Team Hope – Chicago Marathon
Take on the 40th Anniversary of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon on Sunday, Oct. 8, 2017 as part of
Purple Community Team Hope!
The Fight
Running a marathon is an incredible undertaking in and of itself and requires a tremendous amount of physical and mental endurance and motivation. Why not give yourself an added boost of motivation by running in honor or memory of someone in your life that who has faced a cancer or Parkinson’s disease journey?
When you sign up to run with Purple Community Team Hope on behalf of Van Andel Institute, we will be with you every step of the way! You will have access to fitness training, an amazing team of supporters, and the best part? Absolutely 100% of every single dollar you raise will go directly to cancer and Parkinson’s disease research happening at Van Andel Institute.
Thanks to an endowment established by our founders, Jay & Betty Van Andel, every donation we receive goes straight to the labs, to increase the rate of discovery and help us to find new treatments for these devastating diseases.
The Commitment
The Bank of America Chicago Marathon will host a drawing this year for entry, with applications opening Oct, 25, 2016 and closing at 2:00 pm on Nov. 29, 2016. If you apply to run for Purple Community Team Hope during this time to obtain a guaranteed charity entry, your fundraising minimum will be $1,000. After this time, beginning on Dec. 14, 2016, charities will have access to additional entries for a fundraising minimum of $1,500. Additionally, runners with a guaranteed entry secured on their own may join our team at any time.
There are several different ways to register with Purple Community Team Hope. Please read the registration information below for more details.
The Perks
Purple Community offers exciting benefits to our marathon team members including:
- A welcome kit with official Purple Community Team Hope tech shirt, water bottle and more goodies!
- Complimentary 5K timed entry to the Purple Community 5K powered by Consumer’s Credit Union on Saturday, April 29, 2017.
- Complimentary Bank of America Chicago Marathon registration.This year’s race fees are $195 for U.S. residents and $220 residents outside the U.S. – that’s a HUGE savings!
- Free training program if you commit to the appropriate fundraising minimum (you will be charged for your training program if you do not meet the fundraising requirements).
- Team member raffles and contests for fabulous prizes!
The Process
To join Purple Community Team Hope and guarantee your entry into the Bank of America Chicago Marathon, just follow these quick and easy steps:
1. Register for Purple Community Team Hope at crowdrise.com/PurpleCommunity2017ChicagoMarathon.
2. Once you do this, you will receive email notification from ASHLEY with a unique URL to register for the Chicago Marathon.
3. After you register on the Chicago Marathon site, ASHLEY will confirm your application.
4. Start training and raising funds to support cancer, Parkinson’s and other neurodegenerative disease research at Van Andel Institute!
NOTE: You MUST provide credit card information on both the Purple Community Team Hope site, and the Chicago Marathon site. You WILL NOT be charged anything, however this is a requirement to join. Purple Community is covering the cost for the Chicago Marathon entry for you ($195 savings!)
To download our team application, click here.
To set up your fundraising page, click here.
Having trouble setting up or managing your CrowdRise Fundraising Page? Contact their customer support at Quintas@crowdrise.com or 248.291.6897.
To learn more about joining Purple Community Team Hope, click here.
Purple Community Team Hope and Chicago Marathon registration
Need guaranteed charity entry during the drawing for the Bank of America Chicago Marathon (available now through Jan. 18, 2017):
Athletes who wish to bypass the drawing registration process and secure a guaranteed entry into the Bank of America Chicago Marathon may join Purple Community Team Hope any time before Jan. 18, 2017. If you choose to guarantee your entry into the race by joining Purple Community Team Hope, you are committing to a required and enforced fundraising minimum of $1,000 for Van Andel Institute by the deadline of Nov. 12, 2017.
Please note that this type of entry is available on a first come, first serve basis. There is no cancellation or deferment policy for this type of registration, and the $1,000 fundraising commitment is non-reversible. Purple Community Team Hope members will need still need to complete their registration with the Bank of America Chicago Marathon after they register with Purple Community.
A link to officially register for the marathon will be sent to you shortly after you join Purple Community Team Hope. The marathon registration (covered by Purple Community) will be invoiced to Purple Community at the standard $195 (U.S. Residents) / $220 (residents outside of the U.S.) registration fee for entry.
Post-drawing guaranteed entry for the Bank of America Chicago Marathon (available after Dec. 14):
Athletes who do not gain entry through the drawing (applications for drawing are available Oct. 25, 2016 through Nov. 29, 2016 and runners will be notified if they are selected on Dec. 13, 2016), or who wish to register for the marathon after the drawing closes on Nov. 29, may do so by joining Purple Community Team Hope. By registering for our team with a “Post Drawing Guaranteed Entry,” you are committing to a required and enforced fundraising minimum of $1,500 for Van Andel Institute by the deadline of Nov. 12, 2017.
Please note that this type of entry is available on a first come, first served basis. There is no cancellation or deferment policy for this type of registration and the $1,500 fundraising commitment is non-reversible. Purple Community Team Hope members will still need to complete their registration with the Bank of America Chicago Marathon after they register with Purple Community.
A link to officially register for the marathon will be sent to you shortly after you join Purple Community Team Hope. The marathon registration (covered by Purple Community) will include the standard $195 (U.S. residents) / $220 (residents outside of the U.S.) registration fee for entry.
Have guaranteed charity entry for the Bank of America Chicago Marathon (available now):
Athletes who secured their own entry into the Bank of America Chicago Marathon are highly encouraged to join Purple Community Team Hope through this registration type. The required fundraising commitment for Purple Community Team Hope with a “self-secured standard registration” for the marathon is $500.
Questions?
Contact Ashley Owen, Senior Event Coordinator, at ashley.owen@vai.org or 616.234.5390. See you at the finish line!