Walk as an individual or, better yet, form a team!  Forming a Walk team is an opportunity to conquer a challenge and share a great experience with friends, family members or co-workers. 

A team consists of four or more people. Teammates can be friends, family members, co-workers or anyone who would like to join your team! Some teams unite to support a loved one with MS and other teams unite to support a good cause. The primary focus of a team is to motivate one another with training and fundraising as you build your relationships with your team members. Find out about becoming a team captain!

As a part of the MS movement, you and your team are committed to a world free of MS. We’re committed to you and the success of your team. Here are three simple steps to starting a team.

Stay up-to-date on your team’s fundraising progress through your participant center. Through your participant center you can personalize your team page and start your blog. Your team page is an effective fundraising tool for online donations. You can add a picture of your team and if you are a corporate team, you can put your company logo on your team page. Your blog can function like a discussion board where you can initiate conversations by posting topics. Your registered teammates can also add comments. Don’t hesitate to log on to your participant center and upload a team photo and/or company logo. Write a short story about your team today!

Team members can be anybody— friends, family, co-workers, or neighbors — and they can all easily register online. Whether you’re a corporate team or a team of family and friends, just be sure to ask everyone you know.

Start A Team With Your Company Or Organization
Boost team spirit and morale by participating in Walk MS with your company or organization and instill corporate pride by taking an active role in the community. Getting involved in the community builds a stronger reputation with your employees, clients and investors, as well as new audiences who could become potential employees and customers. Walk MS offers employees a fun and exciting way to work together for a great cause!

Become A National Team
In order to be considered a national team, a corporate team must participate in at least four chapters throughout the country. If possible, a national team captain is selected and can assist the company’s local team captains with their teams. If you are a corporate team and would like more information please contact a Chapter Develpment staff. If national team captain is a role you would like to learn more about, let us know.

Throughout the year, team captains and team members compete in fundraising and recruitment challenges for prizes and special weekend privileges!  Every team will also compete in several team activities for special recognition the weekend of the event. Categories include:

• Largest Team
• Top Fundraising Team
• Best Team T-shirt
• #1 Rookie Team (1 year team that raises the most money)

ELITE TEAMS
View the 2012 Elite Teams List
There’s power in numbers ! Look below to see the different team fundraising clubs.
*Please note: 2012 fundraising qualifies your team for Elite Team perks in 2013.

 Bronze ($3,000-$4,900)

• 10x10 private team tent at Walk MS in 2013
• Start first and lead the 2013 walk
• Avoid long registration lines at the walk with Elite Team registration and pick up area at registration

Silver ($5,000-$9,999)

• All the benefits of Bronze level plus:
• 50 thank you postcards with your team photo after the 2013 walk
• Receive a team banner with your team name to show off your hard work
• Cookies delivered to your team tent in 2013

Gold ($10,000-$14,999)
All the benefits of Silver level plus:

• Upgrade to a 20x20 team tent
• Official Walk MS T-shirt with your team name on it (limited to team members raising $125 or more) in 2013

Platinum ($15,000-$19,999)
All the benefits of Gold level plus:

• Team photo featured on the Walk MS website for 2013
• Team photo on Walk MS print materials for 2013 walk

Double Platinum ($20,000 or more)
All the benefits of the Platinum level plus:

• Trip for two to attend the 2013 National Team Captain Conference

Hosing a team fundraising event is a great way to get to not only bond with your team members but also raise a large amount of money for your team and for people living with MS.  Team  fundraising event donations can be split amoung team members to help each member reach their fundraising goal.  

Top Team Fundraising Ideas

• Trivia Night - Pick a place and the material. Invite your friends, co-workers and family members to attend.
• Live/Silent Auction - Ask local businesses to donate items or gift certificates. Set a minimum donation and start the bidding!
• Team Car Wash - Go to your local car wash or gas station and talk to the owner or manager about doing a fundraising event there. Post flyers and make posters to advertise.
• Company Sponsorship - Ask your company to sponsor the team by providing team T-shirts or by donating a certain amount of money. Make sure to ask them if they have a matching gift program.
• Bake Sale - Have your team members make their best recipes and bring them to work for breakfast or lunch. You can also get permission from local businesses to set up a table and sell your baked goods there.
• Put Yourself On the Line - Offer to do something unusual (i.e., shave your head, sing karaoke in a costume of the team’s choice, etc.) if your team reaches or exceeds its fundraising goal.
• Local Restaurant/Bar - Ask your favorite restaurant or bar to donate a percentage of one evening’s income to your team, possibly in return for sponsor privileges.
• Dress Down Days - For a donation, an employee can dress casually. Make it more fun and increase awareness by giving out pins or stickers that advertise your team for employees to wear as their “pass” for dressing down.
• Team Drawing - Set up a drawing for the team, with each $50 raised netting you another chance to win a prize. (For friends: A special home-cooked meal for the winner and their family. For employees: A day off.)
• Just Ask - BE SURE TO ASK EVERYONE YOU KNOW!

 Don’t forget to ask everyone who sponsors you if their employer offers matching gifts!