Hope For Crohn's® 
Volunteer Crew Members
Participant Q & A


1. What is the Hope For Crohn's® Event? 

A dedicated group of volunteers, Crohn's patients' family and friends, and friends of Hope For Crohn's® join Rachel A. Bonner to raise awareness and find a cure for Crohn's disease. They join together and stand for no more Crohn's in the life of 780,000 Crohn's patients in America suffering from Crohn's disease.

The net proceeds from the Hope For Crohn's® Event goes to fund Crohn's research grants to help researchers find a cure and to support education and outreach programs in our communities to raise awareness of Crohn's disease.


2. Before You Register: The Important Things to Know 

Registered Volunteer Crew Member is a full-day commitment. All volunteer crew members are required to attend the All Volunteer Crew Member Meeting on the Thursday before the event. Volunteer crew members must be at least 18 years old on the date the event commences and agree to attend the entire event in a service capacity. Volunteer crew member do not participate as a runner/walker and do not have a fundraising commitment. They are assigned specific roles based on the needs of the event. All volunteer crew members must have medical insurance at the time of the event in order to participate.



3. How do I register? Contact hopeforcrohnsteam@gmail and request to volunteer. You will receive a password which will be needed to register as a Volunteer crew member. Select Registration Open! Button and complete the on-line registration. You will be guided through the registration process. Once your transaction is complete, you will receive a confirmation email receipt. 



4. What is the course? See the "Race Information" for details of the race



5. Is there a minimum age requirement to register for the Hope For Crohn's® Events? 
Volunteer crew members must be 18 years of age at the time of the event in order to participate as a volunteer crew member. Volunteer crew members may participate under the age of 18 years, if they are at least 14 years old or older and accompanied by a parent or guardian who is also a registered volunteer crew member. 


6. Is there an insurance requirement to register for the Hope For Crohn's® Events? Yes. You must also provide proof of medical insurance on the medical form in order to participate. This applies to all registered participants, including runners, walkers, and volunteer crew members. Though the Hope For Crohn's® Events provides emergency medical services without charge, personal health insurance is needed to cover the cost of any medical care received away from the event. For example: if emergency room or ambulance transport is necessary, insurance coverage may apply. Check with your insurance company for the terms of your individual policy. If you do not currently have insurance, we suggest you obtain temporary insurance.


7. Do I need permission from my doctor in order to participate? You must fill out a confidential medical form and accept a waiver and release of liability and image release before participating. If you have significant medical history, however, we strongly suggest that you discuss your participation in the Hope For Crohn's® Events with your primary health care provider and get his or her approval for you to participate. Click here to download the information sheet.



8. I live outside the United States. Can I participate in the event? Yes. You do not need to live inside the U.S. to participate in the Hope For Crohn's® Events. You will be required to follow the USATF Rules and USAT Rules. Go to the "Race Information" tab for more details.



9. Where can I find information about the financial results of the Hope For Crohn's® Events? Each year, after all of the financial results of an event series are audited, a report card is issued. Go to our webpage at www.hopeforcrohns.org and view our report.



10. Can persons with disabilities participate in the Hope For Crohn's® Events. Yes. Hope For Crohn's® is committed to addressing the needs of all of our participants, including those with disabilities, in order to provide a safe and successful event experience. Volunteers are available to support every participant through registration and fundraising. Click here to read our entire disability policy. 
You will be required to follow the USATF Rules and USAT Rules. Go to the "Race Information" tab for more details.


All Hope For Crohn's® EXPO event staff, volunteers, and volunteer crew members are trained to support participants with disabilities. We also offer a participant handbook addendum specific to persons with mobility disabilities to help them prepare for the event. 



11. Is the event held in bad weather? Whatever the weather, the Hope For Crohn's® Events generally continues. So please be prepared for performing in inclement weather. If the weather gets too severe, we always have a back-up plan for evacuating the event and making sure that everyone is safe.


We will make every effort to hold the Hope For Crohn's® Events event at the times, dates and locations specified. However, Hope For Crohn's® Events holds the right to cancel or change the date or location of Hope For Crohn's® Events, in its sole discretion, due to circumstances that may compromise the health or safety of the participants, including without limitation, unusually severe or extreme weather, fire, natural disaster, epidemic or riot. In the event that a Hope For Crohn's® Event is cancelled or changed, we will take active steps to inform registered participants (runners, walkers, volunteer crew members, and other volunteers) of such cancellation or change as soon as possible by email and/or phone and posting announcements online at the event/news page at www.HopeForCrohns.org. All registration fees and donations submitted to the Hope For Crohn's® Events are non-transferable and non-refundable, even if the event is cancelled or changed. Your donations will go directly to the cause, and we hope your donors will appreciate supporting Hope For Crohn's® Events regardless of the cancellation or modification of the event.


Volunteer Crew Members

1. What is a Volunteer Crew Member? A volunteer crew member is a registered Hope For Crohn's® Events participant who attends the event in a service capacity. Volunteer crew members do not participate in the run/walk course, but are onsite during the entire event (plus an additional half-day prior to the event for check-in and training) performing a specific job. The Volunteer crew member is the support of the Hope For Crohn's® Events. Volunteer crew members are not required to fundraise, though we do encourage it and will support you in your fundraising efforts.



2. What do volunteers do? Volunteers are needed to help with the Hope For Crohn's® event/program commitments. It’s a way to stay flexible and still contribute your time, expertise and ideas to help make the Hope For Crohn's® Events a success. From outreach and recruitment, to training and motivating participants, to on-site event roles and responsibilities, there is a volunteer program to fit your schedule, skills and passions.



3. What’s the difference between volunteers and volunteer crew member? The Volunteer Crew member trains for their assignment during the months leading up to the event and assists the registered runners/walkers during the Hope For Crohn's® Events. Volunteers work behind the scenes all year long and at the Hope For Crohn's® event’s and outreach and education programs. If you can give us a few hours or a day, you should consider being a volunteer. If you can commit to the All-Volunteer Crew Meeting on Thursday afternoon, plus the all- day event you should register to be a volunteer crew member.



4. Can I volunteer if I am already registered as a runner/waker or volunteer crew member? Yes, in certain capacities. Getting involved is a great way to stay connected to the Hope For Crohn's® all year long and really become a part of our community. 



5. How do I register to become a volunteer? Go to the menu bar and select Register Now! Or Go to Events/News page www.hopeforcrohns.org and register at "JOIN R.A.B.!"

If you would like to be notified when new volunteer opportunities become available, please subscribe to our Hope For Crohn's® News. It’s a newsletter that delivers important Hope For Crohn's® information and will keep you aware of new opportunities as they are announced. Subscribing to the Hope For Crohn's® News places you on our email distribution list to receive the latest news. It does not sign you up for a particular volunteer opportunity. Once volunteer opportunities are listed in the Events/News page of our website, you will need to sign up for a particular event.


6. Are there volunteer opportunities for groups? How do we register a group? Yes. We welcome groups of volunteers for our Hope For Crohn's events, local events and ceremonies. Please contact our Hope For Crohn's® Volunteer Coordinator at volunteer@hopeforcrohns.org to learn more.



7. Can volunteer crew members choose which type of job they do on the event? After you register as a volunteer crew member, you will receive a volunteer crew handbook which will describe all of the Hope For Crohn's®  Volunteer Crew Team and the type of work they do. Two (2) weeks prior to the event an email will be sent out for you to complete your volunteer crew assignment form. On this form, you can choose your top 3 choices of Volunteer Crew Team. You will be assigned to a team by a Volunteer Crew Member & Volunteer Leader, who will consider your preference as well as your abilities and the needs of the event.



8. Is there an insurance requirement to register as a volunteer? While the Hope For Crohn's® Events does not require volunteers to carry personal health insurance while on event, we highly recommend that you do so. As a volunteer you may sustain injuries while on event, which may require medical treatment. Any costs associated with injuries sustained on an event, would be fully and solely your own responsibility. The Hope For Crohn's® Events will not reimburse you or be financially responsible for any costs associated with your medical care while on the event or thereafter.

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