People Walking Money Walkathon Amount Running Exercise Purpose

A "walkathon" is a "fundraiser" (an event designed to collect money for a particular organization or purpose) where many people walk along a certain "route" (path). It is similar to a "marathon" (a race to run a long distance), but it isn't "competitive," meaning people aren't really trying to be the first person to "cross the finish line" (finish a race by passing the final point). "Rather" (instead), the people in a walkathon enjoy walking along the entire route and supporting a "cause" (charitable purpose) they believe in.

Walkathons are often used to raise "funds" (money) for organizations that are "searching for a cure for" (conducting research to find a way to heal people who are suffering from) a particular disease, or organizations that "promote" (encourage) disease "prevention" (actions and behaviors that help one not become sick). Many of the participants walk as a way to remember "loved ones" (relatives or close friends) who suffer from the disease or have died from the disease, sometimes putting that person's name and photo on their clothing for others to see during the walkathon.

Typically, a person pays a "fee" (an amount of money) to register for the walkathon. "Entrants" (people who participate in the walkathon) usually receive a free t-shirt that they wear during the walkathon. In other walkathons, entrants ask others to "sponsor" (financially support) them, perhaps by paying a certain amount of money when the entrant completes the race, or by paying a certain amount of money for each mile walked by the entrant. All the "proceeds" (money earned) are given to the sponsoring organization.