Journal

Mon. Sept. 13 6:30pm-7:00pm- Met with Mrs. Shelly, mother of Anna Shelly, to ask permission to have a walk in Anna’s inspiration for CMT. She agreed and we discussed some of the ideas centered around the walk and what her family and Anna would be comfortable with Tues. Sept. 14 6:30pm-7:30pm- At home I brainstormed list of ideas surrounding the walk. How will the walk make money, how will it be advertized, what else will be offered at the walk (food, drink, entertainment), if we will sell t-shirts, when the walk will take place, and how to register for the walk.

Wed. Sep. 15 6:00pm-7:00pm- I Compiled a tentative list of what we will have at the walk- registration fee of either $10-$15, we will try to get t-shirts for the walk, sponsors will be considered for the walk, possible water stations and food, entertainment to be considered.

Wed. Sep. 22 1:30pm-2:40pm- I looked up T-shirt companies and figured the approximate cost of the t-shirts in relationship to the money being made off of them. I emailed Mr. Rodoff to inquire about the T-shirt Company used for the Lax-a-thon as well as to ask about how sponsors tied into purchasing the T-shirts. I looked up possible location spots for the walk in Springfield, i.e. closing off some of the streets (would have to contact township/safety concerns), local parks- Hillcrest pond, Wissahickon Trail, Valley Green (would need park permission/safety issues/devising a trail), having the walk around the school (would need schools permission-discuss with Mrs. Ward)

Thurs. Sep. 23 6:00pm-7:00pm- I received a response e-mail from Mr. Rodoff yesterday the 23rd, and today discussed with my mother prospective T-shirt companies I could contact. Mr. Rodoff recommended a few good options but a family friend recommended a much more affordable company willing to print the T-shirts. If I decided to have T-shirts.

2:45pm-3:00pm- In class I discussed with Mrs. Ward having the walk at Springfield, the new policy states that I would have to go through a school organization or club and she referred me to Mr. Vizza. After school I contacted Mr.Vizza, head of the Interact club, on having my project of a walk for CMT go through Springfield Township High School's Interact Club. After explaining what the walk was Mr.Vizza agreed and we exchanged e-mails and discussed meeting times to plan the walk.

Wed. Oct. 6th 8:30pm-9-35pm- I had meeting with Mr.Vizza via Skype, a communications system on the computer (My mother was present for the meeting) to discuss the project. Compiled a list of things to be done for the walk and devized a schedual/deadlines for things to be done on google docs that can be viewed in the below link. [|CMT Walk Google Doc] Thurs. Oct 7th 6:30pm-7:00pm- I Contacted T-shirt company to supply t-shirts for participants of the walk and discussed prices. I also contacted head of the Anna's Banana’s CMT account for permission for funds to travel through the already existing account to CMT association if we decide to use that account.

Sun. Oct 10th 3:30pm-4:45pm- I drafted "Ask Letters" for possible sponsors explaining who I am, what the walk is, and what the walk is for as well as drafting advertisement forms such as flyers and registration forms.

Mon. Oct. 11th 9:30am-11:30pm- I continued work on drafts for advertizing, "Ask Letters", and registration forms, in study hall. I researched scholarly sources for information on CMT to put in brochure/handout to give out at the walk as well as for examples of layouts of informational brochures. I Emailed Mr. Vizza to schedule another meeting to discuss the walk.

Wed. Oct. 13th 8:00pm-9:00pm- I had a meeting with Mr.Vizza via Skype again.(Parents present to oversee meeting) We discussed progress made concerning the walk, devised a list of items, permission, and contacts needed for the walk as well as for deadlines, securing the date for the walk, any complications concerning the walk as well as the wishes/concerns of the Shelly family. 9:00pm-10:30- I continued work on drafts, adjustments to be made, posting in journal, contacting Mrs.Shelly- I called her phone and left message to set up a meeting to discuss the walk. Mr. and Mrs. Shelly decided that the walk would be more centered around CMT not Anna, but Anna remains the inspiration for the walk. I Renamed walk. Spartan Stroll for CMT and re-focused the information for the walk more so around CMT than Anna.

Mon. Oct. 18th 1:05pm-2:41pm- I finalized advertisement and ask letter for sponsors and e-mailed them to Mr.Vizza for corrections, opinions, and adjustments. I also Compiled registration forms and emailed them to Mr.Vizza 8:30pm-10:00pm: I spoke on Skype with MR. Vizza ( My dad present) and discussed securing the date with our principal Mr. Puckett,(Mr. Vizza spoke with Mr. Puckett). With Mr. Vizza I compiled a spread sheet in Google docs. To organize what needs to be done/ what is being done/how the walk will run and what committees will be organized to assist with the walk. []

Wed. Oct. 20 8:30pm-9:45pm I had a skype meeting with Mr. Vizza to discuss presenting the project idea to the Interact club meeting tomorrow Thurs. 21st went over the spreadsheet, and what I'll say to the group about my project. Discussed possible sponsors, decorations for the walk, and how to organize the commitees.

Thurs. Oct 21 7:14am-7:45am I informed the Interact Club of the walk and got volunteers for commitees and other jobs concerning the walk.

Tues. Oct. 26

1:00pm-2:15pm In class I emailed Mr. Vizza walk details, printed out flyers to adertize the walk, and registration forms. I also edited the documents in google docs. and looked up pricing for the t-shirts. I e-mailed Mr. Shelly and Mrs. Shelly to get their opinions on the advertizements Thurs. Oct. 28 1:00pm-2:20pm I emailed Mrs. Shelly about her opinions on the advertizement form made a few adjustments and printed out a final copy. I took the copy to our vice princepal and had it approved i then made photo copys to post around the school and talked with Mr.Vizza about the walks progress. Saturday. Oct. 30

1:00pm-3:00pm- I printed out my walk advertizements, registrations forms, and ask letters and took them around Springfield to my friends and neighbors who expressed intrest in the walk or sponsoring the walk.

Tues. Nov. 2

12:00pm-3:00pm- I contacted potential sponsors for the walk Mr. Brian Halligan (Flourtown Country Club), Mr. Joe Halligan ( Halligans Pud), Mr. John Camusi who all agreed to Sponsor. I went to the O'towne a local buisness establishment to contact the owner to see if he would like to be a sponsor and he agreed to get back to me on his decision. I printed out flyers and registration forms which my dad took to the middle school to promote the walk to the faculty there.

8:30pm-9:30pm- I skyped with Mr.Vizza about the progress made on the walk. We discussed the sponsors I had contacted and setting up a registration table at lunch tomorrow at the high school. He also informed me that we booked a balloon clown for the children's activities present at the walk. We discussed the article to be run in the NOv. 18th issue of the Springfield Sun covering/advertizing the walk. We also discussed acquiring tents to place over the the registration booth the day of the walk. We also discussed contacting persons in the other Springfield School buildings to advertizing the walk there.

9:30pm-10:00pm- I constructed a poster to put on the registration table to advertize the walk at lunch.

Wed. Nov. 3 11:52am-12:22pm- I worked the registration table at C2 lunch and handed out registration forms to potential participants as well as informing inquiring persons.

Thurs. Nov. 4 11:52am-12:22pm- I worked the registration table at C2 lunch and handed out registration forms again. Mr. Vizza was there at the table next to mine to oversee the strong box for the money that we just aquired.

Friday Nov. 5

11:52am-12:22pm- I worked the registration table at C2 lunch for the third day in a row, interact kids with that lunch are supposed to be helping me but so far I've been the only one to work the table it's rather frustrating. We have recieved one registration form paid toady in C2 and Gary the janitor made a donation I really hope we can get more people to turn in their paid registration. Maya Sabin from interact was helpful and offered to sit at the table and retrieved the strong box from Mr.Vizza for the paid registration. I also found out D block we are allowed to say if we are freaking out in our journals so...I"M FREAKING OUT. I really hope we get a good turn out for the walk so far on my own I've gotten some of my aunts, cousins, and family friends to agree todo the walk as well as some of my friends.

Monday Nov. 8

3:30pm-5:00pm I went around to local buisnesses to talk about the walk and ask if they were intrested in donating to, or sponsoring the walk. I went to Soveriegn Bank in Oreland, Mr. McGlinchey attorny at law, Oreland Hardware, Oreland Pizza, and Richard Meinke's mechanics. Oreland Pizza donated a $50 gift card and Mr.McGlinchey is mailingin acheck. Oreland Hardware and Mr.Meinke agreed to make a contribution. Soveriegn Bank agreed to consider contributing. I droppedoff papers to Mr.Camusi and stopped by the O'town where Mr. Snider donated $50.

Tues. Nov. 9 6:00pm-6:30pm- I created an event on the social network facebook trying to promote the walk, I explained that i'm doing a senior sem on Nov. 20 and that it's for CMT sadly when I tried to invite people to the event it didn't work but some of my friends/participants joined the group and invited other people.

Thurs. Nov. 11 11:52am-12:22am- I worked the registration table at C2 lunch 4 people registered Nikki Colletti, Calvin Speight, Mike Honeywell, and Garret Scanlon. Three other people took registration forms and promised to bring in the registration fee tomorrow hopefully they will. Frid. Nov. 12

3:30pm-4:30pm- I dropped off Ask Letters and information to two potential sponsors the Dunphy's of Dunphy Ford and Mr. Gozden. I picked up buisness cards from the O'towne restaurant and Mr. McGleinche attorny at law for the advertizments for the walk. I gathered other buisness cards I already had and dropped them off at the printer and I also recieved some registrations by mail.

Sat. Nov. 13

1:00pm-1:30pm- I recieved the T-shirts for the walk and unloaded them. I did an inventory to make sure we got them all and thanked the benefactor who donated them.

Sun. Nov. 14

7:15pm-8:30pm- I skyped with Mr.Vizza and told him about recieving the t-shirts we discussed the donations we are recieving for the walk as well as roughly the amount of participants in the walk. We strategized about getting more participants for the walk and extending registration through this upcoming week.

Mon. Nov. 15

11:52am-12:22pm- I manned the registration table at C2 lunch and recieved three registrations and two possible registrations

Tues. Nov. 16

11:52am-12:22pm- I worked the C2 registration table and recieved two registrations. 3:30pm-4:30pm- I counted up the donations, registrations, and sponsorships I recieved by mail and seperated the shirts of those who are already registered. 6:00pm-9:00pm- I baked cookies for the walk and tinned them for THREE HOURS! I baked through an entire tub of chocolate chip cookie dough, I ran the oven in cycles so that there were always trays in the oven I felt accomplished. Wed. Nov. 17 7:00pm-8:00pm- I tallied the registrations I had at home as well as the ones listed on the google docs. record and sorted through the shirts for distribution the registration combined with sponsorships and donations totalled to a little over three thousand dollars hopefully we'll get a few more participants in the next few days and the day of.

Thurs. Nov. 18

7:15am-7:30am- There was a meeting to finalize who was doing what the day of the walk which is listed in google docs. along with our other information shirts were distributed to paid interact memgbers participating. Also we printed out the signs to be put together and laminated for the walk. 6:00pm-7:30pm- Talked with Mr. Vizza about aquiring face paint and raffel tickets for the walk, as well as water, food, and timing.

Fri. Nov. 19

2:45pm-3:00pm- Met with Mr.Vizza to discuss the following morning, drop off more donations and registrations, as well as to look at the start finish banner and the fake check we printed out an laminated.

3:15pm-11:00pm- I baked cookies and brownies for the walk as well as wrapped and baked them. I assembled the sponsor signs to line the track during the walk, I compiled a playlist of appropriate music for the walk. I seperated the T-shirts to be distributed for the walk to those who registered and were recieving a shirt and the shirts for day of registrations. I also wrote out what I was going to say at the walk and got all the supplies ready for tomorrow.

Sat. Nov. 20- DAY OF THE WALK!!!!!!!

7:00am-7:15am- Loaded up the car with the supplies for the walk, urn's for the hot water for hot chocolate, bagels from the acme, kids games and balls, water, signs, t-shirt boxses, balloons, tables clothes, baked goods, and raffle tickets.

7:30am-8:30am- Set up for the walk. Opened up the snack bar and set up the food and urns. Set up the registration table, the face painting table, and balloon area. Lined the inside of the track with the sponsor signs. Put table clothes on the tables and set up chairs. Sound systme arrived for the music and was set up in the far corner. I set up the shirts at the registration table and kids from interact began showing up to help out. Mr. Vizza arrived with the cash box. We set up kids games like hippity-hop on the football field.

8:45am-9:15am- Participants and day of registrees began showing up for the walk. The cheerleaders showed up to teach cheers at the walk.

9:15am-11:00am- The walk began. Music played there was face painting and participants recieved a ticket for one free water or hot chocolate and a pretzel the rest of the food was sold. I made a speech about what cmt was and thanking the participants. The cheerleaders taught younger girls the cheers. We did a fifty/fifty raffle. We raised over 4,000 dollars and the walk came to a close.

11:00am-11:45am-I cleaned up from the walk with my family and friends and went home. Thurs. Dec 2.

11:52am-12:22pm-I met with Mr.Vizza during lunch period to discuss how the walk was executed what worked and didn't work and discussed the possibility of future Spartan Strolls for different causes and the money was turned into the CMTA.

Reflection For my hands on project I decided to have a walk to raise money for Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease. The walk took place on Saturday November 20th in the morning from nine in the morning till eleven. Participants for the walk registered either before or the day of the walk. Registrations forms were obtained either through myself, my father, during lunch period at Springfield High School, or at a registration table present the day of the walk. The walk took place through the Interact club so that the walk could take place on school grounds at the high school track. The members of the club man the registration tables at lunches and the day of the walk as well as actually walk in the walk. Interact club members also donated food items or water to the walk as well as assisting with activities the day of the walk (i.e. face painting, snack bar, raffles, and children’s games). To register participants filled out the registration form with their name phone number and shirt size and paid a registration fee of $15 that covered the cost of their T-shirt and went to the donations for CMT. Participants could either pay the fee themselves or get sponsors to cover their fee. Local business donated to the walk and in return had their business advertized at the walk with a sign. The goals I set for the walk were to raise at least over $1,000 and to have at least 100-150 participants. To achieve these goals I needed to advertize the walk to get people to participate in the event. Announcements were made over the announcements at the High School and forms were made available in the offices and teachers lounge's at the lower elementary schools, e-mails were sent around to friends and family members who were interested in the walk as well as to the friends and family of a local child who suffers from CMT. I drove around to local business to provide them with ask letters and to propose the idea of the business sponsoring the walk. I went around on the weekend to hand out flyers to interested participants and an ad. was put in two local papers, the Inquirer and the Enterprise advertizing the walk. For the walk I was able to have t-shirts donated to give out to registered walkers but because the company could only give me 15- t-shirts it was stressed that receiving the t-shirts was on a first come first serve basis. This idea worked out well in that it was incentive for participants to register before hand and so that it was understood beforehand that the number of t-shirts available was limited. Contact with the Charcot-Marie-Tooth association was made and they sent over CMT bracelets and brochures to hand out the day of the walk. Water, pretzels and baked goods were bought or donated for the day of the walk. I myself baked about a hundred cookies and brownies for the event and other generous donors made muffins and other baked goods. When participants signed in or registered at the registration table the day of the walk they received a ticket that was redeemable at the snack bar for one free drink, water or hot chocolate and a free pretzel the rest of the food was for sale and the proceeds went along with the registration fees and donations to the CMTA. Raffle tickets could also be purchased at the snack bar where participants could bid for an Oreland pizza gift card, a gift card to Sorella Rose restaurant, or for children’s watches all donated to the walk. I acquired a D.J. for the walk and with Mr. Vizza help a balloon clown for the kids, a face painting station, and children’s games (compliments of my dad) were also acquired as activities for the walk. I spoke with the Spartan cheerleaders who agreed to come to the walk and teach people cheers. I was able to transfer all equipment and food needed for the walk with my dad and neighbors. The day of the walk exceeded all expectations. The interact club ran the check in and registration tables, moms helped run the snack bar, the music was set, children participated in the games, face painting and balloon clown, walkers commented on having a good time, and little girls cheered with the cheerleaders. There were over 150 participants in the walk and the event went off without a hitch raising a total of $4,510.39 for the Charcot-Marie-Tooth Association.

Aside from the hands on project we were also required to do research projects that allowed us to demonstrate the knowledge we gained when looking up information on our topics. I learned a lot about CMT that I did not know before. I was aware that CMT was a degenerative disease that attacks the muscles of the arms and legs but I didn’t know things like that it damages the person’s peripheral nerves, or all the different symptoms, or treatments there were for CMT. I also learned that I am capable of running a fundraiser. I never even thought I could do something of this magnitude. Typically I have problems asking people for favors or help but because I was asking for a cause, CMT, I was able to come out of my shell and talk to people and get them to participate in the walk. I have learned that just a few people can make a difference a lesson I will take with me.