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...
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:
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10:00 am - 11:00 am
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Hiker Registration
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Participants will be met in Gray’s
Lake Park with t-shirts, juice, and bagels.
Restrooms will also be available.
Parking
is available on site (please follow signs from Fleur Drive) and in an adjacent gravel
lot accessible from Thomas Beck Road at Allegra Printing and Imaging.
Gray’s Lake address:
1400 Fleur Dr.
Des Moines, IA 50321
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11:00 am |
Official Start of Hike |
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Expect sunshine but dress for weather.
Rest areas, restroom facilities
and water will be provided along the trail.
Participants should plan to complete the hike by arriving back at Gray's Lake by
about 1 p.m. but most will finish sooner.
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12:00 pm - 3:00 pm |
Celebration at Gray's Lake Park |
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Musical Entertainment: Euforquestra
Euforquestra is a world-beat ensemble from Iowa City which touches on several genres
including Afro-beat, Afro-Cuban, Samba, Soca, Funk, Reggae, and Bluegrass
Participants will be provided a meal and food vendors will be present for all. Organizations
engaged in international work and entertainment for children will accompany the
celebrations.
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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:
For any questions, comments, or if you have any problems with the website please e-mail us at: information@hiketohelprefugees.org
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