HIKE TO HELP REFUGEES, Greater Des Moines

Summary:

The first annual Greater Des Moines Hike to Help Refugees will be held on Saturday, May 10, 2008. Participants will be raising funds for the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and the Lutheran Services of Iowa Refugee Resettlement Program.

In 2007, Hike to Help Refugees participants raised $26,607.80 nationwide, each participating in one of 3 successful hike events. These efforts funded 332 tents which can provide shelter for more than 1,500 persons displaced from the comfort and security of their homes.

Imagine being forced from your home with only the road ahead. Make a statement! Help the Greater Des Moines Hike to Help Refugees reach a goal of raising $24,000 for meeting the basic needs of refugees.

Raising money as a participant could not be easier. Our registration process allows you to send personalized messages to family and friends and provides instruction for direct online sponsorship.

Please help by clicking one of the following links...

• I would like to participate as a hiker on May 10th and register online.
  (Spectators not intending to hike are welcome to register and attend.)
   
• I cannot hike on May 10th but I would like to make a donation to help provide shelter to those forced from their homes by conflict and violence.

Additional details for the day of the hike:

Each hiker is asked to raise $80 or whatever amount of money each individual is capable and comfortable with raising.  No hiker will be turned away based on contribution level and the most important aim is building awareness and enjoying the event. 

100% of all proceeds goes directly to benefit refugees with 70% being allocated to the United Nations Refugee Agency and 30% given to the Lutheran Services of Iowa Refugees Resettlement Program. Children aged 6th grade and younger may participate without raising sponsorship. All participants must register and sign a liability waiver. Participants under the age of 18 must have a parent or guardian sign their liability waiver in order to participate.

Participants will hike 4 ½ miles beginning and ending in the southeast corner of Gray’s Lake Park. Participants will hike along the Raccoon River, through downtown Des Moines and follow the Kruidener, Meredith, and MLK trails back to Gray’s lake. Participants will be met with a family-friendly celebration consisting of refreshments, speakers, and live music.

Each individual is asked to consider their own health and mobility factors when deciding whether to participate. Participants who are not regularly active are encouraged to prepare for the physical strain of the journey.

Schedule for the day of the hike:

The hike route will follow the path indicated on the map below.

Click here to view the map in its own window.

A refugee’s road can be very long. Take steps to make it shorter. Join the Greater Des Moines’ Hike to Help Refugees on May 10, 2008.

All donations are tax deductible. Our registered non-profit is the Hike to Help Refugees, Tax ID (EIN): 01-0850582

The preferred method for raising sponsorships is electronically through our website using PayPal. If a person would like to provide sponsorship by check, the check should be made payable to:

“Hike to Help Refugees, Greater Des Moines”

In the memo or in an attached note please specify the name of the hiker the check is sponsoring.

Please mail checks to:
Hike to Help Refugees
c/o Paul Webering
1635 Beaver Ave.
Des Moines, IA 50310

Get started today by clicking one of the following links:

• I would like to participate as a hiker on May 10th and register online.
  (Spectators not intending to hike are welcome register and attend.)
   
• I cannot hike on May 10th but I would like to make a donation to help provide shelter to those forced from their homes by conflict and violence.

For any questions, comments, or if you have any problems with the website please e-mail us at: information@hiketohelprefugees.org