Walk Your AS Off 2020

May 1st is fast approaching, which means it is almost time for this year's Walk Your AS Off (WYASO) event.

If you have participated before then you are all set. Your accounts from last year will be waiting for you. Just log in and start tracking your steps. Treat the time leading up to May 1st as practice for the main event, and make sure you can log back into your account and log steps, and maybe leave a note for your team and say hi in the team messaging system.

If you are new to Walk Your AS Off, then welcome! There is a whole bunch of resources below to help you get started, including a FAQ which will help you get ready for Walk Your AS Off.

This year, because of all that is happening in the world right now, is going to feel a little different. And that's okay. Even though we won't be encouraging teams to meet up and for walks together (in order to comply with social distancing), it doesn't mean this year's WYASO is a bust.

There are many things we can do to keep active in a bid to help control our Axial SpA / Ankylosing Spondylitis. Leading up to, and throughout WYASO, we will be sharing tips and exercises you can do to help you keep active during this difficult time. And remember all exercise counts and can be converted to steps to be logged. Whether it's work around the house or garden, yoga, or cycling, it can all be converted! There's a handy conversion chart in the resources section below.

If you have any questions, or want to start a team but are not sure how to, don't be afraid to reach out to us on info@walkasone.org.

And lastly, this year's World AS Day falls on May 2nd. The theme that all AS charities around the globe are sharing is TOGETHER – AxSpa and mental health. I would encourage you to check out the World AS Day page on ASIF's website for more information. ASIF is a proud supporter of Walk Your AS Off, so keep your eye out on their social media (and ours) on how we can improve mental health support (and much more) together.

Resources for a successful WYASO

Recruitment Flyer

If you need a little help getting people to sign up, then maybe this flyer will help. Print off as many as you’d like, write your team name on it and hand them out! That’s it. You can download it here.

Flyer

Our latest version of our A.S. informational flyer. You can download that here.

Team Captain Guide

Whether you are a new or veteran team captain, check out our new guide for 2020. We hope to expand this guide going forward, so reach out if you have ideas on what else we can add, so that we can support our team captains. Download the guide here.

Apparel

Want to show the world why you are walking with some new threads? We have brand new WYASO shirts and hats! Find them here.

Banner

And last but not least, you can now order a WYASO banner! That’s right, if your team meets in person and does a physical walk, then hold the WYASO banner high and let the world know why you are walking. The banners come in two sizes (small for one person, or large for three to hold). The first ten orders will be free as they have been donated by Michael Smith’s family. Details on how to order can be found here.

Step Conversion Chart

We have taken the old step conversion chart and simplified it (you can still use the old one, it's still valid.) You can download the step conversion chart here.

Sign up tutorial [video]

If you or any of your team members need help signing up, we’ve got you covered. We have a video tutorial showing you all the features of the new website, as well as how to sign up and how you can create a team. Watch it here.