FAQs and Contact

Registration for walk segments and events will open in January 2015. Check back often for updates.

You will need to provide your name and personal contact information, as well as credit or debit card information. Note: at this time we do not accept American Express.

The registration process is short and sweet — five easy steps. At the start, you will be given the option to: register as an individual, join a team, or create a team. You’ll be prompted to choose the county(s) in which you intend to participate and enter your personal information. Next, you will be asked to identify the walks/events you would like to attend. Finally, you will initial the event waivers, have an opportunity to donate if you wish, and submit payment.

Each registration page displays a 1-2-3-4-5 progress bar at the top, allowing users to track progress throughout the process and click back to different steps to re-review or change any information. Any information entered will not be lost or deleted by switching between these progress levels.

Individual Registration: Signing yourself up to participate in the walk or attend an event.

Joining a Team is easy: Simply select the option to join a team then select the team name from the drop-down menu.

Building a Team: To walk together when we are in your area, select the option to “Start a Team.” By creating the team, your name will appear as the team captain.

Yes. In 2015, walkers will be assessed a nominal $10 fee when registering, simply to help offset the expenses traditionally absorbed in full by Lauren’s Kids Foundation. Each walk registration includes a 2015 official ‘Walk in My Shoes’ t-shirt, lunch, Lauren’s Kids bracelet, a fun and safe journey from start to end. Lauren’s Kids wants to make this a positive experience for everyone involved, and we need your help to keep walking toward a safer Florida.

Rest assured that if you register for multiple walks within the same county, you will only be charged one time. For example, if you’d like to walk with us on three different walk days within Miami-Dade County, you will only be charged one registration fee per person; if you choose to participate in multiple walk days in Miami-Dade county plus a walk day in another county, the registration fee will be assessed twice — once for each county.

Advance registration is strongly encouraged — it saves you time and money. Enjoy decreased wait times at the check-in table on the day of the event. Additionally, the registration fee is only $10 per person per county. Note that advance registration closes at 5:00 pm EST the day before the event.

While on-site registration is available, the fee increases to $15 per person per county. Additionally, you will be required to complete a more detailed check-in process on the day of the event (personal information, waiver, payment, etc), which will require additional time.

Lauren’s Kids offers scholarships in select cases, waiving the $10 walk registration fee for qualified individuals. If you wish to participate but cannot afford the $10 fee and wish to be considered for a scholarship, please fill out a contact us form here.

New in 2015, both are possible — and easy.

Group Registration: As you complete the registration process as a member of this team, you will pay individually and directly through the system. Your team captain will not need to collect funds from everyone who plans to join his/her team.

Family Registration: From the walk main page, click the button to register as an individual. As you move through the process and complete the initial family member’s registration, you will be given the option to add additional members. Here you are able to add up to 4 additional family members. Note that the system will auto-populate contact information and payment information so all members of the family registration are processed simultaneously. (For this reason, the family registration option is not intended for anyone besides a family unit — use the group registration option otherwise.)

You can name the team anything you would like – be creative but remember that it is an identifier so you may want to use it as an opportunity to bring awareness to your organization or an individual survivor by including a few key words in the team name.

The system will provide you with a unique URL that you can email out to your friends and family to encourage them to join. This URL can also be shared through social media platforms, such as Facebook and Twitter. Spread it far and wide and follow up with people frequently to ensure they’ve signed up and plan to attend — having a great turnout makes the day that much more fun and brings more awareness to the cause!

You can always check progress online by visiting the website to see who and how many have signed up under your team name.

Unfortunately no. Under a single transaction, you may register individuals within your family or group who share a payment method. Once complete, you may begin a separate transaction for the balance of your family or group, inputting a different payment method.

As part of your walk registration, you will receive a T-shirt — based on your size selection at time of registration — when you arrive at the walk check-in desk on-site.

If you register for an event segment that has a fee associated with it, you will receive a complimentary t-shirt. If you register for an event segment that is free of charge (Book Reading, Rally, etc), you will not receive a complimentary t-shirt, however you will have the opportunity to purchase a t-shirt at the merchandise table on-site for $5. This fee is assessed simply to cover manufacturing costs.

For technical assistance, please call the Help Line: 866.972.2348

For questions neither related to technical issues nor answered in these FAQs, please feel free to contact us by submitting an inquiry here.

While Lauren’s Kids cannot reimburse Walker registration, we do offer the option for a walker to transfer his/her registration to another individual. There are no restrictions mandating the new registrant to participate in the same county/events as the original registrant.

For walk segments, you will need to arrive no later than 45 minutes prior to walk start. Please know that our check-in and registration table will close 15 minutes prior to our walk start. Because each day of our walk occurs at different times, please be on the lookout for our walk informational email, which you will receive no later than one week prior to the event that you have registered for. Because our walkers’ safety is our top priority, we will not be able to allow those that show up to the walk start line any later than 15 minutes prior to our walk start to participate with us.

Following these guidelines will allow walkers enough time to complete the check-in process and receive the required Rules of the Road briefing.

For the convenience of walkers, we have designated each walk segment as one of three levels:
Short = between 1 mile and 10 miles
Medium = between 10 miles and 20 miles
Long = between 20 and 30 miles

Unfortunately, Lauren’s Kids is not able to provide return transportation service. Walkers are responsible for arranging their own transportation to and from walk locations, including starting point, end point, or otherwise. Participants should coordinate drop-off/pick-up transportation with a friend or family member well in advance of the walk day.

To help walkers plan in advance, the walk informational email will contain details on location and anticipated timing.

Additionally, the Road Crew, our on-roadway staff, will be happy to provide information on the day of the walk that will help you coordinate your pick-up. We will be happy to answer any questions during the walk about anticipated arrival time at a lunch stop or end point. Keep in mind that this timing is not a perfect science, as our progress is dependent upon many factors throughout the day.

If you have additional questions, please contact us.

To provide support in cases of emergency, illness or exhaustion, a Chase Vehicle will be positioned just behind the motorcoach and the walkers. This vehicle should be used in moderation, if at all.

Walkers requiring assistance should ask the Tour Manager for direction, and may be permitted to rest in the Chase Vehicle for 5-10 minutes. At the end of this period, the walker must immediately return to the group. If resuming participation in the walk is not possible, the walker must contact a friend or family member to arrange for return transportation.

Walkers intending to participate with children should be aware that children will be subject to the same guidelines. If a child is not able to walk the entirety of the route on his/her own, a stroller is recommended. Alternatively, the walkers may create a modified route for themselves, to include transportation.

It is the responsibility of the walker to use the restroom at the starting line and lunch/break points so as not to interfere with the progression of the walk. Limited, supplementary restroom breaks are pre-planned along the route at public facilities. Walkers will be informed as restroom breaks approach so they know what to expect.

Unplanned restroom stops taken by walkers (ducking into a gas station, etc) are not recommended and will result in the walker taking responsibility for his/her own reuniting with the tour (jogging to meet back up with the group). Lauren’s Kids cannot assume responsibility for walkers who choose not to remain with the group.

The Walk typically progresses at an average rate of 3.0 miles per hour, regardless of terrain or weather.

Walkers are encouraged to train in advance of their participation in the walk. Walk on a treadmill at a pace of 3.0 miles per hour. Begin with 1.5 miles and double it weekly until you reach your goal (the number of miles you plan to walk while on-tour).

New in 2015, walkers signed up to participate may access Lauren’s weekly training schedule via social media.

Lauren and her walkers are dedicated and will not waiver because of generally inclement weather (rain, wind, etc).

In rare circumstances over the past five years, weather has presented unsafe conditions. In those cases, the Walk Team works with law enforcement to make a call on whether to continue or postpone.

In the unlikely case of postponement, the delay is typically only a matter of one or a few hours. Walkers registered for that segment will be notified immediately by way of email. Updates will also be provided via social media channels — be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter for real-time updates.

We welcome everyone to walk with us, however, walk participants should be advised that we keep a walk pace of around 3.0 mph. Due to the pace and terrain, these factors will make it difficult for some to stay with our motorcoach and police escort, as required. If you have a physical limitation (including the use of an assisted device) that would inhibit you from this walk pace, please contact us and we will do our best to coordinate with you.

Lunch will be provided for all registered walkers. We will do our best to provide options for vegetarians, but should you have special food preferences or allergies, please plan to bring a lunch with you.

Lunch breaks are a maximum of 30 minutes in order to keep the day’s planned route and timing on track.

Hydration is key on these hot summer days, particularly on Medium and Long walk segments. Walkers are encouraged to bring their own (filled) water bottle to start the day. Throughout the day, water coolers will be available for refills. We will also have Lauren’s Kids water bottles available for purchase at our check-in tables positioned at the starting line.

Walkers are welcome to push a stroller but should be advised that the pace and terrain of the walk may make it hard to keep up. Walkers bringing children not able to walk the entirety of the segment for which they are registered — at a pace of 3.0 mph — are strongly encouraged to bring a stroller or arrange for return transportation should the child be unable to complete the walk segment.

Scooters, skateboards, bicycles, rollerblades, shoes with rollers on the bottom, and the like are not permitted due to safety considerations.

While we would love to meet everyone’s furry friends, a photo presence is probably best as the days are long and the sun hot. For the safety and security of all involved, pets are not permitted on the walk (with the exception of service animals, of course).

Please visit LaurenKids.org/walk and click on the DONATE button.

Yes. Once you have chosen to donate, you can select a checkbox that will allow you to add the honoree’s name along with a customized message.

Yes, please visit our general Lauren’s Kids Donate page to learn more.

$800 fills the fuel tank of the motorcoach once, which is typically done three times weekly.

$100 will sponsor 10 walkers who are unable to commit the registration fee themselves. Lauren’s Kids strives to involve and engage families and survivors of all socio-economic levels.

$300 educates a classroom of 30 children on personal safety through out Safer, Smarter Kids abuse prevention curriculum.

$30 provides a printed ‘Guide to Hope & Healing’ and plush Buddy doll for a family dealing with the aftermath of sexual violence.

$10 funds a scholarship for a survivor to participate in our annual Walk in My Shoes.

$5 allows us to produce 5 teal Lauren’s Kids ’42 million’ awareness bands

Please visit Lauren’s Kids.org/walk and click the Volunteer button. Here you will find a list of opportunities, organized by county and time of day. Please know how much we value and appreciate the support of our loyal volunteers — the Walk would not be the same without you!

Volunteer needs vary depending on the area and time of day. Typically, however, we request a minimum of 2 hours. Volunteer needs are segmented based on morning (approximately a 3 hour time commitment with a time frame between 6:30am-12:00pm), afternoon (approximately a 3 hour time commitment with a time frame between 12:00pm-5:00pm), and evening shifts (approximately a 3 hour time commitment with a time frame between 5:00pm-10:00pm).

Four weeks prior to the volunteer date, you will receive an email with specific instructions on location and arrival time. If you determine before then that you are no longer able to participate, please email [email protected].

Lauren’s Kids is happy to sign service hour forms reflecting the number of hours for which an individual volunteered or walked. Please provide your form to an official member of the Lauren’s Kids Road Crew at the end of your shift or participation. A Standard Lauren’s Kids form is available upon request.

Yes, in return for your assistance, we will be happy to provide all volunteers with a complimentary t-shirt.