Learn how to recruit your team
Team Captain Responsibilities
Special Perks for Team Captains
Team Captain Tools
As the Team Captain, you are the leader, motivator and educator for your team. Your enthusiasm will encourage your team members to raise more funds and come back year after year. Educate your team about multiple sclerosis. It is important to have a basic understanding of this disease and it is easier to raise money when you can explain our mission.
Learn how to recruit your team
- Tell your story. Why have you decided to lead a team? Do you have a personal connection to MS?
- Be a motivator! Promote your team goals and work to reach them.
- Discuss training and fundraising ideas with team members.
- Encourage team members to register, turn in donations, and stay enthusiastic about the event.
- Recognize individual and collective accomplishments. You can send out group emails, hold team meetings or host a team kick off or post event celebration.
- Show up at the event with a smile!
- Thank all participants and sponsors for their support and let them know that you'll need their help again next year.
Taking the first step to register as a Hike MS team captain moves us all closer to a cure for multiple sclerosis. Being a team captain is an opportunity to share a great experience with friends and family members, or co-workers — a community coming together for a common goal and the accomplishment of a unique personal challenge! As a leader, it’s up to you to remind your teammates why they registered. Hike MS can be more than a fundraising event — it can be a joyous celebration of how far we’ve come together!
- Create a Team Name: Pick a name that identifies your organization. This is how you’ll be recognized throughout the National MS Society. Be sure that each team member knows and registers under this name. This is the only way for the Colorado-Wyoming Chapter to credit your participants and fund-raising achievements.
- Register Your Team: Each team member must register individually. List the team’s name and your name as Team Captain on all forms. Again, make sure all team members use the same team name and not variations of it.
- Set Goals: Start early. Set recruitment and fund-raising goals. The sooner you start, the more hikers you will recruit. Your team will also have more time to raise funds. Set team and member goals. Encourage members to reach their goals and update you on progress. Track proceeds. Follow up with your company on matching gifts.
- Recruit: Tell everyone about your team. Invite people to sign up.
- Promote Your Team: Get the word out. Ask people to join, volunteer or sponsor a team member. Be persistent.
- Raise Funds: Hike MS is a fundraising event to raise money for MS research and services. Your team’s funds benefit more than 78,000 persons affected by MS in Colorado and Wyoming with MS. Each person on your team is a key part of this mission and is encouraged to collect and turn in money. The advantage to hiking as a team is that you can work together to collect funds or solicit corporate sponsors in your area.
- Keep Records: List those who have registered or shown interest. Include each person’s phone number, address, association (co-worker, someone’s friend, etc.), and date he or she joined.
- Communicate: The Team Captain is the liaison between the team and the National MS Society. Communicate with the team about registration and raising funds.
- Motivate: Recognize members who go above and beyond. Emphasize the mission behind the hike. Motivate your team to raise money.
Special Perks for Team Captains
Team Captain Benefits Include:
- Invitations to several events, including the 2010 Awards Celebration
- Opportunity to develop and use your leadership skills
- Networking with other team captains who share your excitement
- One free copy of your team photo from the event
- Opportunity to attend the 2010 National Captain’s Rally