You’ll need a leader, commander, captain: someone who can steer the TGP ship and has a natural talent for bringing people together. This can be a teacher, principal, staff member, or administrator - anyone with a big heart who can get students excited about TGP.
Reach out to a local charity in your community that is already participating in The Grand Parade. You can find an official TGP charity close to you by visiting thegrandparade.org/locations.
Talk to them about supporting their work through your own school TGP - they’ll be overjoyed! The charity is your main TGP contact point; they’ll supply you with resources to help make your walk fun.
Create a route for your school walk that is easy for your students to access - in most cases, this should be on your school’s campus. Outdoors is best (around a soccer field for example), but in a pinch you can even walk the halls or around your school’s gymnasium.
Then, select a date and time that fits in well with your school’s schedule. We highly recommend walking or biking between September 11 and 15 - this is the week preceding TGP’s official event date. Closer to the event is better.
You’re going to need a team page to collect online donations! The leader you’ve selected should be the captain of this team and the ‘face’ of this school event.
Get the word out! You’re riding, walking, and fundraising for TGP, say it loud and proud. Promote widely - share your team page link with students and encourage them to join, fundraise, and collect pledges. Hype it up, incentivize, and recognize hard workers. A few ideas to get the ball rolling: