Metro DC

Hope, Steps & A Cure Walk

July 11, 2010  5:00 PM (registration)

Hyatt Regency Bethesda/Capital Crescent Trail

The Metro DC Hope, Steps & A Cure Walk is a fun, festive fundraising and awareness walk that will benefit the Aplastic Anemia & MDS International Foundation as it provides support and hope to patients with bone marrow failure diseases. Join us & our conference attendees, as we walk in honor and memory of our loved ones.

The walk will coincide with the AA&MDSIF annual 2010 Patient and Family Conference being held in the Washington, DC area, at the Hyatt Regency Bethesda.  Patients and families will join together in this inspirational experience which provides hope that one day, a cure will be found for bone marrow failure diseases.  We hope you'll join us!


This walk is for everyone – children, adults and seniors. Whether you're a survivor, patient, caregiver, family or friend, you will be inspired by joining others in this walk which will:

• Celebrate survivors of bone marrow failure disease
• Remember loved ones lost to bone marrow failure diseases
• Provide educational and support services to patients and families
• Help fund research into a cure for bone marrow failure diseases

The Metro DC Hope, Steps & A Cure Walk will take place on Sunday, July 11 at 5:00 pm.  The walk will begin near the Bethesda Hyatt Regency, at 3 Bethesda Metro Center, and it will continue along the nearby scenic Capital Crescent Trail.  There are two walk options:  the regular 3 mile course and a shorter 1 mile course. 


The Trail is a hard surface rail-trail, built upon the abandoned railbed of the 11 mile Georgetown Branch of the B&O Railroad.  The scenic trail includes tall trees providing a cool, shady path from the summer sun.  There are benches along the trail so walkers can take a break and rest as needed.  Following the walk, there will be a celebration in Bethesda.

Registration for the Walk will begin at 3 Bethesda Metro Center at 5:00 pm, where walk t-shirts can be picked up. The walk itself begins at 6:30 pm.

Parking for the event will be available at a variety of parking garages in downtown Bethesda, including the parking garage at the Bethesda Hyatt.

Plan to spend your afternoon and evening with us!

How can YOU help?

Yes, I can be in the DC Area on July 11:

	Volunteer during the event  and organize other volunteers to join us
	Register to walk & recruit walkers (friends, neighbors, co-workers) to your team
	Ask your families & friends to sponsor you, collecting donations directly or online through Firstgiving.com/AAMDS
	Set a goal to raise at least $250 (only 10 donations of $25 each) using FirstGiving.com to create your own personalized page to email to family/friends

   
No, I can't be in the DC Area on July 11:

	Register as a Virtual Walker and create a team
	Create a personalized fundraising page and contribute to our fundraising effort
	Invite people you know in Metro DC to represent you in the walk and to give
	Invite people you know outside Metro DC to join you as a Virtual Walker and to give
	Volunteer to participate or organize a Hope, Steps & A Cure Walk in your community.