Participant Q & A

Hope For Crohn's® Blue Wave Athena Goddess/Zeus Aquathlon: Participant Q & A

About the Hope For Crohn's® Events

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

A dedicated group of volunteers, Crohn's patients' family and friends, and friends of Hope For Crohn's® joining Rachel A. Bonner to raise awareness and find a cure for Crohn's disease. They work together and stand for no more Crohn's in the life of 500,000 Crohn's patients in America suffering from Crohn's disease.

The net proceeds from the Hope For Crohn's events and all donations go 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 participants must be at least 18 years or older by the end of 2018. There are NO REFUNDS. There are no exceptions. Please note that registration fees and all donations are non-refundable.All registered participants must have medical insurance at the time of the event in order to participate.

During the Hope For Crohn's® Events, minors under 18 years of age must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian who is also a registered participants.

Registered Volunteer Crew Member is a full-day commitment. All volunteer crew members

are required to attend the All Volunteer Crew Meeting on the Thursday before the event. Volunteer crew members must be at least 16 years old on the date the event commences and agree to attend the entire event in a service capacity. Volunteer crew members do not participate in the aquathlon 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 ? Select "Register!" button. You will be guided through the registration process. Once your transaction is complete, you will receive a confirmation email receipt.

4. 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 walkers, runners, triathletes, duathletes, and volunteer crew members. Though the Hope For Crohn's® event 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.

5. 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® event with your primary health care provider and get his or her approval for you to participate. Click here to download the information sheet.

6. 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 unless specified in the event details.

7. 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.

8. 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 and tools are available to support every participant through registration and fundraising. Click here to read our entire disability policy.

All Hope For Crohn's® event staff 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.

9. Is the event held in bad weather? Whatever the weather, the Hope For Crohn's® events generally continues. So please be prepared for participating 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 at the times, dates and locations specified. However, Hope For Crohn's® 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 (walkers, runners, triathletes, duathletes,aquathletes, athletes, 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 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® 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® event participant who attends the event in a service capacity. Volunteer crew members do not participate as a walker, runner, triathlete, duathlete or athlete, 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® event. Volunteer crew members are not required to fundraise, though we do encourage it and will support you in your fundraising efforts. There is no cost to volunteer. Volunteers may earn community service hours and submit their forms for certification to our Director, Volunteer for approval. Volunteers receive a Race crew t-shirt and refreshments.

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 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-day event (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 athlete 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 "Volunteer" menu item.

If you would like to be notified when new volunteer opportunities become available, please subscribe to our Hope For Crohn's® News by clicking on the contact us button and send a request to be added to the list. 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 or "Join RAB" button on 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 who want to volunteer for our local events and ceremonies. Please contact our Hope For Crohn's Director, Volunteers at 925-264-9767 or email to: 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 an email informing you of the Volunteer Meeting date, time, and location. At the Volunteer meeting volunteer needs will be discussed and you will be able to sign-up for an assignment. You will be assigned to a team by a Volunteer Coordinator & Volunteer Team 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 do 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® event will not reimburse you or be financially responsible for any costs associated with your medical care while on the event or thereafter.

Participant's Personal Fundraising Webpage

1. How do I find a participant's personal fundraising webpage? Click on Donate and search by their first or last name.

2. Why is the “Donate” search not finding a participant that I know has registered? Try entering just the first few letters of the participant's name. If you have a problem locating a participant that you are sure has registered, please email us at info@hopeforcrohns.org.

3. Why is the "Donate" search returning more than one listing for a participant? A participant has separate fundraising accounts for each Hope For Crohn's event they are registered for. So if someone is registered for more than one Hope For Crohn's event, all of their fundraising accounts will be listed in the participant search.

Donations/Fundraising

Donations/Fundraising

1, What is the Fundraising Program:Athletes for Crohn’s is a fundraising program which allows athletes to show their support by racing for hope. It gives you the opportunity to participate in several different races nationwide or Hope For Crohn's Events and to directly support Rachel A. Bonner Hope For Crohn’s® ("Hope For Crohn's®") in meeting its mission to raise awareness of Crohn’s disease and to generate funds for Crohn’s research.

Athletes for Crohn’s uses Active.com as our online registration and fundraising tool. You will be able to register online and set-up your own fundraising page to accept donations for participating in one of our races.

Hope For Crohn’s® will pay the entry fee for the athlete in return for fundraising the minimum requirement to help raise funds to support our cause.

1a, Do you have to fundraise to race? No, you do not have to fundraise to partipate in the race. You just register and pay the entry fee

2, Is a portion of the registration fee a donation? No. Your registration fee does not apply towards your fundraising minimum, nor is it tax-deductible.

If I can't participate in the event, what happens to the donations that I have raised? All donations submitted to the Hope For Crohn's® Blue Wave Athena Goddess Aquathlon are non-transferable and non-refundable. If you are unable to participate in the event, your donations cannot be refunded nor can they be transferred to another participant. Your donations will go directly to the cause as if you had participated, and we hope your donors will appreciate supporting Hope For Crohn's® regardless of your participation in the actual event.

Net proceeds from the Hope For Crohn's® Blue Wave Athena Goddess/Zeus Aquathlon goes to fund Crohn's research grants to help researchers find a cure and to support our education and outreach programs in our communities to raise awareness of Crohn's disease.

3. What if I haven’t met my fundraising minimum in time to check in for the Hope For Crohn's® Blue Wave Athena Goddess/Zeus Aquathlon? If you have not met the minimum required amount by the time the turn-in date, April 2, 2018, your registration will be cancelled. There are no refunds. If you have not met the fundraising requirement of $590 to earn an entry, you may choose to pay the entry fee to participate by registering online by April 2, 2018

There is no required fundriaising minimum for the 2018 Hope For Crohn's Blue Wave Athena Goddess/Zeus Aquathlon. If an athletes signs-up to participate in the fundraising program to raise $590 to earn an entry into the race, the fundraising minimum is required to be made in the participants fundraising account by April 2, 2018, or opt not to participate. .All registered fundraiser participants must agree to raise a minimum of $590 to earn a free entry into the race by the turn-in date, April 2, 2018 in order to participate . There are no exceptions. You must have raised at least $590 in your own fundraising account by the turn-in date, April 2, 2018, in order to keep your registration and complete check-in. You will need to have at least $590 in your fundraising account in order to receive your official Hope For Crohn's® Blue Wave Athena Goddess/Zeus Aquathlon credential, race packet, and participate in the event. If you have not met the fundraising requirement of $590 to earn an entry, you may choose to pay the entry fee to participate by registering online by April 2, 2018.

4. How does Hope For Crohn's® utilize the contributions? Net proceeds from the Hope For Crohn's® events fund Crohn's disease research to help researchers find a cure and to support our outreach and education programs in our communities to raise awareness of Crohn's disease. For more information about Hope For Crohn's, visit www.hopeforcrohns.org or email info@hopeforcrohns.org.

5. Where should I mail donation checks? All check donations must be attached to a donation form and should be mailed to the address listed on the donation form, Hope For Crohn's Donor Services/Fundraising, P.O. Box 11421 Pleasanton, CA 94588. Please download form

6. Who should I make my check out to? Please make all checks payable to: Hope For Crohn's.

7. Are donations tax-deductible? Yes. All monetary donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.

8. Are registration fees tax-deductible? No. Registration fees are not tax-deductible. Registration fees pay for the cost of putting on the event.

9. Can the Hope For Crohn's® events accept international donations? Yes. Hope For Crohn's® events can accept international donations online with a credit card. International donations cannot be accepted through any other method because of processing complications.

10. For international donations made online with a credit card, will the amount entered in the Hope For Crohn's® event online donation form be in U.S. dollars? Yes. For international donations made online with a credit card, the amount entered in the Hope For Crohn's® event online donation form will be in U.S. dollars.

11. Do all donors receive a receipt? Yes, anyone who donates, regardless of the amount, will receive a receipt if they provide a valid email address. For those who donate online, the receipt is generated directly after the donation is made and donors can print that receipt for tax purposes or personal records. For those who mail in a donation and provide a valid email address, the receipt is generated once the donation has been processed and is emailed to the donor. Those who donate $250 or more and do not have an email address will receive a copy of the receipt in the mail.

12. What is a matching gift and how do I apply for one? Many companies (both large and small) offer employee matching gift programs. This means that when an employee makes a donation to a cause or non-profit organization, the corporation will “match” that donation with an equal (or greater) amount to the same group. For more information about matching gift, visit the www.hopeforcrohns.org events/new page for more details, or email Donor Services at info@hopeforcrohns.org

Athlete's For Crohn's Team

To learn about or join our Athlete's For Crohn's Team Program, go to link:www.athletesforcrohnshfc.org