1. health and fitness
2. disease
3. cancer

TEAM
CAPTAIN
TOOLKIT
13TH ANNUAL MID-MICHIGAN RACE FOR THE CURE®
SUNDAY, APRIL 26, 2015
Welcome, Team Captain!
Congratulations and Thank You!
You have generously taken on the task of leading your team in the 13th annual
Mid-Michigan Race for the Cure®. If you’re a returning Team Captain, thank you for your
past efforts in joining us in the battle against breast cancer and for committing to do
it again. If you’re a new Team Captain, you are probably unsure of what you’ve gotten
yourself into; let us assure you – it is something wonderful. Your experience will be lifechanging for you, your team members and the thousands of people touched by this
disease.
Your efforts will help provide screening, treatment, education and research to help end
breast cancer forever. YOU WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN COUNTLESS LIVES! YOU ARE
THE CURE!
Included in this kit you will find information about Susan G. Komen®, important dates and
deadlines, your responsibilities, instructions on forming your team, suggestions for
recruiting team members and fundraising ideas.
We would like to be of assistance to you in any way we can. Please feel free to email us
with any questions, concerns or fantastic ideas for recruiting, fundraising or improving the
Race. We will do our best to provide a prompt response.
IMPORTANT CONTACTS:
Komen Michigan Affiliate Website
www.komenmichigan.org
General Information/Inquiries
[email protected]
Team Captain/Race Questions
Komen Michigan Affiliate Phone
[email protected]
517.886.4901
We Are Susan G. Komen®
FULFILLING THE PROMISE
In 1980, Nancy G. Brinker promised her dying sister, Susan, that she would do everything in
her power to end breast cancer forever. In 1982, that promise became the Susan G. Komen®
organization and the beginning of a global movement. What was started with $200 and
a shoebox full of potential donor names has now grown into the world’s largest nonprofit
source of funding for the fight against breast cancer. To date, we’ve invested more than $2.5
billion in groundbreaking research, community health outreach, advocacy and programs in
more than 30 countries. And we won’t stop until our promise is fulfilled.
PROGRESS IN THE FIGHT AGAINST BREAST CANCER
Since 1982, we’ve contributed to many of the advances made in the fight against breast
cancer. We’ve transformed how the world treats and talks about this disease and have
helped turn millions of breast cancer patients into breast cancer survivors.
We are proud of our contribution to some very real victories:
• More early detection and effective treatment. Currently, about 70 percent of women
40 and older receive regular mammograms, the single most effective screening tool
to find breast cancer early. Since 1990, early detection and effective treatment have
resulted in a 34 percent decline in breast cancer mortality in the U.S.
• More hope. In 1980, the five-year relative survival rate for women diagnosed with early
stage breast cancer was about 74 percent. Today, it’s 99 percent.
• More research. The federal government now devotes more than $850 million each year
to breast cancer research, treatment and prevention, compared to $30 million in 1982.
• More survivors. Today, there are more than 3 million breast cancers survivors in the U.S.
LOCAL IMPACT
Our objective is to support our
mission of saving lives and ending
breast cancer through education,
screening and research. Up to 75%
of the net proceeds raised by our
Affiliate fund local breast cancer
programs and a minimum of 25%
supports cutting-edge national
breast cancer research.
In total, Susan G. Komen®
Michigan has invested over $4
million in the Mid-Michigan area in
support of efforts to end breast
cancer forever!
Why Form a Team?
T
E
A
M
eamwork - A team gives people an opportunity to volunteer their time, talent
and dollars together to make a difference in our world and have fun doing it!
Support community involvement. Take up the challenge of finding a cure by
raising funds for the Race for the Cure.
ducation - As a team, you inspire each other and others to learn about breast
cancer and early detection, breast self awareness messaging, to have yearly
clinical exams and mammograms, and to teach others about Komen and its
mission – to end breast cancer forever.
wards - Working together as a group, you can accomplish great things. Make
your fundraising goal reach even farther. Strive to create the largest team
possible, with everyone raising funds. Our generous sponsors continue to award
our teams for their achievement (See Team Awards page of this kit).
otivation - Rally behind a co-worker, friend, family member, or stranger who is a
breast cancer survivor or co-survivor. Join in the fight against a disease that is a
major health concern for women around the world and in your local community.
Spread the message that early detection is the best protection.
YOU HAVE THE POWER TO MAKE AN IMPACT!
This year, with the support of our
participants, donors, sponsors and
volunteers, Komen Michigan was able to
fund over $218,000 in community grants
supporting projects in Clinton, Eaton,
Ingham, Jackson, Livingston, Shiawassee
and Washtenaw counties.
These potentially life-saving programs will
provide access to education, screening,
diagnostics and survivor support for women
and men in our communities.
For a complete list of grants visit:
www.komenmichigan.org
Team Captain Responsibilities
WHAT WILL YOU DO?
• Register your team (team captains must register themselves and their team first prior
to team member registration). Find helpful step-by-step instructions on the “Registering
Your Team” page of this toolkit.
• Recruit people to join your team.
• Encourage team member fundraising.
• Communicate Race information to your team – keep them motivated.
• For any paper registration: Distribute and collect paper entry forms to prospective team
members. Forms can be downloaded and printed from our website. Set a deadline
for team members to return their forms to you a few days ahead of your deadline for
submission – give yourself time for coordinating the paperwork.
• Verify proper forms are completed, signed, and are accompanied by accurate fees.*
• Collect and turn in materials on time and all together.
HOW WE CAN HELP
• Assistance with questions, problems, tips, statistics, ideas, etc. You’ll find all of our
contact information on the Welcome Page of this kit. We will do our best to return all
emails and phone calls promptly.
• Team Captain Kick-Off. We will be holding information nights to give new and veteran
team captains an overview of the Race, answer questions, walk through the process,
offer fundraising tips, etc. You will find dates and information on these events on the
“Important Dates & Deadlines” page of this toolkit.
• Email bulletins with Race updates, fundraising suggestions and sample
communications.We want you to have a great time while working hard to make your
team successful.
*Please double check for accuracy of team name, birthdate, age, t-shirt size & signature.Participants under
age 18 must have registration waiver signed by parent/ legal guardian.
Forming Your Team
WHAT IS A TEAM?
To qualify for team awards your team must consist of 10 or more participants who register
online by Tuesday, April 21st, 2015 under a common team name. Paper registrations must
be submitted by Tuesday, April 14th, 2015. Any company, family, group of friends, club,
community organization, school, or faith group can form a team.
WHERE DO I FIND TEAM MEMBERS?
Put simply, EVERYWHERE! See the list below for a few ideas, but remember that almost
anyone is a potential teammate!
Place of worship
Workplace
Clients
Vendors
Neighborhood
Family
Former classmates
Senior centers
The gym
Staff at your mechanics
Stylists at your hair salon
Facebook friends
Everyone who came to your wedding
School faculty
PTA members
Day care mothers
Parents from your child’s athletic team
Fraternity/ Sorority friends
Staff at your morning coffee stop
Book club
Bowling league
Fishing buddies
Staff at your family doctor
Walking partner
Registering Your Team
Registering your team and individual team members online is highly recommended. However,
if you choose to register offline, paper registration forms can be found on our website.
TO FORM A TEAM (TEAM CAPTAIN):
1. Go to www.komenmichigan.org.
2. Under the Events dropdown at the top of the page, hover over Mid-Michigan and click
on Race for the Cure tab.
3. On the homepage, click Register.
4. If you are a past team captain and would like to register under the same team name,
you will click on Join a Team or ReForm Team. If you are a new team captain, you will
click on Start a New Team.
5. Once you have completed the registration process for your team and yourself, review
your Registration Summary. At this time, you may register additional people if you are
paying with one credit card.
6. Click on Complete Registration to proceed to Billing.
7. Carefully review the Confirmation Page. You must click Process to complete your registration.
8. The final step is to customize your Participant Center, begin recruiting your team
members and start fundraising!
TO JOIN A TEAM (TEAM MEMBER):
1. Go to www.komenmichigan.org.
2. Under the Events dropdown at the top of the page, hover over Mid-Michigan and click
on Race for the Cure tab.
3. On the homepage, click Register.
4. Next you will click on Join a Team.
5. Enter the Team Name (or first few letters) and then click Search for a Team. If you don’t
know the team name, leave the search field blank and click on Search for a Team. When
you find your team, click “Join” on the right column. If you see “Bring Team Back” and
not “Join” next to your team’s name, remind your team captain to get registered!
6. Once you have completed the registration process, review your Registration Summary.
At this time, you may register additional people if you are paying with one credit card.
7. Carefully review the Confirmation Page. You must click Process to complete your registration.
8. The final step is to customize your Participant Center, begin recruiting your team
members and start fundraising!
Team Incentives & Recognition
TEAM TAILGATE
The top 10 fundraising teams (per capita) will receive a 10 x10 team tailgate tent in the
designated team tailgate area on Race day.
TEAM AWARDS
Teams of ten or more will be recognized in the following award categories:
• Best Team Spirit on Race Day
• Highest Fundraising Team (total dollars)
• Largest Team in Each of the Following 8 Categories:
• Friends/Family
• Community/Neighborhood
• School/University
• Law Enforcement/Firefighters/EMS
• Business with less than 25 Employees
• Business with 25-100 Employees
• Business with 101-500 Employees
• Business with 501 or more Employees
Recognition will be based on team totals as of Tuesday, April 21st, 2015, at noon for online
registrations. Paper registrations must be turned in by Tuesday, April 14th, 2015, at noon to
allow for manual entry into the system. Paper entries turned in after that time will not count
toward award totals.
Fundraising 101
With your efforts as a team captain, you have the ability to motivate your team members
to raise more than ever before. Fundraising can be a great way to unite your team while
raising money to eradicate breast cancer as a life-threatening disease.
THREE STEPS TO SUCCESSFUL FUNDRAISING:
Step 1: Identify your prospects & formulate a goal: Just like potential team members are
everywhere, so are potential donors!
Step 2: Select your approach: telephone, email, snail-mail, texts, face-to-face, Facebook,
Twitter, etc. Face to face communication will always garner a more positive response. If
you are using e-mail, be sure to explain exactly what you are doing, why, and exactly where
the money will go. Your online Participant Center will make fundraising simple and even fun!
Following these few simple tips can save fundraisers both time and effort:
• Register online and set up a personal page.
• Add a direct link to your fundraising page in your email signature and social networking sites.
• Direct supporters to visit www. komenmidmichigan.org, click on “Donate”, click on
“Donate to a Participant or Team”, and then search for your name.
Step 3: ASK! ASK! ASK! Always ask for something specific. Aim high. Don’t underestimate
donors’ generosity.
FUNDRAISING IDEAS
• Support yourself by donating $25 when you register.
• Take advantage of email - request that each person you email forward your message to
a friend, asking them to donate to the cause.
• Ask someone you’ve previously supported to return the favor and support your cause.
• Encourage each team member to raise a minimum of $100.
• Place a “Spare Change for the Cure” jar next to your office’s coffee pot.
• Create a fundraising competition among team members. The highest amount wins
bragging rights or a prize!
• Make pink ribbon pins and sell for a donation.
• Have a garage sale and donate the proceeds.
• Ask each of your Facebook friends for $20 - this could really add up!
• Ask your company for matching gifts.
• Hold a “healthy snack sale” at work - sell baggies of cut-up veggies and fruit instead of
cookies & cakes!
• Have a friends and family game night - play for money and donate the proceeds.
• Collect empty bottles and cans for the deposit. Set up a box outside your office and
ask co-workers to drop off their empties. Have neighbors put their empty cans on their
porch so that you can pick them up.
• Ask a donor to “sponsor” your Race training. Keep track of your mileage, and have them
donate a dollar for every mile you walk or run in preparation for your 5k!
• Offer up your expertise to friends and family or do odd jobs for a fee: critique resumes, organize
closets, clean out cars, put up or take down holiday decorations, plan events, or be a “personal chef.”
• Hold a Silent Auction – this can be on-line or in a break/community room. Include such
items as coffee with the President/CEO; dinner with the pastor; lunch with the principal, etc.
Find even more ideas on the “Fundraising Tips” page in your Participant Center
online at www.komenmichigan.org
Important Dates & Deadlines
Distribute Race Application Forms to Team Members:
Team Captain Kick-Off Event:
7:00 p.m. at the Komen Mid-Michigan Office
2601 Coolidge Road, Suite 206, East Lansing, MI 48823
Registration Deadline Team Incentives & Recognition:
Pre-Race Packet Pickup at Playmakers:
2299 W. Grand River, Okemos, MI 48864
START TODAY!
February 17, 2015
Tuesday, April 21, 2015
Friday, April 24, 2015
10:00 a.m - 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, April 25, 2015
10:00 a.m - 5:00 p.m.
Race Day Registration & Packet Pickup:
Radisson Hotel Lansing at the Capitol
111 North Grand Avenue, Lansing, MI 48933
Sunday, April 26, 2015
11:00 a.m - 1:30 p.m.
13th annual Race for the Cure 5K Run/Walk Start:
Sunday, April 26, 2015
2:00 p.m.
Complete schedule of events for the 2015 Mid-Michigan Race for the Cure will be
available on the Komen Michigan website.