I just heard about this Breast Cancer 3-Day walkathon on the radio and I have to wonder how these "walking to raise money" things work.

I know basically how "walkathons" work procedure wise. You ask your friends and family to pledge $x for every mile (or lap) that you walk, and after the event, you go and show them how many miles (or laps) you walked and collect the donations. So the longer you walk, the more money you will collect in the end. But this breast cancer walk is a fixed 60-miles. So it is basically a fixed amount pledge.

So why "walking"? What does "walking" have to do with the cause (breast cancer in this case)? And why do people pledge to donate money just because you "walk"? I mean if I wanted to support a cause and donate money to it, what different would it make to me whether you "walk" or not? Why not just give you the donation and be done with it? Walkathons seem to be very popular in America because I hear about them all the time from school kids and various charities, but I still don't understand it.

 

Since streets have to be cordoned off, traffic patterns changed, and extra police patrols have to be called in, "walking" has a way of getting a lot of publicity...even if it is simply by way of inconveniencing others.

Something that my high school did was a "work-a-thon". We'd raise money for a school trip by having people sponsor us to volunteer our labor

More beneficial to the community...but not as good at generating publicity, I'm afraid.

 

I doubt everyone will walk the 60 miles and donations per mile will vary, so pledges will vary.

Walks are just a gimmick to get people involved and willing to donate--they're supposed to be "fun." They are popular because both young and old and families can participate, they get good press, it's an easy way to feel involved, and participation is virtually unlimited (more money!). I imagine the cost to the charity is pretty low--vendors usually donate water/t-shirts and the city may or may not charge for its services.