walkathon

[waw-kuh-thon]

noun

1. a long-distance walking walking race for testing endurance.

2. such a contest held to raise funds for a charity or special cause, with supporters or sponsors pledging to donate a sum for a specific contestant or team for each mile walked or for the total miles covered.

Word History and Origins

Origin of walkathon¹

First recorded in 1930–35; walk + -athon

Example Sentences

“I don’t think people would have donated the way they did if I’d done a walkathon.”

From Wall Street Journal

Jones is also taking inspiration from the German town of Wunsiedel, where residents have responded to an annual neo-Nazi march by sponsoring an “involuntary walkathon” that raises funds for anti-extremist causes.

From The Guardian

Dombrovski said he had no intention of participating in a walkathon.

From Washington Times

Activists adorned the involuntary walkathon with all the trappings of a peppy fund-raiser, adding colorful banners to encourage the neo-Nazis to keep moving forward, thus raising more money to support defections from their cause.

From Newsweek