FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Note that you may also wish to visit the Background and How to Complete the 2022 Challenge pages for more information. For media, comments, or other inquiries please email info@encephalitis411.org.
How can I participate in the challenge?
There are 3 ways to join the challenge from July 28-September 30, 2022: as a) a walk participant, as b) a fundraiser, or c) as a donor. You will be asked to support either Team Infectious Encephalitis or Team Autoimmune Encephalitis, and may join at any time during the event period.
Registrations to be a walk participant are accepted on a rolling basis up until the event ends. But the earlier you register, the faster your t-shirt will come, and the longer you will have to complete your challenge!
Registrations to be a walk participant are accepted on a rolling basis up until the event ends. But the earlier you register, the faster your t-shirt will come, and the longer you will have to complete your challenge!
Why do I have to choose Team Infectious Encephalitis or Team Autoimmune Encephalitis?
There are several components built into the event format that are intended to help raise awareness and increase public knowledge about encephalitis. These have been crafted to help participants spark conversation, generate questions, and share knowledge about the illness when they reach out to their network about the event.
Encephalitis is caused by either 1) an infectious agent, or 2) an autoimmune process, with an approximate 50/50 split. To reflect this fact in the 2022 edition of the challenge, we have created Team Infectious Encephalitis and Team Autoimmune Encephalitis to see which side can garner the most support. Nothing like a little friendly competition to raise passion for the encephalitis cause!
We ask you to consider whether your personal connection is to infectious encephalitis or autoimmune encephalitis. If you're unsure, ask the person who recruited you to the challenge! It's a great opportunity to learn more about the disease.
Participants, fundraisers, and donors will generally choose to support the team that they have a personal connection to. If your personal connection has a complex diagnosis that does not fall strictly under infectious encephalitis or autoimmune encephalitis, or the cause of their encephalitis is unknown, choose the team that inspires you the most!
Encephalitis is caused by either 1) an infectious agent, or 2) an autoimmune process, with an approximate 50/50 split. To reflect this fact in the 2022 edition of the challenge, we have created Team Infectious Encephalitis and Team Autoimmune Encephalitis to see which side can garner the most support. Nothing like a little friendly competition to raise passion for the encephalitis cause!
We ask you to consider whether your personal connection is to infectious encephalitis or autoimmune encephalitis. If you're unsure, ask the person who recruited you to the challenge! It's a great opportunity to learn more about the disease.
Participants, fundraisers, and donors will generally choose to support the team that they have a personal connection to. If your personal connection has a complex diagnosis that does not fall strictly under infectious encephalitis or autoimmune encephalitis, or the cause of their encephalitis is unknown, choose the team that inspires you the most!
What should I set for my personal challenge?
Those who register as a "walk participant" are asked to set a personal challenge to complete at any point between July 28-Sept 30, 2022. You may do a simple walk or run on a date of your choice; or you may choose something different to complete over a set length of time during the event.
Note that creativity is encouraged. We have a place in the challenge for people of ALL ages and ALL skill levels.
Here are several ideas you may borrow, some using the “10th” anniversary of Nicole's Challenge as inspiration:
Note that creativity is encouraged. We have a place in the challenge for people of ALL ages and ALL skill levels.
Here are several ideas you may borrow, some using the “10th” anniversary of Nicole's Challenge as inspiration:
- See how many minutes of cardio you can log during the entire event period
- Do 10 minutes of cognitive rehab exercises 10 days in a row
- Get individuals in your network to sponsor you for $10 each if you complete a meaningful personal goal
- Commit to running 100 miles before the event is over
- Coordinate a virtual walk amongst your network on a date of your choice
- Set a goal to collect the most donations of any individual fundraiser
- Do 10 pushups per day
- Share 10 facts about encephalitis with 10 people to raise awareness for the illness
Why should I participate?
There are 3 core reasons:
1. It's going to be fun! By participating in the challenge, you'll be joining a tight-knit but welcoming community of people who are banding together to Wipe Out Encephalitis. We encourage you to join us on our inspire.com and private Facebook communities to interact with your fellow teammates, share photos, and cheer each other on.
2. We could all benefit from extra motivation. After a long couple of years spent in COVID isolation, you might be rusty when it comes to getting up off the couch, completing your personal goals, and making new friends. Why not use Nicole's Challenge to incentivize you to get moving?
3. Your participation has a positive impact on the wider community. Encephalitis research, advocacy, and awareness activities are dramatically underfunded relative to the number of people diagnosed.
1. It's going to be fun! By participating in the challenge, you'll be joining a tight-knit but welcoming community of people who are banding together to Wipe Out Encephalitis. We encourage you to join us on our inspire.com and private Facebook communities to interact with your fellow teammates, share photos, and cheer each other on.
2. We could all benefit from extra motivation. After a long couple of years spent in COVID isolation, you might be rusty when it comes to getting up off the couch, completing your personal goals, and making new friends. Why not use Nicole's Challenge to incentivize you to get moving?
3. Your participation has a positive impact on the wider community. Encephalitis research, advocacy, and awareness activities are dramatically underfunded relative to the number of people diagnosed.
Where does the money go?
All proceeds go to Encephalitis411, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Our mission is to improve the quality of life for those impacted by encephalitis through engaging in research, advocacy, and awareness activities.
We strive to maximize the impact of each dollar raised. Over the past decade, your generous contributions have enabled us to directly help thousands of encephalitis patients, caregivers, doctors, and other community members! But there are still thousands more who lack proper support.
Some of our most impactful services include a free support hotline, online and in-person support groups, educational webinars, and research collaborations with world-renowned institutions across the U.S. Your participation will ensure that we are able to strengthen these services, expand our reach, and help thousands more in the future.
We strive to maximize the impact of each dollar raised. Over the past decade, your generous contributions have enabled us to directly help thousands of encephalitis patients, caregivers, doctors, and other community members! But there are still thousands more who lack proper support.
Some of our most impactful services include a free support hotline, online and in-person support groups, educational webinars, and research collaborations with world-renowned institutions across the U.S. Your participation will ensure that we are able to strengthen these services, expand our reach, and help thousands more in the future.
Is there an option for those who wish to become a walk participant but cannot afford the registration fee?
We ask that you find a sponsor(s) who can donate $40 on your behalf. On the donor form comment section, they must specify themselves as a sponsor and include your name. Once this is received, we will reach out to you with a link to your customizable fundraising page and send you your Wipe Out Encephalitis t-shirt.
When will I receive my registration package?
24-48 hours after you register, you will receive an official welcome orientation email that contains a link to your customizable fundraising page, as well as guidance on how to make the most of your challenge. On average, t-shirts arrive to U.S. addresses ~2 weeks after you register.
When am I supposed to complete the challenge?
Choose any time during the event period, which runs from July 28-September 30, 2022. Some may choose to complete their personal challenge during a single day, weekend, or week; others may choose to complete their challenge over the entire duration of the event.
You may commence your personal challenge as soon as you receive your registration package/welcome email, though the average participant tends to wait until their t-shirt arrives. They use this ~1 to 2 week period to consider what personal challenge to set, customize their fundraising page, and spread the word amongst their network.
You may commence your personal challenge as soon as you receive your registration package/welcome email, though the average participant tends to wait until their t-shirt arrives. They use this ~1 to 2 week period to consider what personal challenge to set, customize their fundraising page, and spread the word amongst their network.
Your support is critical to helping improve the quality of life for those impacted by encephalitis. Thanks to your generous contributions over the past decade, Encephalitis411 has directly helped thousands of encephalitis patients, caregivers, doctors, and other community members across the U.S! We appreciate your support for 2022.
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