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Let's go the distance for POTS!
Join with thousands of POTS warriors, friends and family, on a 15-day virtual race around the world during the 6th Annual Race to Beat POTS. We'll add up all of the miles from all of the event participants to see if we can make it 30,000 miles around the globe. The distance you travel doing any non-motorized activity counts! You can run, walk, bike, wheelchair roll, kayak, swim, and much more. And every $10 donated or raised counts as a mile too!
There are prizes for most distance traveled by an individual, most funds raised by a team, most number of team registrants, and most creative racer.
Race to Beat POTS 2021 - Virtual Race Course
Why are we racing to beat POTS?
POTS stands for postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, a debilitating autonomic nervous system disorder that impacts an estimated 1-3 million Americans, and millions of other people around the world. The peak age of onset of POTS is age 14, but about half of individuals develop it in adulthood. Many people, including doctors, have never heard of POTS, so people with POTS experience an average diagnostic delay of over four years. There are no FDA-approved treatments for POTS, and many patients remain quite ill despite trying all of the medications and lifestyle changes currently offered.
All funds raised during this event will support Dysautonomia International's research, physician education, public awareness and patient empowerment programs. Dysautonomia International is the largest non-governmental source of POTS research funding in the world. The organization also facilitates more physician education programs on autonomic disorders than any other entity. Dysautonomia International created the first Dysautonomia Awareness Month campaign in October 2012, and the annual campaign now spans the globe. The organization hosts over 300 events per year to raise awareness at the community level, and provides online and in person support groups that serve over 75,000 patients and caregivers. Working together, we can go the distance for POTS!
HOW TO GET INVOLVED
Do I have to run?
No running required! You can skip the exercise and create a team from the comfort of your couch to raise funds. Every $10 you donate or raise counts as a mile! You can also count your miles from June 16-30 while doing any of the following activities: run, virtual run, walk, hike, bike ride, virtual bike ride, elliptical, swim, row, kayak, canoe, stand up paddle, roller skate, ice skate, skateboard, ski, snowshoe, kitesurf, handcycle, wheelchair or powerchair.
How can I participate in the Race to Beat POTS?
There are six ways to be involved:
1. Register for the race and create a fundraising team.
2. Register for the race and join an existing fundraising team.
3. Register for the race solo, with no team.
4. Donate to a friend's fundraising team. (search below)
5. Donate to Team Dysautonomia International.
6. Be a race Sponsor.
PRIZES
Prize Details
Individuals who register for the Race to Beat POTS are eligible for the following prizes. Winners will be announced during our post event celebration, broadcast live on Dysautonomia International's Facebook page at 7pm EDT on June 30th. All race registrants will also be contacted via email to announce the winners.
Race to Beat POTS Globe Trotter
Raise or donate $100 or more on your Race to Beat POTS individual fundraising page to receive a pair of awesome "Cure POTS" shoelaces. This prize is limited to the first 200 participants who reach the $100 goal on their individual fundraising page.
Most Funds Raised By A Team
The team that has raised the most funds by 12noon EDT on June 30, 2021 wins this Prize Package*. Your team will receive credit for registration fees and donations by your team members, online donations to your team page, sponsorships obtained by your team members, and cash/check donations raised by your team members. To count towards this prize, cash/check donations must be received by Dysautonomia International's main office by June 29th and must include a note indicating that the donation is for your team so that we can credit the donation to your team. Please email us if you have any questions about offline donations or sponsorships, events@dysautonomiainternational.org.
Most Number of Team Members
Encourage your friends and family to join your team! Team members include anyone who registers for the Race to Beat POTS as part of your team. The team that has the most members by 12noon EDT on June 30, 2021 wins this Prize Package.
Most Creative Team
This race encourages participants to track their distance doing many different activities (Run, Virtual Run, Walk, Hike, Ride, Virtual Ride, Row, Kayak, Canoe, Elliptical, Swim, Inline Skate, Skateboard, Backcountry Ski, Alpine Ski, Ice Skate, Nordic Ski, Roller Ski, Wheelchair, Handcycle, Stand Up Paddle, Snowshoe, or Kitesurf). The team that sends us photos of their team members doing the most number of different activities on the list wins a Prize Package for Most Creative Team. The activities must be performed by registered team members during the race period, June 16-30, to count. If multiple teams submit photos of team members doing each of the activities on the list, the team that sends us all of their photos first, no later than 12noon EDT on June 30th, 2021, wins the prize. Photos must be sent in one email to events@dysautonomiainternational.org. In the email, please include your team name, team captain's name, and identify each photo by the name of the person in the photo and the type of activity they are performing from the list.
Longest Distance By An Individual
Encourage your registered team members to "go the distance for POTS" and accumulate as much distance as they can during the 15 day challenge, June 16-30, anywhere in the world. The team that has logged the most distance wins this Prize Package*. Miles earned through fundraising do not count towards this prize. This prize is based on miles accumulated through activities.
Prize Packages include: Certificate of Recognition for all team members; shout out to your team on Dysautonomia International's social media channels; Dysautonomia International gift pack for the Team Captain to include; $100 Amazon gift card, Dysautonomia International t-shirt and turquoise metallic water bottle and samples of Liquid IV & Vitassium.
Please note, all prizes will be shipped to winners in the continental US at no charge. If a winner would like a prize shipped anywhere outside of the continental US, the winner will be responsible for shipping fees. Final decisions on the winner from each category will be decided by Dysautonomia International.
Please feel free to reach out us with any questions: events@dysautonomiainternational.org or 631-202-1720.
THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS!
DIAMOND SPONSOR
PLATINUM SPONSOR
GOLD SPONSOR
SILVER SPONSOR
BRONZE SPONSOR
If you know a family, non-profit or business that may want to sponsor the Race to Beat POTS, please share this Sponsorship Flyer with them.
A Message From the Race to Beat POTS Co-Founders
Hi! We are Erin Harten and Taylor Kulp, co-founders of the Race to Beat POTS. We met at the Dysautonomia International Conference in 2015, and after that amazing experience, we decided to work together to raise awareness and research funds for POTS. We were overwhelmed by the amount of support for our virtual race last year, we decided to do it again! Race to Beat POTS, which started in a little town called Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, has helped so many patients and family members connect with one another from all over the world.
We can not wait to see what our sixth year will be like! Help us go the distance for POTS!
Erin & Sheri Harten, with Taylor & Cindy Kulp. Supportive POTS moms are the best!
Thanks for supporting the Race to Beat POTS!
Your email receipt is on its way.
If you require assistance with your Race to beat POTS personal page or team page, please reach out to Kirsten Slowey, Dysautonomia International Director of Events, at events@dysautonomiainternational.org.