You are invited to partner with us as we raise awareness about homelessness in central Iowa at our 2nd Annual Walk a Mile in Their Shoes walk-a-thon—set for the morning of Saturday, September 4 at Copper Creek Lake and Park in Pleasant Hill. All proceeds will benefit Hope Ministries’ programs and services to homeless men, women and children.

During our inaugural walk-a-thon in 2009, more than 500 people participated! We expect our numbers to double this year.

Unlike any other walk-a-thon of its kind, we are offering an interactive experience! Along the 1.2-mile path, you will see cardboard testimonies from once-homeless individuals and families who are current shelter residents or recovery program graduates. We will also post statistics about homelessness along the path, and we’ll have prizes for participants who complete our fill-in-the-blank stat sheet.

Click on the icons above to listen to radio spots and view a television commercial about our Walk-a-thon!

Registration and personal fundraising Web page information.

1. If you would like to register for the walk-a-thon and set up a personal fundraising Web page, click here. You will be taken to our main personal fundraising page. From there, simply click on “To Register and/or set up your personal fundraising Web page” to get started. First you will be taken through a simple registration form, and then you will be linked to your own fundraising Web page where you can modify and individualize your page. If you’d like to print out step-by-step instructions on how to create your personal fundraising Web page, click here.

2. If you’d like to register for the walk-a-thon—and are not interested in setting up a personal fundraising page, click here. You will be taken to a new page where you will need to click on “To Register and/or set up your personal fundraising Web page.” During registration, you will be asked to create a username and password. Please make sure to check the box that says “Participant Only” so you can skip the personal fundraising Web page steps.

2010 Walk-a-thon Highlights

Hope Ministries thanks our Corporate Title Sponsors:
           

Click here to see more corporate sponsors.

	We’re thankful that Metinka Slater, meteorologist with KCCI Channel 8, will be walking with us at this year’s walk-a-thon. "'KCCI Cares About The Community,' and of course that includes caring about our homeless. We hope to raise awareness of the problem and work together with Hope Ministries and the community to help find solutions." Metinka Slater, Meteorologist, KCCI-TV		Van and Bonnie from WHO Newsradio 1040 AM will be joining us at this year’s walk-a-thon! They will be broadcasting live at the walk-a-thon and will help lead the walk.
	Last year Shelly Rusch and her son Noah walked in our first annual walk-a-thon! Shelly was deeply moved when she had the opportunity to hear the testimony of a woman that Hope Ministries had assisted as she and Noah walked around Copper Creek Lake. Here’s what Shelly had to say: “I sat down and put my arms around her. I know my contributions go directly to help people like her, and it’s heartwarming to put a face to the people you are assisting.”		Rachel Leigh is an on-air personality with Pulse 99.5 FM Christian Radio. She will be playing music and announcing for us at our walk-a-thon. Thank you, Rachel!

New this Year: Help us "Loop the Lake!"

With enough participants, we'll surround Copper Creek Lake to form a "Circle of Hope" with compassionate men, women, and children who will stand together in solidarity for people who are homeless in our community.

This will require an estimated 1,700 people.

Hope Ministries thanks this small group from the Downtown Church in Des Moines for helping us spread the word about our walk-a-thon at the Pleasant Hill parade.