donation, your email will help spread the word about the important work done through the CAC. Either way, you are helping the kids at the CAC.
Get matching tee shirts. Showing up at the event with tee shirts that proudly display your team name will increase the excitement for the whole team. You don’t have to limit your team identity to tee shirts – funny hats or any other creative attire that expresses your team spirit is welcome, too!
Recruit some cheerleaders. Yes, there will be cheerleaders on site, but a 5K 4Kids can’t have too many cheerleaders. And remember, cheerleaders can be young, or just young at heart. The only requirement is enthusiasm!
Race Day Songs and Chants. “I don’t know but I’ve been told [you fill in the rest]” Have fun and get people excited!
Get on the CAC website. Send us a picture of your team and we’ll put it on our website. Be sure to include Team Name and send to BWight@MemphisCAC.org.
The more you infuse your team with spirit, the more fun your team experience will be. Have fun!
How Your Team Can Raise Even More Money for Kids
Ways to raise more money. Teams have the option to do some additional fundraising for the kids served at the CAC. Here are some ideas to consider:
q Have a party with a cover charge. You can have it at your home, or decide to ask a restaurant to partner with your team.
q Collect money for the CAC at your team member’s school, church, or workplace.
q Conduct an online fundraiser. Use your email contact lists to encourage friends and family to donate to the CAC online (at the CAC website) in honor of your
team. You can also set up an online donation services like Firstgiving.org.
q Look for a team sponsor. Be sure to let your team coach know if you have a sponsor who gives $500 or more to the CAC in your team’s honor so they can get special recognition at the event.
Utilize your team coach for fundraising ideas and resources. Knowing that your team is raising money to help kids who need safety and justice makes fundraising easy.
Ensuring team credit. There is a prize for the team that collects the most money, so you want to be sure your team gets credit for every penny raised. If you or your supporters write checks to the
Our sponsors
The CAC’s 5K 4Kids by Nike is made possible through you, our other participants, our teams, and our generous sponsors. Please make an effort to patronize, or just say thank-you, to our sponsors:
Our sponsors:
Nike
Le Bonheur Children’s Medical Center
The Prentiss Foundation
River Oaks Investment Corporation
The Glassman Family
Kim FM 98.9
Soul Classics 103.5
Special thanks to:
Becky Clark, PhD
Memphis Pizza Cafe
Dr. Susan Murmann
Jim and Marilyn Paavola
Roadshow BMW/MINI
