Mercedes Marathon
Run or Walk for a Cause
Included on this site you will find great information to help you maximize your potential as a Bell Runner. Don’t hesitate to join in on a group run – as you train you’ll be pleasantly surprised to see consistent faces whether it be on Lakeshore Trail, at the Brownell building or running the streets of Birmingham.
In order to truly experience what it means to be a Bell Runner, don’t miss our Meet the Families events. When you form that special connection to your sponsored Bell Center child and you realize that as you train and reach your distance goals, that your Bell Center child is being challenged to go the distance in the classroom and overcoming developmental obstacles, it all comes together.
We each have our own potential to achieve.
As a Bell Runner, let your Bell Center child be your inspiration…and motivation to do great things for others. We encourage you to view The Bell Center Children’s Race to catch a glimpse of these inspiring children and to understand the significant impact you as a Bell Runner play in the operation of The Bell Center. We’re here to assist you in your Bell Runner experience. For specific questions or advice, please contact Kelly Peoples at 879-3417.
Get Involved
Bell Runners
The Bell Runner program is designed to motivate and support runners or walkers who agree to raise $1310 for The Bell Center for Early Intervention Programs. Bell Runners participants receive experienced coaching through organized runs as well as training advice, nutritional information, injury prevention and fundraising tips through a monthly email. The program pairs a Mercedes Marathon participant with a past or present Bell Center child, and the runner or walker will train and raise funds in the name of that child. It is an amazing, life-changing experience to dedicate hours of training and focus for a child at risk for developmental delay and then share the race day adventure by wearing a photo of The Bell Center child. While our goal is to maximize the potential of developmentally delayed children, we typically find that our runners experience so much more.
Kids’ Mercedes Marathon
Presented by The Service Guild of Birmingham –The Service Guild of Birmingham is proud to be a partner with the Mercedes Marathon Event team. Each family that registers a child will have the opportunity to make a donation to The Service Guild in support of The Bell Center Early Intervention Programs.
Log on to www.mercedesmarathon.com for more details.
To make your Bell Runners donation visit our secure Crowdrise site today.
Details & Registration
Bell Runners is designed to motivate and support runners or walkers who agree to raise $1310 for The Bell Center for Early Intervention Programs.
The program pairs a Mercedes Marathon participant with a past or present Bell Center child and the runner or walker will train and raise funds in the name of that child. It is an amazing, life changing experience to dedicate hours of training and focus for a child at risk for developmental delay. Our goal is to maximize the potential of developmentally delayed children yet we typically find that our participants experience the maximization of their inner potential as well.
Bell Runner Details include:
- BellRunner Form $100 registration fee for each Bell Runner and each member of a relay team
- Registration fee includes participation in The Mercedes Marathon
Participants may run or walk the 13.1 mile Half Marathon, run the 26.2 mile marathon or create a five-person relay team, all being at least 11 years of age on race day. The relay is held on the same course as the individual marathon and run at the same time. The distances for each leg are approximately 10k (6.2 miles), 5k (3.1 miles), 10k, 5k, and 12k (7.6 miles). The fundraising requirement for a relay team is $2620. Team members must submit all five entries together and must designate one team captain.
- Bell Runners will provide organized training runs with experienced coaches
- A monthly email newsletter with training advice, nutritional information, injury prevention and fundraising tips
- Each Bell Runner will receive a picture of the child for whom you are running and raising funds along with a Bell Runners running shirt to wear race weekend
- An early morning hospitality room on race day with breakfast, photo opportunities and bathrooms
- A Meet the Families Kickoff Event, Bell Center Holiday Party and Carbs For A Cause dinner to meet and interact with your Bell Center child and family
- Bell Runner Finale Celebration and Awards Party to reward a few of our top fundraisers and celebrate our success
**Tell the Trak Shak you’re a Bell Center Bell Runner and they will happily give you a 15% discount!!
Fundraising
Online Fundraising
The Crowdrise website is a quick and easy way to start your fundraising process for The Bell Center. It allows you to establish a personal webpage to share your message, track goals and accept online donations.
3 EASY STEPS
1. Log on to: www.crowdrise.com/bellrunners2012
2. Click on “Get Started” and select the Mercedes Marathon
3. Create your page
The best way to create a successful page is to make it personal. Share a story about your connection to The Bell Center and your training process including tough days and great runs. Don’t forget to tell everyone about the special child whom is providing the motivation to run. Share their developmental challenges and triumphs as well. And of course, include a picture of you and your Bell Center child.
We highly recommend using both online fundraising and a more traditional letter campaign for the maximum fundraising potential!