Our 17th Annual Unite for Bleeding Disorders Walk, benefiting the New England Hemophilia Association (NEHA), will be held on Saturday, September 26 at Prowse Farm in Canton, MA! 

Everyone in the New England bleeding disorders community, their families, friends, supporters, local businesses and our industry partners from all six New England states are invited to join us.

This special day allows us to celebrate the resilience, dedication and perseverance of our Wicked Strong Family! This important event also raises vital funds needed to continue providing education, support and advocacy for the New England bleeding disorders community.

The Walk Experience

Our Walk allows us to unite as a community and to celebrate one another. Each year, our Wicked Strong Family comes out in full force with high energy to raise funds and awareness for bleeding disorders.

This recap video features footage from last year’s Walk, testimonials from community members and an explanation on how your donations make a difference in our community.

How To Get Started

Follow these steps to join our cause and make a difference.

• Register to Walk or become a Team Captain. Get started here.
• Set a goal. How much money would you like to raise and how many people would you like on your team? Explore fundraising tips and use our goal setting guide.
• Share your story. Use social media to share why you are participating this year. This is a good opportunity to educate everyone in your world about your bleeding disorder journey. Tell them what NEHA means to you. See our storytelling guide here and learn tips on how to personalize your team page.
• Create a Facebook or Instagram fundraiser. Donations will automatically appear on your team page once you link them. Learn how. It is so easy!
• Tips to help you fundraise. 10 Days and 10 Ways to Raise $1,000+; 100 Fundraising Ideas; A-Z Fundraising Ideas; How to Overcome Fears of Fundraising; Team Captain Tips.
• Join our Walk Team Captain Facebook group to connect with other team captains, share fundraising tips, ask for advice, and get the most up-to-date information regarding the Walk. Join the Group Here.
• Become a local sponsor. Download our sponsorship packet here.
• Ask questions. We are here to help you through every step! Contact Jodi: [email protected].

Agenda Overview for September 26

• 9:30 AM – Registration, Breakfast Truck & Industry Sponsor Tents Open
• 10 AM – Entertainment Begins
• 11 AM – Walk Ceremony Begins
• 12 PM – Lunch Begins
• 1 PM – Factor Club Medal Recipients Announced and Awards Presentation
• 2 PM – Walk Concludes

Hotel Accommodations 

Families from all over New England attend our Walk. To help make your trip as easy as possible, we have secured a discounted room block at the Courtyard Boston Dedham-Westwood for those looking to stay overnight. The hotel is a short 7-minute drive from Prowse Farm. The discounted rate is $229 per night.

The last day to reserve a room at this discounted rate is August 26.

Awards and Milestones for Teams and Individuals 

• VIP Village: Teams that raise $5,000 will be included in our VIP Village Tent at the Walk.
  • Based on fundraising totals as of Friday, September 11. 
• Walk Team Yard Signs: Earn one sign along the walk route if your team raises $1,000; raising $2,500 will get you two signs; and raising $5,000 will get you three signs.
  • Based on fundraising totals as of Friday, September 11. 
• Factor Club Medals: Every individual participant (not team) that raises $500 will receive a special medal at the event to celebrate your hard work and effort.
  • Final numbers will be pulled on Friday, September 25 at 5 PM.
• Awards: The three community and corporate teams that raise the most money will receive awards.
  • Final numbers will be pulled on Saturday, September 26 at 11 AM.
• T-Shirt Contest: Create shirts for your team members to wear. Bring an extra t-shirt to the Walk to enter our contest. Trophies will be given for the three most creative shirts!

How Your Donation Makes A Difference

Your support allows us to continue our work of providing support, education and advocacy to those living with a bleeding disorder in the following ways:

1. Family Camp – For more than thirty years, we have offered Family Camp to anyone with a bleeding disorder who receives care in New England. Each year, this program helps patients from more than fifty families increase acceptance and management of the diagnosis while also building strong community connections. Your donation gives this experience to others. 
2. Educational Programs – We host several educational conferences and retreat experiences throughout the year. Your commitment allows us to continue providing this education to patients and their families.
3. Advocacy – Every year, we send families to Washington, D.C., and to their state houses to share their stories and to ask lawmakers for their support on legislation that is critical to our community. Your generosity allows us and our needs to continue to be heard.
4. Emergency Assistance – Each year, we provide roughly $30,000 to families experiencing financial hardships by helping them with non-medical expenses like utility bills, transportation, rent and food. Your support helps those in need. 
5. Research – Over the past ten years, we have contributed more than $150,000 to help find a cure and improved treatment options for bleeding disorders. Your donation allows us to continue investing in research.