Fast and Furriest FAQS

What is the Fast and Furriest Virtual 5K?

The Fast and Furriest Virtual 5K is a special event supporting Independent Animal Rescue. This year marks IAR's second annual Fast and Furriest 5K, which is similar to the Great Human Race fundraiser IAR has done in past years.

You can register for the event as a participant and set a 5K goal that you will complete during the week of the event (April 2-9). In the weeks leading up to April 2, share your 5K goal with your friends, family and acquaintances, and ask them to "sponsor" you with a donation to IAR. When donations are made to sponsor you, they will appear on your page and in your fundraising total. All donations are added to the Fast and Furriest Virtual 5K event goal of $40,000!

The key thing to remember is that a lot of small donations add up to make a big total, and every dollar raised has a huge impact on the lives of the animals we serve!

How does a virtual 5K work? Do I need to show up to a race?

There is no scheduled or timed 5K race. You can complete a 5K anywhere and anytime you want to, and we encourage you to complete it during the weeklong event (April 2-9)!

What if I can't do a 5K walk/run, or don't want to?

Create your own "5K" goal! Our only rule is that you challenge yourself and try to incorporate the number 5,000, 500, 50, or 5 into your goal. A panel of judges will pick the three most innovative 5K goals submitted for consideration to win prizes! You can learn more about how to submit your clever 5K feat below and on the event home page. 

What is my personal Fundraising Page?

If you are registered for the Fast and Furriest Virtual 5K, you will automatically get your own Fundraising Page. The page is customizable, so you can add information about your goals, why you are participating, pictures of you completing your 5K–whatever you want to share! Remember: your personal Fundraising Page is where you will send your friends and family when you ask them to sponsor you, so make sure your page has enough content to make a good impression!

Can I participate on a team?

Yes! When you create or join a team, you still get your own Fundraising Page upon registrationand it works the same as though you were an individual fundraiser. The key difference is that your fundraising total is added to your teammates' fundraising totals, and together you are working toward a shared fundraising goal.

What are sponsors, and how do I get them?

Sponsors are the friends, family, coworkers, neighbors and other acquaintenances that you can ask to donate to your fundraiser to benefit IAR. Don't worry: Getting sponsors is not hard, and to simplify it further we have included some tips on how to approach potential sponsors! See the "Fundraising Tips and Tools" section below.

What are badges?

Fundraising badges are earned when you or your team reaches certain milestones! They are automatically awarded and appear in your fundraising page.

Do I have to do my 5K challenge between April 2-9?

No, you do not have to complete your 5K challenge during the weeklong event, but we encourage it so that everyone is doing their challenge at the same time. We would love to see pictures of you (and your furry friends!) completing your challenge while wearing you Fast and Furriest Virtual 5K t-shirt, which you will have by April 2 if you register by March 18.

When can I get my Fast and Furriest t-shirt?

You will get your t-shirt by April 2 if you register for the event by March 18. If you register after March 18, we cannot promise you will get your shirt by April 2.

How do I get my Fast and Furriest t-shirt?

IAR will be hosting special shirt pick-up events around the community, and will have shirts at our office available for pickup on an ongoing basis. Stay tuned as we announce pick-up dates and times! Please contact us at fastandfurriest@animalrescue.net if you live out of town or have difficulty picking up your shirt. 

How can I engage with others participating in the Fast and Furriest Virtual 5K?

We will be talking about and sharing the event on IAR's social media channels, Facebook and Instagram, leading up to and throughout the weeklong event. We encourage you to join the discussion and tag us in your posts for a chance to be featured on our pages!

How do I submit my creative 5K to win a prize?

• Email fastandfurriest@animalrescue.net by April 9 for your creative 5K to be considered.

• All entry emails should have the subject line “Fast and Furriest Virtual 5K + [Participant’s Name]”

• Include photos if available. (Bonus points if you’re rocking your official 5K shirt and if your furry friend is included!)

• Tell us in the body of the email what your 5K goal was and how you completed it.

We will announce the three winners on April 10!

Fundraising Tips and Tools

1. The "old fashioned" way works! Call or message the people you know. Tell them about your 5K goal and explain that you are doing it for a cause and an organization you really care about. Let them know that any amount they can give will help Independent Animal Rescue, and be sure to share your personal Fundraising Page so they can easily make their donation to your 5K! 

Tip: Your sponsors can also text 50155 to donate to your 5K with a special code that you can create and share with them. You can enable text-to-donate on your personal Fundraising Page to make sponsoring your 5K even easier for your friends and family!

2. Next time someone asks, "So what have you been up to?" you can respond, "I've been fundraising for Independent Animal Rescue's Fast and Furriest Virtual 5K!" You may get a new sponsor easier than you think! Make sure you have your personal Fundraising Page link or text-to-donate information to share, or simply point them to this website. 

3. Use our Fast and Furriest event graphics to quickly and easily share your personal fundraising efforts on social media and via email. Or create your own post, include pictures of your pets or animals you love and add them to your post. Don't forget to tag IAR on Instagram and Facebook!

4. Show your gratitude to your sponsors with a small token of appreciation. A thank-you note, a card with your pet's pawprint– whatever you think of that will make your friends and family smile and go for it. It doesn't have to be fancy or expensive!