GREATER DES MOINES HIKE

The second annual Greater Des Moines Hike to Help Refugees will be held on Saturday May 2, 2009.  Participants will raise funds for the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) to provide shelter for refugees around the world.  Each hiker is asked to register online and raise the amount of funds you are comfortable with.  We encourage participants to contribute $10 dollars to spark the fundraising process.  Every $80 sent to the UNHCR provides a refugees family of five in Afghanistan and Darfur with sustainable shelter, security and hope.  Children aged 6th grade and younger can participate without raising sponsorship money.

Participants will hike 4 miles beginning and ending at the north entrance of Gray’s Lake in Des Moines.  Afterwards hikers will be welcomed with a family-friendly celebration consisting of refreshments and live music with a performance by Short Cut.

All hikers are welcome and encouraged to participate in the 4 mile hike and each individual is asked to consider their own health and mobility factors when deciding whether to participate.  A two-mile alternate hike route is provided for participants not able to hike the full route.  Participants who are not regularly active are encouraged to prepare ahead of time for the physical strain of the journey.

Whether or not you decide to participate in the hike, you are still welcome to attend the celebration at Gray’s Lake following the hike.

Schedule for the day of the hike:

10:30 am to 10:45 am - Hiker registration at Gray’s Lake prior to the hike.  Parking will be available in the first parking lot off of Fuer Drive at the northwest corner of the lake.  Follow signs to registration area.  Juice, bagels, restroom facilities and Tee-Shirts will be provided near registration area.

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 and accompany their parent or guardian during the hike.

Gray’s Lake address:
1700 Fleur Drive
Des Moines, IA 50321

11:00 a.m. - Official start of Hike.
Rest areas, restroom facilities, water, and snacks will be provided at start and end of the hike. Participants should plan to complete the hike by about 12:30 p.m.

12:00 pm to 1:00 pm - Celebration at Gray’s Lake.
The band will start at 12:00 pm and music will end at 1:00 pm.  
Musical guests will include Short Cut.

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

A refugee’s road can be very long. Take steps to make it shorter. Join the 2009 Hike to Help Refugees–Greater Des Moines, May 2nd.

Last year, hike participants in the Des Moines area raised $4,304.36 with $1,233.35 going to Des Moines Lutheran Family Services to benefit refugees relocating to Des Moines.  With your help we can exceed this!

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

The preferred method for paying sponsorships is to pay electronically through this website using PayPal.  Register and start seeking sponsorship online by clicking the link below and completing the short registration process.

Click here to Register Online

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