Hero 1 of 100 — Joshua L. Holm. Walkers and backers are live.
The Field Guide
Walk, back a walker, give, sponsor, or nominate a veteran. Pick your path. Every step shows the real screen you'll see, with the exact button circled and numbered.
Real screens from the Walk For A Hero app.
13 steps
You want to walk 15 miles and get the people you know to pledge for every mile.
What you'll need
STEP 01of 13
Every hero is a real U.S. veteran living with paralysis. Open the hero's page and you can read his story and see how much has been raised for him so far.
Ready? Press the red Become A Walker button on his page.
On this screen
Good to know: Our first hero is Joshua L. Holm, Hero 1 of 100. Not sure yet? You can also start from the Become A Walker page and pick a hero there.
On the websitewalkforahero.com/heroes/joshua-holm
STEP 02of 13
This is step 1 of a short four-step form. It's free, and it takes about two minutes.
Type your full name and your email. Pick your state from the list. Then press Next.
On this screen
On the websitewalkforahero.com/become-a-walker
STEP 03of 13
In the big box, write a sentence or two about why you're walking. The people you ask will read it, so make it yours.
Below that, choose your hero from the list. Then press Next.
On this screen
Good to know: Every walker walks the same 15 miles. That's the deal for every hero.
On the websiteBecome A Walker · step 2, Your Walk
STEP 04of 13
Step 3 asks if you want to pledge to your own walk. You don't have to. Leave it blank and press Next.
Step 4 shows everything you typed. If it looks right, press Start Walking.
On this screen
On the websiteBecome A Walker · step 3, Optional Pledge
STEP 05of 13
On the thank-you screen, press Create My Login. Use the same email you just signed up with, and make a password of at least 8 characters.
Press Create account. We email you a 6-digit code. Type it in, and you're in.
On this screen
Heads up: Can't find the 6-digit code? Look in your spam or junk folder.
Heads up: Use one email everywhere: the website, the login and the app. Different emails make different accounts.
On the websitewalkforahero.com/register
STEP 06of 13
The app is what counts your miles. It uses your phone's GPS, so it keeps counting with the screen locked and the phone in your pocket.
Open it and sign in with the same email and password. If you used Google or Apple on the website, use the same button in the app.
Walk For A Hero
Free · Walk For A Hero Foundation
On an iPhone? The iPhone app is being reviewed by Apple right now. Sign up today and your spot is saved; you'll use the same login the moment it's out.
STEP 07of 13
Today is home base. The big ring shows your miles out of 15. Next to it you'll see two money numbers, and they mean different things.
Pledged is what your backers have promised so far. Raised is money that has actually been charged.
Along the bottom are the four tabs: Today, Walk, Backers and Hero.
On this screen
Good to know: Tap the circle with your initials, top right, for your profile, photo, notifications and sign-out.
In the appWalk For A Hero app · Today tab
STEP 08of 13
Open the Backers tab and press + Invite. Pick one of three ready-made messages and send it by text, email or social. Each one carries your personal link.
When someone pledges, they show up on this list, with what they've promised so far.
On this screen
Here's the math · an example
Good to know: Ten is the minimum to get started. There's no maximum. Every backer past ten adds to the same walk.
In the appWalk For A Hero app · Backers tab
STEP 09of 13
Go outside and open the Walk tab. It shows the hero you're walking for and how far you have to go.
Press Allow location & start. When your phone asks, choose to allow location while using the app.
On this screen
Good to know: Your location is only used between Start and End Walk, and your route stays private.
In the appWalk For A Hero app · Walk tab
STEP 10of 13
Once it says Recording, just walk. You can lock your phone and put it in your pocket. The miles keep counting.
Need a break? Press Pause. Done for today? Press and hold End Walk until it finishes. A quick tap won't end it, so you can't stop by accident.
On this screen
Heads up: Don't swipe the app closed while you walk. Locking the phone is fine; closing the app stops the count.
Heads up: Walk outside. GPS measures real distance, so a treadmill doesn't add miles, and anything faster than 12 mph (a car or a bike) doesn't count.
In the appWalk For A Hero app · while you walk
STEP 11of 13
After each walk you get a recap: the miles, the pledges it earned and your time for every mile.
Every walk is checked by our system. If something looks unusual, a real person looks at it before it counts.
On this screen
Good to know: Walk 15 miles in one go or fifteen one-mile walks. It all adds up the same.
In the appWalk For A Hero app · walk recap
STEP 12of 13
This button stays grey until you reach 15 miles. When it turns on, press it.
That's the moment your backers' cards are charged, and the money goes to your hero. Until you press it, nobody is charged.
On this screen
Heads up: End your last walk first (press and hold End Walk), then press Complete.
In the appWalk For A Hero app · Today tab
STEP 13of 13
You get a route card to share: your walk's shape and your hero's name. It never shows street names or where you live.
Want to go again? Walk another 15 miles for the same hero or a new one, with the same account.
On this screen
In the appWalk For A Hero app · route art
5 steps
Someone you know is walking, and you want to pledge for each mile they walk.
What you'll need
STEP 01of 05
Tap the link your walker sent you. No link? Find them on the Walkers page.
Check it's the right person, then press the red Donate button with their name on it.
On this screen
On the websitewalkforahero.com/walk/their-name
STEP 02of 05
Make sure Per Mile is picked. Type how much you'll give for every mile, anywhere from $1 to $100. You can also set a maximum, so you never pay more than you want.
The page does the math for you. Add your name and email, then press Pledge.
On this screen
Good to know: Rather give one amount instead of per mile? Choose Set Amount. It's held the same way.
On the websitewalkforahero.com/donate?walker=their-name
STEP 03of 05
You'll go to a secure checkout page run by our payment processor. Your card details never touch our servers.
Your card is saved now, but it is not charged now.
Secure hosted checkout
Card details are handled entirely by our PCI-compliant payment processor and never touch our servers. Walk For A Hero Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3), EIN 42-4132781.
STEP 04of 05
When your walker is out walking, their page lets you send a cheer, like Keep going! or Do it for our hero! Their phone buzzes with your name.
STEP 05of 05
Your card is charged once, when your walker finishes all 15 miles and presses Complete. If they never finish, you're never charged.
You'll get a receipt by email. Your gift is tax-deductible.
Here's the math · an example
5 steps
You don't want to walk or follow a walker. You just want to give.
What you'll need
STEP 01of 05
Look at the top right of any page on this site. The red Donate button is always there.
On this screen
On the websiteThe top of every page
STEP 02of 05
Tap one of the amounts, or type your own. Want to give every month? Tick Make this a monthly gift.
Add your name and email, then press the Donate button. It shows the amount you picked.
On this screen
On the websitewalkforahero.com/donate
STEP 03of 05
Enter your card on the secure checkout page. This time your card is charged right away, because it's a gift, not a pledge.
You get an emailed receipt. Your gift is tax-deductible.
Secure hosted checkout
Card details are handled entirely by our PCI-compliant payment processor and never touch our servers. Walk For A Hero Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3), EIN 42-4132781.
STEP 04of 05
Open the hero's page and press Donate To (their name). Every dollar given to a hero's campaign funds that hero's package. The only thing taken out is the card processor's fee.
On this screen
On the websitewalkforahero.com/heroes/joshua-holm
STEP 05of 05
Employer matching
Many U.S. employers match gifts to 501(c)(3) nonprofits, often dollar for dollar. Send your receipt through your employer's matching program.
Read the FAQFoundations & donor-advised funds
Grant directly to Walk For A Hero Foundation as a registered 501(c)(3), EIN 42-4132781.
Email usStock, estate & legacy gifts
Handled personally. Glenn or a board member will speak with you directly.
Email usFund a whole hero
$150,000 funds one veteran's full package: the exoskeleton, five years of maintenance, travel and therapy.
See partnership levels3 steps
You represent a company or foundation and want to put your name behind a hero.
What you'll need
STEP 01of 03
Founding Partner funds one hero's whole $150,000 package, with your name on that hero's campaign. Campaign Partner and Mile Marker Partner are the next two levels.
Each level lists exactly what it puts your name on.
On this screen
On the websitewalkforahero.com/sponsors
STEP 02of 03
Open the Contact page and press Corporate. The subject switches to Partnership / Sponsorship for you.
Tell us your company, the level you're thinking about, and the best way to reach you. Press Send Message.
On this screen
On the websitewalkforahero.com/contact
STEP 03of 03
We'll be in touch within two business days. Glenn Baker or a board member speaks with you directly, not a form letter.
Partners can also sponsor a walker team, or set up a matching program that multiplies every pledge our walkers bring in.
6 steps
You are, or you know, a U.S. veteran living with paralysis who could walk again in an exoskeleton.
What you'll need
STEP 01of 06
Walk For A Hero funds U.S. military veterans living with lower-limb paralysis who medically qualify for exoskeleton mobility technology.
If that sounds like you, or someone you love, keep going.
STEP 02of 06
A hero's name, photo and story go on a public page, so the veteran needs to want this. Please talk to them before you reach out to us.
STEP 03of 06
Our Contact page opens with Hero Nomination already chosen. Tell us the veteran's name, branch and era of service, a little about their injury, and how to reach them or you. Then press Send Message.
You can also email glenn@walkforahero.com.
On this screen
On the websitewalkforahero.com/contact?subject=hero
STEP 04of 06
Candidates are reviewed by our board with clinical input. We may ask for more details along the way, and we'll tell you what's needed.
STEP 05of 06
If approved, the veteran gets an email invitation to set up their own hero page. They create a login with that email and add their name, rank, branch, era of service, a short bio, their story and a photo.
Only the veteran and our team see it until it's ready.
STEP 06of 06
The hero gets a public page like Joshua's, with a live count of what's been raised. Walkers pick that hero, and every mile moves them closer to standing again.
On this screen
On the websiteA live hero page
Walker support
Trouble signing up, logging in or counting miles.
Message walker supportCommon questions
Money, tracking, receipts and who qualifies as a hero.
Read the FAQEmail us
glenn@walkforahero.com
Send an email
