This was the month for walk or run donations in my house. Everyone seemed to be walking or running for something. One of my closest friends was walking with her family in memory of her mother who she lost to breast cancer almost 30 years ago. What a great idea!

We are all looking for ways to get in shape and be more active with the family, right? Registering for a charity walk is not only a great way to be active on that particular day, but you can begin to get in shape now for the big event. Talk about it with your partner and/or children and come up with a cause and a date. Once you've made your selection, you can begin to create fitness goals for your family, and the real fun begins!

How do you find a walk or run that is right for you? Start by thinking about any personal experiences you have with any of the causes out there. I used to walk in the cystic fibrosis walk every year with a family I babysat for as their daughter had CF, and that continues to be a charity I look to donate to. If you do not have a personal relationship with a disease or disorder that is being researched, first count yourself lucky, then figure out what appeals to you. Read up on different organizations. Ask your children what they would like to raise money for. If those don’t work, do what we all do as parents - see what fits best in the schedule!

Here are a few tips for a fun and successful family charity walk experience:

• Mark it on the calender and get excited. Get something special to wear for the big day.


• Set a reasonable goal for family donations.Keep the monetary goal small as children will enjoy it more if you actually reach it.


• Set up a fitness plan. Buy the family a set of pedometers to track your paces each day. Log them. Cheer each other on as you achieve your goals.


• Have a special breakfast before you go to fuel up.


• Celebrate the completion with a family meal out at a favorite restaurant.


• If it goes well, consider making it a family tradition!

The walk I have done in the past is Great Strides. Want to recommend a special organization you've been involved with that does a walk of some kind? Have family charity walk stories? Share them here! We can all use a little help to get motivated!