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FAQs

• What is the ALS Adventure Challenge?

• How long is the course?
• What are mystery events?
• Should I invite family members/ friends to watch the race?
• What amenities exist at the race location?
• What categories for prizing will there be?

• Can people make donations on line via credit card?
• How do I register for on-line fundraising?
• Do I have to fill out a manual pledge form and an online pledge form?
• How do I see who has pledged me on-line?
• I forgot my Username and Password.
• How do I change my Username and/or Password?
• Can I donate using traditional mail?
• How do donors get their tax receipts?
• What if I cannot raise the minimum amount?
• Where does the money go?
• Is my information secure?

Training Questions

• Where are the training sessions?
• Can I do the training in Vancouver but race in the Nanaimo race?
• What if I can't attend all of the trainings?

General Inquiries

Q: What is the ALS Adventure Challenge?
A: The ALS Adventure Challenge is your chance to tackle a new adventure while raising funds for people suffering from ALS, a devastating neurological illness. The ALS Adventure Challenge is designed to guide people of all ages and fitness levels to complete an adventure race. We'll provide you with a training program and continuous support and motivation to help you reach your goals. Once the training is complete and you're ready to race, you’ll receive free entry into the ALS Adventure Challenge Race. This is not simply a one day event. We’ll support you with training tips, nutrition advice and fundraising support for months leading up to the race. Plus you'll develop friendships (and training partners!) that will last a lifetime. We ask that each participant collect pledges to participate in the challenge. All proceeds go to ALS research and local patient services. In only 4 short years, the ALS Adventure Challenge had raised over $445,000.00 for ALS!

Race Questions

 Q: How long is the course?
A: The Adventure Race course is approximately a 5 km trail run, 10km mountain bike and 2km kayak (plus secret "mystery events"). Participants can expect to finish in 1.5-2.5 hours. The Adventure Trek course is a 5km trail run/walk course with secret "mystery events" that must be completed. Participants can expect to finish in 45 minutes to 1.5 hours.

Q. What are mystery events?
A: Mystery events are just that…a mystery! You won't know what these are until you get to them. But basically they are tasks unrelated to physical ability, designed to challenge you in other ways. Some past mystery events have been: finding a series of markers or flags, unscrambling a word puzzle, posing for a funny photo, etc.

Q: Should I invite family members/ friends to watch the race?
A: ABSOLUTELY! The race is very spectator friendly. There is always a lot happening at race central and we can your supporters to various locations on the race course where they can see you racing. We will have a fun social atmosphere during the race with music, frequent announcements, sponsors booths, information booth on ALS, a BBQ, etc. Make sure to tell the people who pledge you to attend as well.

Q: What amenities exist at the race location?

• Flush toilets and day-use/picnicking area are available
• Cold water taps are located throughout the park
• Some facilities in the park are wheelchair accessible
• Playground area with slide, tire swing and other equipment within view of the water
• On site concession or cafes are available (depending on the race location) 
   

Q: What categories for prizing will there be?
A: There will be tones of prizing awarded during the program. These will be split in 2 categories:

• Fundraising
• Race Day Placement Prizing
• Random Draw Prizes

Fundraising:
Prizes will be awarded to participants who reach various levels of fundraising. More information will be provided on the first training day and in the e-newsletters that you will receive from us as a participant. R

Race Results:
Prizing will be awarded for the top finishers in the event. Including:

• Top Individual Male/ Female
• Top Team Male
• Top Team Female
• Top Team Co-ed
• Top Trek male/ Female

Fundraising Questions

Q: Can people make donations on line via credit card?
A: Yes! Once you register you will receive more info about our online donation collection site, where you can set up your own web page to email out to friends.

Q: How do I register for on-line fundraising?
A: Registering for your Personalized Fundraising Webpage is easy! But just because you have registered for the ALS Adventure Challenge does not mean that you are automatically registered for you’re your on-line fundraising. You must go to www.ALSadventure.com and under “Donate”, click on “Sponsor a Participant” and click on “Register Now!” and follow the prompts to set up your webpage including username and password and a personalized message to your donors!

Q: Do I have to fill out a manual pledge form and an online pledge form?
A: No. You either complete a manual pledge form that you will receive in your Fundraising Package by mail, or an online pledge form that you will find in your on-line fundraising profile. Just ensure the information is clear and accurate and the amount of money submitted matches the total amount on the pledge form. When you submit your funds (by mail or in person) you must include a pledge form to match the donations you are submitting. This will either be the manual pledge form or a printed copy of the online pledge form.

Q: How do I see who has pledged me on-line?
A: You must have registered for on-line personalized webpage. If you have an account set-up, go to www.ALSadventure.com and under “Donate” click on “Sponsor a Participant”, choose “Vancouver” or “Nanaimo” and click “Login”. Enter your email address and password that you used when you set up the account. This will bring you to your homepage. Click on “My Progress” and click on “Credit Card Donations” (these are the people that have donated to you on-line and the amounts that they donated). This is a handy tool if you wish to thank your donors!

Q: I forgot my Username and Password.
A: Remember that your Username and Password are case sensitive. You will receive an email with your Username and Password immediately after you register. On the login page you can also request that a reminder email be sent to you by simply entering the email that you registered with and reminder is sent to that email. If you still have difficulties, please contact our office at 604.990.9469.

Q: How do I change my Username and/or Password?
A: First, login to your Personal Page in the Participant Centre using your Username and Password. Once you are logged in you will see a tab on the top of the page called "Edit My Profile." Once in your profile, you will be able to change your contact information, email address, Username and Password. All changes will be made to your account immediately.

Q: Can I donate using traditional mail?
A: Yes. Just mail in your cheque donation (we cannot accept cash) with a pledge form that you can get from the participant that you are pledging. Please make the cheque payable to ALS Adventure Challenge and be sure to include the person that you are pledging on the top right hand corner of the pledge form. You can also call our office at (604) 990.9469 and we can email or fax you a pledge form.

Mailing Address: PO Box #16065 – 1199 Lynn Valley Road, North Vancouver, BC V7J 3S9


Q: How do donors get their tax receipts?
A: If a donation is made on-line via credit card, the tax receipt is emailed instantly to the donor. Tax receipts for cash/ cheque donations will be mailed out in September 2008.

Q: What if I cannot raise the minimum amount?
A: For starters, no one has ever not been able to raise the minimum amount. You will be amazed with how easy it is. We will be there to support you, give you tips and suggestions, help organize group fundraisers, etc. We will also be checking in with you periodically throughout the program to see how the fundraising is going. We are confident it won't be a problem. Please let us know if you are having difficulties with the fundraising, the sooner you get started the sooner you will finish and be able to concentrate on your training.

Q: Where does the money go?
A: 100% of the proceeds go directly to support ALS. A portion of this 100% will go to support research activates to find a cure. The other portion will go to support patient services in BC, including equipment loans, resource library, and support groups. The two primary ALS charities we support are the ALS Society of BC and The Vancouver Coastal Health ALS Clinic at GF Strong.

Q: Is my information secure?
A: Gift tool, the company the handles all of our on-line fundraising transactions, has security measures in place to protect the loss, misuse and alteration of the information under their control. All customer information and records of transactions are stored in an encrypted form and extensive security measures are in use to prevent unauthorized access to their database. GiftTool utilizes industry standard SSL 128-bit encryption when accepting credit card information during the online checkout process. In addition, they utilize the same encryption standard when transferring credit card data to an external fulfillment system. In addition to our online security efforts, reasonable steps are taken to protect your personal data offline, as well. All of your information is restricted in the ALS Adventure Challenge office.

Training Questions

Q: Where are the training sessions? 
A: All of the trainings are in North Vancouver  All participants will receive a training schedule with locations and directions prior to the first training.

Q. Can I do the training in Vancouver but race in the Nanaimo race?
A: Absolutely! Just register for the Vancouver training program and let us know by email that you will be racing the Nanaimo race instead. You will have to follow the fundraising requirements schedule for Vancouver and reach your minimum fundraising total before the Vancouver race. But after that you can keep fundraising until the Nanaimo race and have a great chance to win prizing! This is great for people who want a jumpstart on their training but cannot attend the Vancouver race for whatever reason. You will continue to receive training tips to keep you motivated for the Nanaimo race.

Q. What if I can't attend all of the trainings?
A: All of the training clinics are held on the North Shore. All participants will receive a training schedule with locations and directions prior to the first training by mail. Updates and changes will be announced by e-newsletter to your email address that you provided at registration.

Do you have a question we have not yet answered? Email us your questions at Info@ALSadventure.com.