What to Buy for a Kennedymars

A Kennedymars needs more than food and drinks at the start. Walkers may be on the route for many hours, so each rest stop needs practical supplies, clear route information and reliable lighting. Plan drinks, coffee, cups and simple serving equipment for every checkpoint, then add bib numbers, signs and maps for route control. This list also covers the items that are often arranged too late, such as power banks, traffic equipment and supplies for volunteers.

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What to bring

Grouped the way you'd shop for it, with quantities.

Furniture

Party tentsqty 6
Foldable tablesqty 18
Folding chairsqty 40
Beer tablesqty 10
Waste binsqty 12
Clothes racksqty 2

Tableware

Reusable cupsqty 600
Reusable mugsqty 300
Platesqty 500
Cutlery setsqty 500
Pouring jugsqty 30
Thermos flasksqty 20

Equipment

Coolersqty 12
Kettlesqty 6
Coffee machinesqty 4
Mobile phonesqty 6
Walkie-talkiesqty 12
Power banksqty 8
Punch clocksqty 3

Lighting

LED work lightsqty 8
String lightsqty 6
Battery lanternsqty 12

Route supplies

Directional signsqty 120
Directional signsqty 80
Crowd control barriersqty 20
Traffic conesqty 40
Markersqty 12
Barrier tapeqty 10
Route mapsqty 600
Bib numbersqty 600
Wristbandsqty 600
Stamp cardsqty 600
Pensqty 40
Clipboardsqty 12
Timing clocksqty 3

Safety

First aid kitsqty 6
Emergency blanketsqty 30
Disposable glovesqty 200
Safety vestsqty 40
Flashlightsqty 20
Batteriesqty 80

Sports equipment

Ice packsqty 40
Foldable water containersqty 12
Walking sticksqty 20
Medal ribbonsqty 600
Finisher medalsqty 600

Decorations

Starting bannersqty 2
Finish bannersqty 2
Scout linesqty 6
Chalkboardsqty 8

Kitchen

Cutting boardsqty 12
Paring knivesqty 12
Serving tongsqty 20
Measuring cupsqty 6
Bottle openersqty 8
Coolersqty 8

Cleaning

Bucketsqty 8
Spongesqty 20
Dish brushesqty 8
Hand broomsqty 8
Litter pickersqty 8
Mopsqty 8
Hand soap dispensersqty 10

Catering

Groceries
- Still mineral water - 600 bottles
- Sparkling mineral water - 300 bottles
- Sports drink - 250 liters
- Coca-Cola - 60 liters
- Cola Zero - 40 liters
- Orange soda - 30 liters
- Apple juice - 30 liters
- Coffee - 8 kilos
- Decaffeinated coffee - 1 kilo
- Black tea - 400 bags
- Herbal tea - 200 bags
- Hot chocolate - 20 liters
- Semi-skimmed milk - 30 liters
- Oat milk - 10 liters
- Sugar - 5 kilo
- Sugar substitutes - 500 pieces
- Lemon slices - 5 kilos
- Bananas - 250 pieces
- Apples - 250 pieces
- Pears - 150 pieces
- Mandarins - 200 pieces
- Grapes - 25 kilos
- Cucumbers - 20 pieces
- Cherry tomatoes - 15 kilo
- Carrots - 20 kilos
- Paprika chips - 15 kilo
- Plain chips - 15 kilos
- Snacks - 10 kilos
- Muesli bars - 800 pieces
- Energy gels - 500 pieces
- Currant buns - 600 pieces
- Wholemeal rolls - 600 pieces
- White rolls - 400 pieces
- Whole wheat bread - 20 loaves
- Unsalted butter - 5 kilo
- Margarine - 5 kilo
- Young cheese - 8 kilos
- Aged cheese - 5 kilos
- Chicken breast slices - 5 kilos
- Hummus - 5 kilos
- Peanut butter - 5 kilo
- Strawberry jam - 4 kilo
- Apple syrup - 3 kilos
- Mayonnaise - 3 liters
- Ketchup - 3 liters
- Mustard - 2 liters
- Vegetable soup - 50 liters
- Tomato soup - 40 liters
- Chicken soup - 30 liters
- Vegetarian broth - 20 liters
- Whole wheat pasta - 20 kilo
- Pasta sauce - 20 liters
- Grated cheese - 5 kilo
- Vegetarian pasta sauce - 10 liters
- Pasta salad - 25 kilo
- Ready-made meal salad - 20 kilos
- Yogurt - 20 liters
- Custard - 20 liters
- Vanilla cookies - 10 kilo
- Butter cookies - 10 kilos
- Raisins - 8 kilos
- Mixed nuts - 8 kilos
- Pretzels - 8 kilo
- Ice cubes - 100 kilos
- Coffee filters - 500 pieces
- Paper napkins - 3000 pieces
- Paper towels - 20 rolls
- Paper towels - 20 rolls
- Toilet paper - 40 rolls
- Trash bags - 150 pieces
- Dish soap - 10 liters
- All-purpose cleaner - 10 liters
- Hand sanitizer - 10 liters
- Liquid hand soap - 10 liters

Tips

Count supplies by checkpoint, not only by participant. Each rest area may need its own cups, mugs, jugs, thermos flasks, tables and waste bins, so multiply the basic setup by the number of stops.
Prepare hot drinks before the first walkers arrive. Allow at least one coffee machine or kettle per busy serving point, and have thermos flasks ready so volunteers are not tied to one power outlet.
Keep route supplies separate from catering supplies. Pack bib numbers, maps, directional signs, markers, barrier tape, cones and barriers in labelled boxes so volunteers can find them during setup.
Plan for darkness and poor visibility. Use LED work lights or battery lanterns at checkpoints and the finish, and check batteries or charging arrangements at least one day before the march.
Do not leave communication and charging until the last minute. Test the walkie-talkies, charge mobile phones and power banks, and prepare a simple way to record checkpoint times with punch clocks.

Frequently asked questions

What food and drinks do I need for a Kennedymars?: Plan drinks and simple refreshments for every rest stop, not just the start and finish. A practical starting point is two to three drinks per walker during the first hour, then adjust the total for the route length, weather and number of checkpoints.
How many cups do I need for a Kennedymars?: Provide enough reusable cups and mugs for the busiest serving period at each checkpoint, with a spare margin of about 20%. If one point serves 50 walkers close together, prepare at least 60 cups or mugs there.
What route supplies are needed for a Kennedymars?: Prepare bib numbers, route maps, directional signs, markers, barrier tape, traffic cones and crowd control barriers. Check the route at least once before the event and pack signs by route section so volunteers can place them quickly.
When should I prepare the Kennedymars shopping list?: Finalise quantities at least one week before the march, once registrations and dietary requirements are known. Buy non-perishable route and serving supplies several days in advance, then check fresh drinks and food the day before.

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