PRC Sets May 10th for Annual Walk for Life
Walk to be held at
three area locations in hopes of raising needed funds
By Jim Day
Dust off
your walking shoes and break out your roller blades, it’s time for the annual
On Saturday
May 10th, starting at
Last year, some 250 men, women and children walked to raise over $41,000 to help fund the PRC’s programs for families experiencing unplanned pregnancies. This year’s goal is to double last year’s participation and, prayerfully, more than double the amount of funds raised. That means at least 500 walkers are needed to raise at least $80,000.
Where do the funds
go?
Money raised at, before and after the Walk helps support PRC’s Well Woman Centers where free services such as counseling, pregnancy testing and educational ultrasounds are offered. Clients also receive referrals for services and medical care as well as tangible necessities for maternity and infant care through PRC's Resource Program. (See the list of centers at the end of this article.)
Other free programs offered by the PRC include The Pregnancy Loss Support Program which assists men and women suffering from the negative affects of abortion trauma such as shame, guilt, anger, regret and/or depression. Safe and confidential small support groups and individual counseling are available, giving an opportunity to find healing and forgiveness through Jesus Christ.
And, last
but not least, funds raised through the Walk go to support PRC's Best Choice
Abstinence Education Program which is the prevention arm of PRC. This program
is available across the entire region to public and private schools, youth
groups and churches. Best Choice presents the benefits of abstinence until
marriage to young people, equipping them with the necessary tools to avoid the
heartbreak of unplanned pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases and broken
relationships.
For those
unfamiliar with the Pregnancy Resource Centers of Greater St. Louis, it is a Christ-centered,
biblically based ministry that defends unborn children from abortion by
supporting and encouraging families affected by crisis pregnancies. Their
HelpLine (1-877-PREGNANT) ensures that help is available by telephone 24 hours a
day by trained volunteers even when the offices are closed. Clients receive
basic crisis counseling and answers to their questions about pregnancy,
abortion and other pregnancy-related issues. It is often the HelpLine volunteers
who provide the initial contact with a desperate client. PRC offices are
located in Cedar Hills/House Springs, the
Walk for Life
Opportunities and Needs
There are number of things you can do to make this year's Walk for Life a success.
Number one,
the Walk for Life needs team coordinators who will commit to raising team
captains who, in turn, will recruit walkers who will encourage as many friends,
neighbors, and relatives as possible to pledge a donation. Pledge forms can be
obtained by: 1. Going on line at www.prcmo.net/events.php and printing out a
PDF copy of the form; 2. Stopping by the PRC Administrative
Office or the
Any amount pledged will be welcomed and walkers who raise at least $150 will receive a Walk for Life T-shirt. (This year, for the young walkers, they have children's large T-shirt sizes.) The top prize this year for any person or group that raises over $5,000 in pledges is a $500 U.S. Savings Bond.
Another way to help is to ask local businesses and churches for permission to display a Walk for Life poster to encourage people to sign up and Walk for Life on May 10th. Posters can be obtained by calling the PRC headquarters at (314) 783-3040.
If you know someone who owns a business who might like to be a sponsor of the event, they can do so by making a donation of $100 or $200. At each of the three Walk locations there will be two watering stations and two one-mile markers. For a contribution of $100 PRC will put up an 11" by 17" sign with the company's name on it at one of the watering stations. For a contribution of $200 a sign will be posted at one of the one-mile markers. That's a total of six potential opportunities for businesses to let the world know they support the unborn.
Still another way to help is to encourage your church to include a notice about the Walk in the church bulletin or to make an announcement from the pulpit, in Sunday School classes or any other opportunity which presents itself to spread the word about the event.
Questions and Answers
Listed
below are some of the most often asked questions related to the Walk and the
answers to those questions.
What is the Walk for Life?
The Walk for Life is a two-mile walk for people of all ages
to raise tax-deductible funds to support the life-affirming programs of the
Pregnancy Resource Centers.
How do I get
involved?
Ask friends, family members, and co-workers to sponsor you
with a single, generous, tax-deductible gift for walking the two-mile course.
Fill out a pledge sheet with your sponsors' names, address and the amount of
their donation and bring it to one of the three locations the day of the Walk. It's that easy.
What if I can't walk
that day?
That's okay! After
gathering sponsors, you can walk any two-mile course on any day and mail your
pledge form to the PRC's Administrative Office. The address is listed below and
on the pledge form as well.
What if it rains?
No problem. The Walk will take place rain or shine. Walk that day or walk another day. Just remember to mail in your pledge form!
How do I ask someone
to sponsor me?
Simply ask, "How much would you give to save a
life?" You'll be surprised at the
number of people who will sponsor you.
Who do I ask?
Friends, family members, those in your address book or on
your Christmas card list, e-mail lists, neighbors, out-of-town relatives,
schoolmates, your boss, co-workers, church members, Sunday school class members,
church leaders, grocery checkers, bank tellers, doctor, secretary, hair stylist
. . . anyone and everyone!
How much can I raise?
There is no limit and every donation is tax-deductible. The more people that sponsor you, the more
lives you and they will help save!
Do I have to collect
the money?
Please collect any amount of $10 or less in cash and take it with you the day of the Walk so that you can drop it off at the registration table. PRC will give you a receipt to give to the donor. Larger amounts should be listed on the pledge form and turned in at the registration table the day of the Walk as well. PRC will collect the amounts pledged on the pledge forms for you.
PRC Locations
The following is the list of PRC Centers where Walk for Life sponsor forms can be obtained.
Cedar Hill/House Springs Center
(636) 285-4116
(314) 783-0478
(314) 843-8767
580 N. Hwy 67,
(314) 831-5504
(314) 785-0211
(636) 278-1212
PRC Administrative Offices
(314) 783-3040
Remember, the Walk for Life is Saturday, May 10 at