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Team Captain Guide
CARSTAR’s Great Strides™ Walk For Cystic Fibrosis Canada Team Captain
Welcome and Thank You!
Welcome to CARSTAR’s Great Strides™ Walk For
Cystic Fibrosis Canada! This is Cystic Fibrosis Canada’s
largest event dedicated to raising awareness and funds
in support of cystic fibrosis research and patient care.
Each spring, thousands of families, friends, coworkers
and neighbors lace up their sneakers at nearly 70 walks
across the country to help find a cure or effective control
for cystic fibrosis. Since 2005, our participants and
volunteers have raised an incredible $21 million!
Thank you for registering as a Captain. You are going to
be a powerful force in the fight against cystic fibrosis!
Together Everyone Achieves More!
This Team Captain Guide will provide you with the
information necessary to help you in your new role
including recruitment, fundraising and engagement. You
can also find great resources under the Fundraising tab
found online at www.cysticfibrosis.ca/greatstrides.
This success can only be achieved with team captains,
like you, who make it happen. Thank you for helping us
take great strides in the fight against cystic fibrosis.
Cystic Fibrosis Canada staff and volunteers will be in
touch throughout the next few months with additional
information, tips and encouragement to help you along
the way.
www.cysticfibrosis.ca/greatstrides
CARSTAR’s Great Strides™ Walk For Cystic Fibrosis Canada Team Captain
1 in 25
Canadians carry the
gene responsible for
cystic fibrosis.
Cystic Fibrosis Canada
When Cystic Fibrosis Canada began in 1960, children born with CF were not expected to
live long enough to attend kindergarten. Now, many people with cystic fibrosis are living
into their 40’s, 50’s and beyond.
We've made incredible progress in the fight against cystic fibrosis, but we still have a long
way to go. Far too many lives are being cut short by this devastating disease.
In just two generations, donors, researchers and clinicians have changed the face of this
disease from one of despair to one of hope.
Join us now as we close in on a cure.
Cystic Fibrosis
Cystic fibrosis is the most common, fatal genetic disease affecting young
Canadians. There is no cure.
A defective gene and its protein product cause people living with cystic fibrosis to produce
unusually thick, sticky mucus that clogs the lungs and leads to life-threatening infections.
This mucus also obstructs the pancreas and stops natural enzymes from helping the body
break down and absorb food.
Great progress has been made in the fight against cystic fibrosis, but there is still so much
more to be done. That’s why your participation as a CF Champion is so important.
www.cysticfibrosis.ca/greatstrides
CARSTAR’s Great Strides™ Walk For Cystic Fibrosis Canada Team Captain
The Role of a Team Captain
1. Team Captains are incredibly important to the Walk’s success! Your role is to:
2. Create a team name and assemble a team of walkers
3. Create a team fundraising page with a story and a picture of your team
4. Encourage team members to set up their own personal profiles online to make it easy for
family, friends, and co-workers to give their support
5. Set a team fundraising goal and encourage your team to reach that goal
6. Work with your team to develop fun fundraising ideas that you can do together
7. Thank, reward and celebrate with your teammates as your goals are met!
Getting Started!
Here are a few tips to help you build your team:
 Build your team’s online walk page. Complete your page with pictures, stories and videos
before asking others to join your team. This will help build excitement and enthusiasm among
your future team members. It will also inspire them to complete their personal fundraising page
 Visit the Fundraising Tips and Tools page, under Fundraise>Fundraising Tips and Tools: visit
www.cysticfibrosis.ca/greatstrides to find helpful information
 Call and email your friends, family and coworkers to support you and your team. Ask each
team member to recruit three other team members. Even if they say no, odds are they may
donate
 Get social. If you are active on social media (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram), use them to get
the word out about your team. Tweet or post with a message about the walk and why you are
participating. Provide a link to your team page so that people can easily register online
 Forward your message. Ask your network to forward your recruitment email to their friends and
family. This will expand your team beyond your original circle
 Follow up. Sometimes people are too busy to register when your first invite arrives. A personal
phone call to let everyone know how important it is to register for the walk is a great reminder
 Organize a kick-off meeting. Use this meeting to recruit members, set fundraising goals and
plan some fun fundraising events! Most importantly, tell people you are participating & why!
www.cysticfibrosis.ca/greatstrides
CARSTAR’s Great Strides™ Walk For Cystic Fibrosis Canada Team Captain
Sample Email To Recruit Members
Dear [Name],
My team and I are participating in the CARSTAR’s Great Strides™ Walk for Cystic Fibrosis
Canada, and we would love you to join our team! The walk takes place on Sunday, May 31, 2015
in <location>. This event unites communities in supporting the nearly 4,000 Canadians living with
cystic fibrosis and helps to fund research and awareness to find a cure for this devastating
disease.
I would like to invite you to join my team and together we can raise funds for this very important
cause. To join my team visit www.cysticfibrosis.ca/greatstrides and search for our team <team
name>.
We look forward to working together to make a difference in our community!
Thank you!
[Insert Your Name]
Team Fundraising Steps
Fundraising as a team can be fun and easy. Together you can think about what you can do
together
Here are a few steps to get you started:
Who to ask
Individual Goal: $100
Ask a parent or your significant other
Individual Goal $250
$25
$25
$25
$75
for a pledge
As a friend to pledge
(3 friends @ $25 each)
Ask a relative to pledge you
$25
$50
(2 relatives @ $25 each)
Ask a co-worker to pledge you
$25
$100
(4 co-workers @ $25 each)
Total: Individual Goal
Total: Team Goal
$100
$250
$1,000
$2,500
(team of 10)
www.cysticfibrosis.ca/greatstrides
CARSTAR’s Great Strides™ Walk For Cystic Fibrosis Canada Team Captain
 Set a team goal. Decide on a team fundraising goal, and what you expect each team
member to contribute to reach this goal. The importance of goals simply cannot be
understated; teams who set goals are far more likely to raise funds. When your teammates
help to decide on the goal, they’ll feel more pride in the outcome. As a group, discuss
fundraising ideas and strategy.
 Be the first person to donate. Walkers who start their fundraising with a self-donation
typically raise double the amount compared to those who don’t, so be the first to support
your team, build momentum and excitement. Your gift will also show other donors and your
teammates that you are dedicated to the cause, and excited to raise funds.
 Use the print and online tools. Each team member can build a personal fundraising page
complete with pictures and stories. Sample fundraising e-mails are available to your team,
and there is a Facebook fundraising application to help you promote, engage, and fundraise
straight from your profile. You will also have access to posters, pledge forms, fundraising
tips and ideas and much more on the Fundraising Resource section on the website.
 Reach out to your community & workplace. Ask family, friends, co-workers, neighbors
and other community members to donate to your team.
 Connect with your local Cystic Fibrosis Canada chapter. Our volunteers and staff have
a wealth of information, tools and ideas that can help you and your team get started. Call
your local chapter to share fundraising tactics and/or to ask their opinion about how to best
reach your goal.
Corporate Involvement
Some of your best relationships are at the workplace so why not get your co-workers involved!
Ask your company to provide hats, t-shirts or jerseys to those who join your team. Keep your
company informed – ask to speak at company departmental meetings about your team. Look
beyond your workplace – ask vendors, suppliers, family and friends to help represent the
company.
Corporate Matching
Many companies will match the funds raised by their employees in order to support and
encourage their charitable activities. Please check with your employer to find out whether your
company has a Matching Gift Program and don’t forget to ask your donors to ask about the
program at their companies. Your employers can provide a cheque for their matching contribution
or they can make a donation on the Great StridesTM walk website. Please ensure that the name
of the individual or team that the donation is supporting is on the cheque or accompanying letter.
www.cysticfibrosis.ca/greatstrides
CARSTAR’s Great Strides™ Walk For Cystic Fibrosis Canada Team Captain
Event Day
Cystic Fibrosis Canada is excited to meet the incredible members of your team who
worked hard to raise funds in support of cystic fibrosis research and patient care.
Here are a few tips to ensure that your team’s big day is a great success:
1. Stay in regular communication. As event day approaches, email your team with
inspirational quotes, stories and videos.
2. Host a team meeting. Arrange for a final team meeting to collect donations and
pledge forms, and to establish event day logistics. Be sure to check the weather
and pack accordingly.
3. Create a rally point. Pick a location to meet your team before opening ceremonies.
4. Take pictures. Capture your team’s spirit in pictures that you can share with your
teammates and company post-event.
5. Dress with pride. In addition to your walk t-shirt, your team may want to wear fun
costumes, hats or buttons to express team pride.
6. Celebrate. Join in the festivities at your walk location. You should be proud of your
accomplishments in the fight against cystic fibrosis.
Infection Control Policy
Please note that persons with CF should
refer to Cystic Fibrosis Canada’s Infection
Control Policy regarding attendance at
Cystic Fibrosis Canada-sponsored events.
Please visit www.cysticfibrosis.ca for more
information.
www.cysticfibrosis.ca/greatstrides
CARSTAR’s Great Strides™ Walk For Cystic Fibrosis Canada Team Captain
Post Event
Post-event wrap up can be just as important as planning for the
walk!
Here are a few ideas to recognize your team and donors:
1. Collect outstanding donations. Mail any post event
donations to your local Cystic Fibrosis Canada chapter.
2. Send a thank you note. Be sure to thank your team
members and donors, let them know how much you
raised and why their donation is so important.
3. Celebrate. Recognize your team in internal
communications. Celebrate the top fundraisers, and
highlight employee and friends’ success stories.
4. Execute company-wide messaging thanking employees
for their participation. These messages should include
top-down communication so that employees feel a
commitment from your organizations’ leaders.
Thank you for taking on this very important leadership role as a
CF Champion for the 2015 walk. Your commitment is critical as
we work together to find a cure or effective control for cystic
fibrosis.
We are here to help you every step of the way. If you have any
questions, please contact your local Cystic Fibrosis Canada
chapter, or contact our national office at 1-800-378-2233 or
great.strides@cysticfibrosis.ca
www.cysticfibrosis.ca/greatstrides
CARSTAR’s Great Strides™ Walk For Cystic Fibrosis Canada Team Captain
Team Recognition
Recognizing your team members, their contributions and hard work is very
important. There are many ways to do this but you might consider the
following:
• When major milestones are reached (i.e. your team reaches its
fundraising goal) – celebrate! Send an email to let people know,
congratulate each of your teammates, host a team lunch – whatever you
do, recognize team accomplishments.
• Create unique awards for your team and hand them out after walk day
(e.g. most creative fundraiser).
• The top twenty fundraising teams in the country are listed on the walk
fundraising website – make sure everyone knows when your team is on
it.
• Create a thermometer to track your team fundraising efforts and post it
in a common area (e.g. on your fridge at home or in your lunch room) –
both your supporters and your teammates will be able to follow your
progress and celebrate as your total increases.
Thank You!
www.cysticfibrosis.ca/greatstrides