BIG CLIMB 2015 - EVENT DAY DETAILS!

Hello Big Climbers!

We are less than 2 weeks away from another fun and successful Big Climb on Sunday, March 22nd.  We are glad you are one of the 6,000 dedicated participants who decided to climb and fundraise for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

This email contains a lot of detailed information about event day, so please read through it thoroughly to avoid a trip to the Information booth on event day!

START TIMES

If for any reason you do not know your start time, you can find it posted on www.bigclimb.org, or by clicking one of the following links:

TEAM Start Times

CLIMBER Start Times

RACER Start Times

All posted start times are now final.  Any switches between racer/climber or participant substitutions must now be made on event day at the Questions/Changes table of the Check-In booth, and will require a $10 fee. Changes on event day are not guaranteed. Please note, you should plan to arrive with plenty of time to spare, as there will likely be a line. We may not be able to accommodate your change request on event day. 

We will be checking all bibs for start times before you enter the stairwell. If you try to start at an earlier time than assigned, you will be escorted back to the 1st floor Atrium to wait for your time. We cannot allow anyone to enter the stairwells early! 

PACKET PICK-UP

Road Runner Sports will be hosting packet pick-up.  Every participant who picks up their packet on Friday or Saturday will be entered to win a $250 Shopping spree at Road Runner Sports! Because of this fantastic perk, we are strongly encouraging packets to be retrieved prior to event day. Packet pick-up will be available on the following dates and locations:

• Road Runner Sports Bellevue: Friday, March 20th from 11am to 7pm: 12200 Northup Way, Bellevue
• Road Runner Sports Seattle: Saturday, March 21st from 10am to 4pm: 7020 Woodlawn Ave NE, Seattle

You may pick up packets for your friends, family, and teammates. Teams of 10 or more will be packaged together in one large envelope: one person is responsible for picking up all of these packets together. Shirts will not be available at packet pick-up.  

CHECKING IN ON RACE DAY

If you are unable to pick up your packet prior to event day, you must check in on the 1st floor. VIP fundraisers (anyone who individually raises $2,500+) can skip the lines - all your items can be found in the VIP area of The Summit Club on the 2nd floor atrium level. 

• If you’re a team of 10 or more, the team captain will check in for everyone. 
• If you’re on a team of 9 or less, everyone needs to check in individually at the Check-In booth.  

WHAT TO EXPECT ON RACE DAY

• You must have your bib before you can claim your t-shirt.  Volunteers will mark your race bib as you claim your shirt. We will be providing a Virtual Goodie Bag to you this year, which will be sent out via email next week with many great offers from our wonderful sponsors! 
• There will be an Information booth for any race day questions you might have.  The Information booth is also where you will turn in any pledges you bring to the climb.
• Climbing to honor someone you love? Pick up your Blood Drop sticker at the Patient Services area on the 1st floor atrium. You may also pick up your commemorative copy of your dedication poster here, too. 
• Spectators are allowed on the 1st floor Atrium level only!  If spectators attempt to access a different floor of the building, they will be escorted out of the building by security. 
• There will be a free bag check in the 1st floor Atrium to store your belongings while you climb. 
• There will be water stops in the stairwells on floors 21, 28, 41, 49, and 58.  Water will be available at the finish and recovery area as well.  There will be NO water at the start line.
• Please climb in single file.  If you need to pass someone in the stairwell, pass on the inside of the turn.  If you are being passed, kindly step to the outside wall.  Everyone will take the elevator down. 
• Racers MUST turn in their timing chip at the finish line (or Information booth if you forget).  There will be a $30 fee for lost chips.  Chips MUST be worn on your right shoe for your time to be recorded accurately.  Do NOT switch chips with anyone as chips are assigned to specific individuals. 
• After you soak in the view at the finish, you will be directed to the 40th floor Recovery Room where free post-race snacks are available from Haggen, Odwalla, Clif Bar & Company, Zico, and many more! Please do not wait too long for teammates at the finish line as it can get too full.  Plan to regroup with teammates on the 40th floor.

FUNDRAISING & INCENTIVES

As a reminder, all participants 18 and older are required to fundraise a minimum of $100 or you will not be allowed to participate in future Big Climb events.  Last year we had to unregister and refund 123 participants that had failed to raise the minimum in 2014. We promise to be strict about this rule again next year and want to make sure that you will be able to participate again!

There’s an exciting fundraising promotion starting this Friday that you won’t want to miss!  The winner will receive 2 roundtrip tickets from Alaska Airlines to go wherever they please. More details to come later this week!

You may turn in your pledges on event day at the Information booth. The fundraising deadline is April 3rd. If you qualify for an incentive prize, you will be asked via email to choose your prize in late April. Prizes will be mailed out in June.

VIP PERKS

Any individual who raises $2,500 or more by race day will have special race day perks! Everything will be waiting for you in our VIP lounge in The Summit Club (2^nd Floor atrium level), including your race packet, event shirt, and special VIP gift. Breakfast treats and lunchtime goodies will also be waiting for you provided by the Columbia Tower Club in the VIP lounge. In addition, Big Climb VIPs will be invited to our Awards Ceremony at the Columbia Tower Club on April 26^th!

Raise $1,000 or more for our 2015 Big Climb, and you will be eligible for Early Bird Registration in 2016! You will have the opportunity to register one week earlier than the general public for next year's event, which we know will sell out in less than one hour!

THE SUMMIT CLUB AT BIG CLIMB 

If you are one of our Top Five Overall Fundraising Teams, Top Five Small Per-Capita Fundraising Teams (teams with 4-20 members), Top 5 Large Per-Capita Fundraising teams (teams with 21+ members), or an Individual VIP, you will have access to The Summit Club - an invite only lounge area on Big Climb event day! Top teams will enjoy catered food, unique race bibs noting you as a Top Fundraiser, and a special gift. Donations must be received by midnight on Wednesday, March 18th to be eligible for this opportunity.  

EVENT DAY PARKING

Please plan to allow enough time for parking.  This year we have quite a few parking options.  Please carpool to the event if at all possible. 

• Free parking below the Columbia Center (701 5th Avenue) from 7am - 7pm.  Enter on Columbia Street between 4th and 5th Avenue. This garage will fill up quickly, so please plan accordingly to have enough time! 
• Free shuttle from Pyramid Alehouse (our post-race venue) will start at 9:30am.  The shuttle stop is located near the north end of Pyramid's back parking lot and will drop off in front of the Columbia Center on 5th Avenue.  It leaves Pyramid on the :15 and :45 and returns on the :00 and :30 until 5:30pm.  *Shuttle will not be available from 1:00-1:30pm.
• Overflow parking will be available for $7.00/day (cash, Visa, or Mastercard only) until 7pm at two off-site garages:
• Seapark Garage (609 6^th Ave) – must exit by 7pm or will be charged $50 late exit fee
• SMT Garage (700 5^th Ave) – must exit by 7pm or will be charged $50 late exit fee
• Please consider using mass transit options as well.

POST-RACE VENUE 

Pyramid Alehouse opens at 11am and will have free parking behind their restaurant.  A free shuttle will run between the Columbia Center and Pyramid throughout the day starting at 9:30am to 5:30pm.  The Shuttle will pick up the last participants from Columbia Center at 5:00pm.

Thank you all again for your dedication to fundraising and helping us
Climb to $2.6 Million! We look forward to seeing you on event day!

Climb. Conquer. Cure.

FEATURED 2015 SPONSOR

Seattle Metropolitan Credit Union is a not-for-profit financial cooperative that returns profit to our members in the form of better rates and lower fees. Anyone who lives or works in Washington can join. Visit www.smcu.com to find out more. SMCU is proud to sponsor the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Big Climb!

THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR 2015 SPONSORS

The following companies have generously donated to help make this year's event successful.

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