 FAQs
About Free to Breathe
Registration & Participation
Donations & Fundraising
Online Transactions
Online Fundraising & Your Personal Page
Teams
General
ABOUT FREE TO BREATHE®
What is Free to Breathe?
Free to Breathe is an event series and fundraising program that was initiated in 2006 in Philadelphia, PA in an effort to build a foundation for raising the public’s awareness of lung cancer and increasing research funding to fight lung cancer. Funds raised from Free to Breathe events support National Lung Cancer Partnership’s vital mission of decreasing deaths due to lung cancer, and helping patients live longer and better, through research, awareness, and advocacy. The National Lung Cancer Partnership is a 501(c)(3), non-profit organization, originally formed in 2001, and officially incorporated in 2003. Visit www.NationalLungCancerPartnership.org to learn more about National Lung Cancer Partnership.
Free to Breathe events are runs, walks, marathons, yogathons, golf tournaments or other athletic and community-minded activities. These events are an enjoyable way for survivors, family, friends, advocates and community and corporate teams to honor those who have been touched by lung cancer. To learn more about the history of Free to Breathe, click here.
How are the dates scheduled for Free to Breathe events?
Event dates are chosen based on a number of factors. We attempt to schedule events when the weather is most likely to cooperate, when sites are available, and when there are no major holidays or other known previously scheduled large events in the same city. Many dates are chosen as a way to kick off and promote Lung Cancer Awareness month in November.
Can I organize a Free to Breathe event in my community?
We are open to hearing from you regarding your interest in organizing an event in your city or town. If there is not an event scheduled in a community near you, we hope you will join the National Run/Walk in November 2012.
How can I contact my local chapter or local Free to Breathe event organizer?
Information for each chapter and/or local Free to Breathe event organizer is posted under the “Contact” tab for each event. Additional details about specific chapters can be found on the National Lung Cancer Partnership’s website.
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REGISTRATION & PARTICIPATION
I want to participate in a Free to Breathe event. How do I register?
Links to city-specific registration for the 2012 Free to Breathe events are available here. A downloadable registration form is also available for you to print, fill out and mail in. You may register as an individual, form a team or join an existing team.
I don't want to sign up online. Can I mail in a registration form?
Yes, you can register by mail. Please note that mail-in registration is an additional $3.00 to cover our administrative costs. Find the option to download a PDF registration form by clicking on the event you would like to participate in.
Complete the form and mail it along with the fee to:
National Lung Cancer Partnership
Attn: Free to Breathe
1 Point Place., Suite 200
Madison, WI 53719
Please make all checks payable to Free to Breathe.
Is there a minimum age requirement to participate in a Free to Breathe event?
No, Free to Breathe events are open to people of all ages.
Are registration fees tax deductible?
Registration fees do not meet the IRS requirements for claiming a tax deduction. All donations to Free to Breathe, however, are tax deductible.
What do I do after I register?
Following your online registration, a confirmation page with a link to access your Participant Center and personal fundraising page will pop up. At this point you can begin customizing your personal fundraising page, which is automatically created for you at the time of registration. You will also receive a "Thank You for Registering" email from National Lung Cancer Partnership with a link allowing you to access and visit your Participant Center at your convenience.
What happens if I miss the registration deadline? Can I sign up on the day of the event?
Absolutely! Event day registration is available for all Free to Breathe locations with the exception of the National Walk. Please refer to the “Race Essentials” tab for details regarding what time event day registration opens for a particular location.
I want to participate in Free to Breathe, but have a conflict. How can I still be involved?
Of course! Support Lung Cancer Awareness month by joining the Free to Breathe National Run/Walk in November 2012! People from across the nation will be united in the fight against lung cancer. Run or walk any distance anywhere to raise awareness and funds for vital lung cancer research, education and awareness programs. All participants of the National Walk will receive an official Free to Breathe t-shirt and lung cancer awareness wristband to wear.
What do I get for participating in an event?
In addition to knowing that you are part of something that is making a positive impact on the lives of those affected by lung cancer, on race day all pre-registrants will receive an official Free to Breathe t-shirt, a Free to Breathe Lung Cancer 5K wristband, and, in most locations, a bag full of goodies from our sponsors and local businesses. You are also eligible for a fundraising incentive if you raise $1,500 or more.
I do not want to run or walk in a Free to Breathe event, but want to fundraise online.
In order to fundraise online, you must select a Free to Breathe location and register as an online fundraiser only. You will not be charged a registration fee, but a personal fundraising page will be created for you. To access and customize your personal fundraising page and begin sending emails to family and friends asking for their support, please login to your Participant Center from the registration confirmation that pops up after you complete the process or from the “Thank You for Registering” email sent to you immediately following your registration.
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DONATIONS & FUNDRAISING
How do I make a donation online?
Click here and choose to make one of three types of secure donations by clicking on the appropriate button: (1) To a specific event participant or team, (2) To a specific Free to Breathe event (3) To Free to Breathe program as a whole via the National Walk. If you choose to donate to a participant or team, you will need to enter the name of the participant or team to start the process. If you choose to donate to a specific event, you will need to select the Free to Breathe location before you can start the donation process.
Can I mail in my donation(s) and pledges? Where can I send them?
Yes, we gratefully accept donations and pledges via regular mail. Please mail your donation to:
National Lung Cancer Partnership
Attn: Free to Breathe
1 Point Place., Suite 200
Madison, WI 53719
Please make all checks payable to Free to Breathe, note the location in the memo line, and include a completed donation form or pledge form with your contribution(s).
Is National Lung Cancer Partnership a nonprofit?
Yes, National Lung Cancer Partnership is a 501(c)(3), federal income tax exempt, non-profit organization, originally formed in 2001, and officially incorporated in 2003. Our Federal Employer Tax ID number is 45-0505050.
Is my donation tax deductible?
Yes. All donations to National Lung Cancer Partnership through Free to Breathe where no goods or services were received in exchange for the contribution are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law.
Do all donors who contribute online receive a receipt?
Yes! Anyone who contributes online will receive an electronic receipt via email. The receipt is generated immediately after the donation is made and donors SHOULD print the receipt for tax purposes.
Do all donors who contribute via standard mail or on event day receive a receipt?
Yes, all donations received by mail or on event day will receive an electronic receipt via email if a current and legible email address has been provided, or a printed letter if an email address was not provided or is illegible.
A donor is requesting a tax ID number (OR EIN Number). What is that and how can I get it?
A tax ID number identifies National Lung Cancer Partnership as a tax-exempt entity. Some donors request this number to validate their donation as tax deductible. The National Lung Cancer Partnership’s Federal Employer tax ID number is 45-0505050. If further information is needed, please email us at .
What do donors receive for their contributions?
In addition to knowing that you have joined in the fight against lung cancer you will receive our national, tri-annual print newsletter as well as e-newsletter (if your email address has been provided), which include information about current topics on lung cancer, highlights of National Lung Cancer Partnership news, and Stories of Strength from survivors and others active in the lung cancer community. If donors wish to opt-out of receiving one or both of these resources, please note it clearly on the donation or pledge form.
Does my registration fee count in my fundraising total?
No, registration fees do not qualify as donations for your fundraising totals as they are contributions made in exchange for goods or services; in the case of Free to Breathe, that includes the activity itself, the t-shirt, food and sometimes entertainment and goody bags. Donations, which do count in your total dollars raised, are contributions made where no goods or services are provided in exchange for the contribution.
Can you give me advice on how to fundraise successfully?
Yes, we can! Once your register for Free to Breathe, you'll have access to an online support system, which includes an automatically created personal fundraising page that you can customize as well as suggested email messages to send to friends and family asking for their support. Right now though, you already have access to our list of fundraising tips to give your efforts a boost and help you keep up the momentum.
What are the fundraising incentive levels?
You are eligible for a fundraising incentive if you raise $500, and then again for raising $1,500.
How much money do people usually raise for Free to Breathe?
In 2010, the average fundraising amount was $600. Many people aim higher to challenge themselves, to make lung cancer research and awareness a priority and to become eligible for our fundraising incentive! All fundraisers who raise $1,500 or more will receive the incentive. But remember - each gift, no matter how big or small, will impact patients' lives.
Do corporate matching gifts count in my fundraising total?
Yes! Corporate matching gifts count in your fundraising totals if the company's match arrives before the fundraising period ends. However, please note that companies often disburse matching gift checks on a quarterly, semi-annual or annual basis and your fundraising totals will only be credited for the matching gift once the actual contribution is received from the company.
Why haven't the offline donations I’ve entered shown up on my thermometer?
Only donations that have been made online or have been received and “confirmed” by our National office are reflected in your thermometer.
Can a donor contribute to different people on my team (i.e., donate $100 and have $25 applied to each of the 4 members)?
A donor can contribute to different individuals on your team three ways: (1) Through separate online transactions for each team participant, (2) With separate checks for each participant listing the Free to Breathe location and participant’s name, or (3) By writing one check listing the Free to Breathe location, participants' name, and amount to be applied to each participant in the memo, on a pledge form or in a note along with clearly defined amounts to be applied to each. If a combined check does not clearly indicate who to credit the donation to, it will be credited to the team as a whole.
Can I accept cash donations as part of my fundraising? Do I mail in the cash?
Yes, you can definitely accept cash donations, but please do not mail the cash to us! We don’t want it to get lost in the mail. Instead, write a check to "Free to Breathe" for the amount of the cash donation(s) and mail it in with a completed pledge form reflecting each donor’s name, full mailing address and amount donated so we can mail acknowledgement letters to the donors for tax purposes. Or, you can make the donation(s) online using your credit card but put the donor’s information in the required contact fields.
Which charities benefit from the event and how much money do they get?
The net proceeds from Free to Breathe benefit the National Lung Cancer Partnership. The National Lung Cancer Partnership is proud to be able to keep its overhead and administrative costs under 18%, allowing 82 cents of every dollar spent by the National Lung Cancer Partnership to go directly to lung cancer research, education and advocacy programs. To see more financial information, please click here.
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ONLINE TRANSACTIONS
Is my information secure?
Convio, the company responsible for housing and maintaining the transactions (registrations, donations, etc.) that take place on www.FreetoBreathe.org, has made every effort to protect your information. Convio has been certified thru the PCIDSS program (https://www.pcisecuritystandards.org/) supported by all the major credit card companies. They use industry-standard SSL encryption techniques to make sure that your credit card information, passwords, and personal information travel securely over the Internet. Privacy Policy.
How is my credit card number processed? Do you store my credit card number?
Credit card numbers are NOT stored in our database. During the donation process your credit card number is sent to an online payment gateway using a secure connection. The information passed back is only an approval or denial for the credit card charge.
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ONLINE FUNDRAISING & YOUR PERSONAL PAGE
What is your Participant Center?
Your Participant Center is an area of our website that is available once you register for an event. You will have a username and password, created at the time of registration, to access this area. In your Participant Center you customize your personal page and use online tools to send emails to your friends and family asking for their support. Your Participant Center will also allow you to recruit teammates, track your progress, and get fundraising tips and important news about the event from us. And, if you’re part of a team, you’ll be able to maintain close contact with them, get the latest message from your team captain and follow the progress of your teammates.
What is a Participant Center Personal Fundraising Page?
Your personal fundraising page is a web page you can customize and ask your friends and family to visit when recruiting teammates, requesting donations or tracking your progress. In fact, if anyone searches for you in the participant database, they will be directed to your personal page. Once you register online a personal fundraising page is automatically created for you. You have the option of personalizing your page by telling your story or adding a photo. Visit your Participant Center to access your personal fundraising page.
Can someone help me set up my personal fundraising web page?
Yes. Your online personal fundraising page is an incredibly powerful tool and very important to your fundraising efforts. If you have visited your Participant Center and tried to set up and customize your page, and still need help, we’re here to answer your questions. Please contact us at .
How do I upload a photo to my Personal Fundraising Page?
Click the "Choose File" button in the Photo section, the browse window on your local machine/PC will display. Find and choose the photo you want, then click "upload the image." Note that you can only upload a photo in .jpg format and the maximum size is 200K. You may have to reduce the size of your photo on your own computer before trying to upload it to your personal page.
How do I change my personal fundraising goal?
Login to your Participant Center. On the right-hand side of your Participant Center homepage, enter a new fundraising goal in the “new goal” box, then click the “update goal” button to save.
How will people find my Personal Fundraising Page?
When friends or family visit www.FreetoBreathe.org, they can click on the “Sponsor a Participant or Team” button from the donate tab. After typing in your name, they will be directed to your personal fundraising page. If you send emails out from your Participant Center, a link to your personal fundraising page will automatically be at the bottom of the email.
How can I see who has donated to me?
Login to your Participant Center using your username and password and click on the "My Progress" tab. This will allow you to view your donor list and the amounts that have been donated online.
Do I have to use and customize my Personal Fundraising Page?
Once you register online, by default a personal page will be created for you. Your name will be listed as a participant in the event so that those wishing to donate to your fundraising efforts can find you. You do not need to customize your personal fundraising page; however, engaging your donors by giving it your personal touch may inspire them to give even more. Top of page
TEAMS
How do I form a team?
To form a 2012 Free to Breathe team, click on the location you want to join from our homepage. Then, click on the register tab on the top navigation bar and select the “Form a Team & Register as a Team Captain” button. This will take you through the individual registration process, as well as naming your team and setting up your team page. Teams can include friends, family, neighbors and co-workers and can be any size. To get tips on how to build your team, click here.
Note: If you are forming the team, you will automatically become the team captain.
Important: If you have already registered as an individual and would like to start a team, you must email National Lung Cancer Partnership at , as you will be unable to form your team as an already registered participant.
What do I do after I register and form my team online?
Following your online registration, a confirmation page with a link to access your Participant Center and personal & team fundraising pages will pop up. At this point you can begin customizing your personal fundraising page as well as your team page (both were automatically created for you at the time of registration). You will also receive a "Thank You for Registering" email from National Lung Cancer Partnership with a link allowing you to access and visit your Participant Center at your convenience. Don't forget to invite your family and friends to join your team and start fundraising!
Can a company form a team?
Absolutely! You follow the same process as a standard team, but then work to market your efforts inside your company. We suggest you personalize your company’s team page with a photo or company logo, have meetings and email each other to support one another through your fundraising efforts, and share your successes and celebrate them! Here are some tips on building a team.
How do I change my team name, team division, team goal, and team page content?
Only the team captain has the ability to change the team name or team division. The team captain will need to login to their Participant Center and click the "My Team Progress" tab on the top right. On the Team Progress Page, team captains will have the ability to update the team’s name, goal, photo and page text.
How can I see who is on my team?
Visit www.FreetoBreathe.org and login to your Participant Center using your username and password. Click on the "Team Progress" tab; this will allow you to view your team roster and the amounts raised by each team member.
How do I leave my team a message?
Simply go to your Participant Center and type in a new message to your team in the text field then click the "Update Message to Team" button. This will allow you to make all necessary changes to your team message.
How do I upload a photo to add to my team’s page?
Only the team captain has the ability to upload a photo to the team’s page. From the “My Team” box on your Participant Center homepage, click on “update team information.” Scroll down to Team Photo and click the "Choose File" button in the Photo section, the browser window on your local machine/PC will display. Find and choose the photo you want, then click "upload the image." Note that you can only upload a photo in .jpg format and the maximum size is 200K. You may have to reduce the size of your photo on your own computer before trying to upload it to your personal page.
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GENERAL
I forgot my username and password.
Remember that your username and password are case sensitive. You will receive an email that includes your username and password immediately after you have registered for an event online. If you are unable to locate or remember your username or password, please visit www.FreetoBreathe.org, and from the homepage, click on the event you registered for to get to the event’s Race Essentials page. From there, click on "participant login" and type in what you do remember, then click “login.” If you leave either your username or password blank, or if they are incorrect, a user login page will appear with options for requesting your username and password via email. If you still have problems, please email
.
How do I change my username and/or password?
First, visit www.FreetoBreathe.org, click on the event you registered for to get the Race Essentials page. From there, click on" login" and follow the prompts in the member’s login box to enter your current username and password. Once you are logged in and on your Participant Center homepage, you will see an additional link on the top of the page called "Update 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 profile immediately. There is no need to sign back in. If you still have problems, please email
.
Can I volunteer for an event?
Yes, volunteering is a great way to be involved with Free to Breathe! We depend on the kindness and dedication of volunteers to make the event a success and ensure that we accomplish our mission. A variety of volunteer opportunities exist, and whether part of the planning committee or event day festivities, each volunteer makes a difference. The opportunities may vary by event, so please visit the web page for the specific event you are interested in and click on the volunteer tab on the top navigation bar. There you will find information on the types of opportunities that exist as well as how to contact the local event organizer to get more information or sign up.
I registered for the National Walk. When will I receive my t-shirt and wristband?
All t-shirts and wristbands for participants of the National Walk will be shipped about one week prior to the event.
Where do I park for the event?
Parking information can be found on the Race Essentials page for each particular event.
Can I bring my dog?
For insurance and liability reasons, no dogs are allowed at Free to Breathe events unless they are trained as service animals to provide assistance to an individual with a disability.
Can I push a stroller in the Run/Walk?
People pushing strollers are allowed to participate in the walk portion of the event only.
Can I use in-line skates or a skate board in the Run/Walk?
For safety reasons, we cannot accommodate in-line skates or skate-boards in any of the events.
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