walkathon

American  

[waw-kuh-thon] / ˈwɔ kəˌθɒn /

noun

1. a long-distance 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.

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Etymology

Origin of walkathon

First recorded in 1930–35; walk + -athon

Explanation

A walkathon is a fundraiser in which donors pledge money based on the distance a participant covers on foot. Many walkathons raise money to treat or research cures for specific diseases, like multiple sclerosis or breast cancer. Walkathons tend to be large, well-organized events that target issues that affect a lot of people. If you participate in a walkathon to benefit people who lost their homes in a huge wildfire, you'll ask everyone you know to pledge a specific amount of money per mile. After the walkathon, you can add up the miles you walked and collect the donations. Walkathon, a portmanteau of walk and marathon, was coined in the 1930s.

Example Sentences

In support of October’s breast cancer awareness drive, fitness app Gixo is organizing a 12-hour walkathon Oct.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 12, 2018

Back in 1970, Dombrovski had entered his first walkathon.

From Washington Times • Apr. 24, 2017

The 2010 walkathon, Berner explains, was held to raise money to buy new computers.

From Slate • Dec. 14, 2011

Not everyone in Congress has embraced the walkathon.

From Washington Post

She says they run the canned-food drive, tutor kids in the city, host a walkathon, a danceathon, and a rockingchairathon to raise money for I don’t know what.

From "Speak" by Laurie Halse Anderson