Step 1:

Start your planning by holding a brainstorming meeting with your entire Lions Club or group. These are the main questions to be answered:

Your "hike" could be a stroll
through the woods or a
walk-a-thon in town.

• Who will chair the event?
• How long and where will the hike be?
  (Start with a couple of possibilities.)
• How will money be raised? (Pledges, entry fee, raffle prize, etc.)
• What's your fundraising goal?
• If you're doing a raffle, what will the prize be?
• Who are potential volunteers and participants?
• Where will you advertise?
• How will you work hearing into the hike?
• What's the back-up plan for bad weather?
  (You don't necessarily have to cancel the hike. Just make sure it's promoted as "rain or shine." Possible back-ups include providing ponchos, reminding hikers to bring their own rain gear, or having an alternate indoor location.)

If the stars are aligned just right, by the end of the meeting you'll have a chair and volunteers to help with preparing for the hike and working the event the day of. In reality, you'll still have some recruiting to do.

Step 2:

Secure your location. It could be anywhere from a scenic trail to the high school track to a custom route through town that highlights things we hear but don't usually pay attention to.

Other things to consider… A common distance used for charity runs and walk-a-thons is three miles (the 5K you see promoted everywhere). Are any permits needed? Where will everyone park? Do you want to arrange carpooling?

Step 3:

Choose your date and keep in mind that it may depend on your location.

Step 4:

Put your fundraising gears in motion. As applicable… Decide on amount for pledges or entry fees. Submit requests for a raffle prize and business sponsorships. Set prices and purchase items if you're selling bottled water or snacks.

Step 5:

Download our
sample pledge form

Prepare information packets containing things you want hikers to have before the event. Start with the pledge form (see the sample to the right) and directions to the hike/map of the route.

Also consider including our handout on how the money Play it be Ear raises is used, interesting hearing facts (cut and paste the ones you like best), and your group's brochure.

Step 6:

Download our
sample flyer

Advertise for participants. Good sources include your group's contacts, newspapers, businesses and workplaces, churches, and schools (from elementary to college level). Don't forget to use connections from programs like the Lions Health Screening Unit and Hearing Aid Bank.

Step 7:

Finalize your plan for working hearing awareness into the hike. Possibilities include passing out ear plugs halfway through to simulate hearing loss (order them here) or posting facts/trivia questions along the trail.

Step 8:

Prepare "day of" materials – e.g. posters, extra maps, name tags, donation receipts, etc.

Step 9:

Week of the event… Check-in with volunteers. Place reminder calls to hikers.

Step 10:

Day of the event… Have fun!

Step 11:

After the event… Discuss what worked and what to change for next year. Send thank you letters to people who helped make the hike successful.

Send the Final Report and money raised to the Northwest Lions Foundation. Let us know if you want special recognition for people who made extraordinary contributions. We're also happy to take care of sending the thank you notes for all of your gifts – simply include the names and addresses of donors (or copies of the pledge forms) with your report.