FAQ's

Frequently Asked Questions about the National Share Walk

REGISTRATION

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How can I register for the National Share Walk in St. Louis?

Simply download and complete your registration form , and return it to the National Share Office at 402 Jackson, St. Charles, MO 63301 or fax it to 636-947-7486.

Can I register online?

NO. We are in the process of evaluating options for going online with registration for the 2009 walk.

Can you send a registration to my home?

YES. You may call the National Share Office at 800-821-6819 to request a walk registration form be sent to your home. In order to reduce our mailing costs, we recommend that you download one from online or make a request for the National Share Office to email you a form.

What is the deadline for registering?

The deadline for registration is August 29, 2008. The registration deadline help us plan for the day so we can have merchandise ready for our pick-up days and times.

What if I miss the deadline for registration?

Registration is open, and you may register up to and the day of the walk. If you mail your registration form in after the deadline, your baby's name will not be listed in the program, but you may write his/her name on our list for the Memorial Service to be read aloud the morning of the walk. Merchandise is not guaranteed if you register the day of the walk, but you may have your items mailed to you within 4 weeks of the walk.

I cannot come to the walk. Can I support the walk without registering?

YES. Become an Angel in the Crowd! Download your registration form and check the box "Angel in the Crowd." This lets us know that you are supporting the walk but either cannot attend or are unable to walk with us. You can still receive the benefits (t-shirt, program, & use of your baby's name) of registering without coming!
YES. Become an online donor! Support the walk by donating at our online site. You can directly support Share or view our fundraising pages to sponsor a team.

LOCATION

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Where is the National Share Walk located?

The National Share Walk is located in the heart of FOREST PARK AT THE MUNY. For a detailed map of Forest Park, view Forest Park Forever's Visitor's Guide.

What about highway construction in the area?

Visit http://dist6.modot.mo.gov/mapmytrip/ . Enter your starting address, click on the word "destination," and click on "The Muny." Click on "Map My Trip" and your directions will be generated.
Visit http://www.thenewi64.org/GetTrafficClosureSchedule.do to view daily closures that may affect your drive to the Share Walk.

Where do I park?

You may park in the upper or lower lots of the Muny, or in any lot nearby. If you park in the lower lot (front of the Muny), you will have to walk around to the back of the Muny to participate in the ceremony.

Where do we gather?

We gather at the upper parking lot, at the back of the Muny. For a detailed map of Forest Park, view Forest Park Forever's Visitor's Guide.

Is the Muny accessible?

The space that is utilized for the National Share Walk is ACCESSIBLE TO WHEEL CHAIRS AND STROLLERS. The walk routes are also accessible, but take note that not all portions of the routes have sidewalks.

Are pets allowed?

Pets are allowed in Forest Park. We ask that you use a leash and bring supplies to pick up after your pet during this event.

How will I know where to walk?

Walk routes will have signs along each course. We offer a 1- and 3- mile course. If construction in the park alters these distances, announcements will be made prior to beginning the Memorial Service.

MERCHANDISE

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Can I pick up my t-shirt and program the day of the walk?

NO, but there are pick-up sites available in September, and you have the option of having your merchandise items shipped to you.

Where can I pick up my walk merchandise?

September 20, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at St. Joseph Health Center
September 24, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Clayton High School Gym Lobby

Why are the baby(ies)'s names no longer on the back of the shirts?

Unfortunately, we are no longer able to provide the option of the baby's names on the back of the shirt due to the growth in participants attending and the volume of baby's names that are listed.
Walk participants have been personalizing their walk shirts over the years with permanent marker, puffy paint, iron-on's, and tie-die. We encourage you to find ways for your family or team to personalize your shirt to honor your precious baby(ies). Click on the shirt to the right to view more ways to customize your walk shirt.

If you aren't using my baby's name on the back of the shirt, then why do you ask for my baby's name?

The Share Walk is about honoring and acknowledging our precious babies and supporting each other on our grief journey. The baby's names are listed in our program and read aloud during our memorial service and balloon release. To ensure an accurate listing of names, we ask registrants to give the baby(ies)'s name they are walking for along with a pronunciation for our memorial service readers. Names listed in the memorial program will reflect registration forms received by our deadline, August 29, 2008.

What do the Share's Bears look like this year?

If I donate a Share's Bear back to National Share, what do you do with them?

National Share provides support before, during and following the death of a baby. Our support includes walking with families through their grief at the hospital. Providing a cuddly keepsake is just one aspect of caring for children and families at the time of their loss, whether in the hospital, during peer counseling or group meetings, or in their home.

ONLINE FUNDRAISING

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If I donate online, can I use that donation as part of my registration fees?

NO. Registration is not currently online.

How do I create my own personalized web page?

Visit our online fundraising website: http://www.active.com/donate/nationalsharewalk
Click on "Become a Fundraiser"
Log in, creating a username and password
Follow the instructions to create your personalized web page

If I already have a personalized web page complete, how do I go back to edit it?

Visit your web page
Click on "Become a Fundraiser"
Log in
Your web page information should appear with a list of options to choose from

How do I donate to a team online?

Visit our online fundraising website: http://www.active.com/donate/nationalsharewalk
Click on the drop down "View Fundraising Pages"
Click on the name of the person or team captain you wish to donate to
Choose your contribution amount and click "continue"
Fill out the contributor and contribution information and submit

Am I acknowledged for my fundraising efforts?

YES. Anyone donating funds beyond the registration fees are listed in our memorial program and national newsletter.
Those donating $2,000 or more to support the Share Walk will be acknowledged as Share Walk Ambassadors in the program and our national newsletter, and will receive a keepsake gift.
Acknowledgements made in the memorial progam will reflect funds raised up to our registration deadline, August 29, 2008. We encourage you to continue your fundraising past the August deadline.

Do I have to fundraise to participate in the walk?

NO, but we each year we encourage all of our participants to help raise funds for the ongoing mission of Share.
Available this year is our our link to Online Fundraising, a resource for those wishing to donate online to support the walk and Share, as well as for those wanting to create their own fundraising webpage for their baby, team, family, etc.

Is it alright to fundraise without utilizing the online tool?

OF COURSE! Download our fundraising form to use with your neighbors, coworkers, and more. Simply turn in your donations collected to the National Share Office, 402 Jackson, St. Charles, MO 63301, or bring them the morning of the walk to turn in to the concession stand. Please
convert cash pledges to a check or money order prior to the Walk. Acknowledgements made in the memorial progam will only reflect funds raised up to our registration deadline, August 29, 2008, but your fundraising efforts will be acknowledged in our national newsletter.

Can I use the funds I raise to become a Memorial Sponsor?

YES! If you are collecting pledges/donations for advertising space in the memorial program, they must be returned or postmarked by August 29, 2008. Space provided for memorial messages is 5"x3.75" or a quarter page. Submissions are subject to editing if they are too large. (please, no pictures)

LUNCH

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If I order KFC box lunches on my registration form, where do I pick them up the day of the walk?

The box lunches arrive at the Muny between 11:00 and 11:15 a.m.
At 11:15, you may pick up your box lunch(es) at the CONCESSION STAND.
You do not need a receipt. When you register, your name and amount of lunches ordered is recorded, and this information is available to the walk volunteer staff the day of the walk.

Will I receive my box lunch if I register after the deadline, August 29, 2008?

NO. If you are registering after the deadline, we recommend that you pack your lunch and bring your lawn chairs, or tailgate, to talk with participants from the area and around the nation.